Weight Reduction vs Safety
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From: Green Oak, MI
Weight Reduction vs Safety Has anyone really investigated pulling the front bumper supports and some of the other safety items, but having a 8 point cage installed.
What is there for structure and what is there for safety?
Like pulling door supports, but I have the side bar for the cage on next to me.
I just want to keep PS and AC. I'd like to retain the stock steering wheel, but with the harnesses airbags aren't neccessary, so those can go.
So, for the experts, the car is 4079 lbs w/ me in it, how light can I get it but retain what I spoke about, a stock looking interior, and remain reasonably safe.
What is there for structure and what is there for safety?
Like pulling door supports, but I have the side bar for the cage on next to me.
I just want to keep PS and AC. I'd like to retain the stock steering wheel, but with the harnesses airbags aren't neccessary, so those can go.
So, for the experts, the car is 4079 lbs w/ me in it, how light can I get it but retain what I spoke about, a stock looking interior, and remain reasonably safe.
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From: Mississauga, Ontario
Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety 4079 lbs? Eric, that has to be a typo! I know you don't weigh much more than about 180, so are you saying your car is 3800lbs? Not possible. That would make it 400lbs heavier than a stock Z28. I know the turbos add a bit of weight, but they can't possibly add that much.
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From: Troy, AL
Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety With a cage I see little reason for side impact bars. With a 5-point harness I see no reason for an airbag.
And honestly, I think the front bumper support is more for making the car pass the government mandated 5 MPH bumper test than for saving your *** in a crash. If it were made for that it would be made of a little more than styrofoam and some wimpy stamped steel. I don't think a 3600 lb object hitting a still object at 60 MPH is going to ever know that flimsy bumper support was trying to gradually slow it down. Nope, it ain't slowin' down till the radiator reaches the engine block.
And honestly, I think the front bumper support is more for making the car pass the government mandated 5 MPH bumper test than for saving your *** in a crash. If it were made for that it would be made of a little more than styrofoam and some wimpy stamped steel. I don't think a 3600 lb object hitting a still object at 60 MPH is going to ever know that flimsy bumper support was trying to gradually slow it down. Nope, it ain't slowin' down till the radiator reaches the engine block.
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From: Chi-Town
Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety i think the idea of the bumper support was to not really withstand a crash but ABSORB it
kinda like how a nascar is designed to crumble so that the druver doesn't get the shock
kinda like how a nascar is designed to crumble so that the druver doesn't get the shock
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From: Sacramento, CA
Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety Have any of you pulled the front and rear bumper support? Did you get an actual weight for it? The #'s I see fluctuate and I dont wanna pull mine unless they are good for a solid 30+#'s between the 2 of em.
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From: Troy, AL
Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety [quote]Originally posted by JimmyKash:
<strong>i think the idea of the bumper support was to not really withstand a crash but ABSORB it
kinda like how a nascar is designed to crumble so that the druver doesn't get the shock</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree %100 that to help to save the occupants the front bumper support should be able to significantly absorb a major crash. That's just it. This thing does not appear to be built mainly to absorb a major crash but possibly to withstand a 5 MPH crash without damage (again, I'm thinking the government mandates that all cars sold in the US be able to withstand a 5 MPH crash without damage. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.) It just isn't heavy duty enough to do much absorbing in a serious crash, IMO. I admit I'm NOT an expert on crash worthyness or government regulations and testing procedures so I may be completely wrong on this! Just my opinions. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">
I actually weighed my front one when I took it off. It was 23 lbs.
<strong>i think the idea of the bumper support was to not really withstand a crash but ABSORB it
kinda like how a nascar is designed to crumble so that the druver doesn't get the shock</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree %100 that to help to save the occupants the front bumper support should be able to significantly absorb a major crash. That's just it. This thing does not appear to be built mainly to absorb a major crash but possibly to withstand a 5 MPH crash without damage (again, I'm thinking the government mandates that all cars sold in the US be able to withstand a 5 MPH crash without damage. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.) It just isn't heavy duty enough to do much absorbing in a serious crash, IMO. I admit I'm NOT an expert on crash worthyness or government regulations and testing procedures so I may be completely wrong on this! Just my opinions. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">
I actually weighed my front one when I took it off. It was 23 lbs.
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From: Fenton, MI
Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety Has anyone ever taken the front or rear bumper supports off thier Trans Am? I looked quickly one time at my car, and it looked like my bumpers would just kinda flop around because they were attached to them. I also heard from somebody that the fog lights on trans ams are mounted to the front bumper supports. I'd like to save some weight, but my car would look kinda silly without the fog lights in there.
Anyone know?
Jordan
Anyone know?
Jordan
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Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety I dotn think the car is that heavy but the TT kit adds roughly 100-110 pounds
Cage adds 75 pounds
9 inch/12 bolt adds what 40 pounds?
200-240 heavier than stock tops. Plus the driver
I would say in the 3700-3800 range with driver
Chris
Cage adds 75 pounds
9 inch/12 bolt adds what 40 pounds?
200-240 heavier than stock tops. Plus the driver
I would say in the 3700-3800 range with driver
Chris
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From: Green Oak, MI
Re: Weight Reduction vs Safety Chris,
Yep, plus 80 for the block since I moved to Iron.
I'll have to re-weigh it again but its heavy, you can feel it in driving the car compared to a stock one.
23lbs off the front is a decent amount, it'll go soon.
I want it to be as light as a <img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" />
Yep, plus 80 for the block since I moved to Iron.
I'll have to re-weigh it again but its heavy, you can feel it in driving the car compared to a stock one.
23lbs off the front is a decent amount, it'll go soon.
I want it to be as light as a <img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" />