weight reduction mods without gutting interior
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
weight reduction mods without gutting interior i got a 98 camaro ls1 all bolt ons waiting on money for a yank ss4000 
as far as suspension i have LCAs and relocations, plus subframe connectors now i want to work on weight reduction but i do not want it to look like a drag car are there many hidden weight reductions i can do? i have a/c an i definitely want to keep that also leather interior an love it
as far as suspension i have LCAs and relocations, plus subframe connectors now i want to work on weight reduction but i do not want it to look like a drag car are there many hidden weight reductions i can do? i have a/c an i definitely want to keep that also leather interior an love it Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
again my main question is what weight reductions can i do without gutting my car i no this has been covered but i havent seen many people that wanted a nice car in the end.... any info is greatly appreciated
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 134
If you don't want to gut too much of the everyday comforts of the car, a glass or carbon hood, front and rear lightweight bumper support (I have the Midwest chassis) and factory appearing front and rear lexan windows are a good start.
Do you really need carpet? It's just a dust trap. Think of your house, tiled or wood flooring versus carpet (respiratory death). I personally take the race car style steel floor and near 40 lbs gone anyday of the week.
There's a LOT on these cars you can do without and get used to the 3000 lbs of fast goodness.
Who needs ABS? are you an old lady driving in snow that doesn't know how to drive? then you need ABS. I don't need ABS.
Lightweight wheels and front suspension. Begin with wheels, then lower control arms.
Do you really need carpet? It's just a dust trap. Think of your house, tiled or wood flooring versus carpet (respiratory death). I personally take the race car style steel floor and near 40 lbs gone anyday of the week.
There's a LOT on these cars you can do without and get used to the 3000 lbs of fast goodness.
Who needs ABS? are you an old lady driving in snow that doesn't know how to drive? then you need ABS. I don't need ABS.
Lightweight wheels and front suspension. Begin with wheels, then lower control arms.
There is weight all over these cars. My rw was about 3250 last time out and i had 3/4 tank of gas and the jack/soare in it. That's full interior with front race seats, all amenities in tack. I think 3150 rw would be doable.....maybe a little less.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Lightweight carpet, black sound deadener attached to floor, rear seat and belts possibly, I took out hvac also but still have a heater and went with Kirkeys. Lots of weight to come out of interior. I dropped right around 295lbs off the car this winter but added a 70lb cage, and it is not cut up or gutted looking. It was worth a solid 2 tenths and 2.5mph in the 1/4 mile.
There are many places to take weight out of these cars you can start with tubular bumper supports, fiberglass hood and deck lid, if its a T-top car you can put a carbon fiber roof on it you can also put a tubular k-member and lower a-arms the list could really go on.
If you don't want it to look like a "drag car" you have to spend the money or lose some amenities. It cost just as much to lose weight as it does adding power it seems, so what is your budget is the key component. The big things to not only lose weight, but also help improve the cars abilities are the simple and obvious
Tubular front k-member with tubular A-Arms, lightweight wheels, FAB 9in from MWC with all lightweight components, and fiberglass hood, carbon fiber driveshaft
Then tubular front bumper support, ABS delete, take carpet out and take the sound pad off and re install, go to an exhaust that stops at the rear end, take the heat shields off the back of car once you put the new exhaust on, go SD tune, do wire re work for what you taken out, smaller battery, relocate fuse blocks into behind the dash during rewiring, cut out door bars inside the doors,
Those are just to name a few and there is ALOT more just depends on your budget and how crazy you want to get with it.
Tubular front k-member with tubular A-Arms, lightweight wheels, FAB 9in from MWC with all lightweight components, and fiberglass hood, carbon fiber driveshaft
Then tubular front bumper support, ABS delete, take carpet out and take the sound pad off and re install, go to an exhaust that stops at the rear end, take the heat shields off the back of car once you put the new exhaust on, go SD tune, do wire re work for what you taken out, smaller battery, relocate fuse blocks into behind the dash during rewiring, cut out door bars inside the doors,
Those are just to name a few and there is ALOT more just depends on your budget and how crazy you want to get with it.
If you don't want it to look like a "drag car" you have to spend the money or lose some amenities. It cost just as much to lose weight as it does adding power it seems, so what is your budget is the key component. The big things to not only lose weight, but also help improve the cars abilities are the simple and obvious
Tubular front k-member with tubular A-Arms, lightweight wheels, FAB 9in from MWC with all lightweight components, and fiberglass hood, carbon fiber driveshaft
Then tubular front bumper support, ABS delete, take carpet out and take the sound pad off and re install, go to an exhaust that stops at the rear end, take the heat shields off the back of car once you put the new exhaust on, go SD tune, do wire re work for what you taken out, smaller battery, relocate fuse blocks into behind the dash during rewiring, cut out door bars inside the doors,
Those are just to name a few and there is ALOT more just depends on your budget and how crazy you want to get with it.
Tubular front k-member with tubular A-Arms, lightweight wheels, FAB 9in from MWC with all lightweight components, and fiberglass hood, carbon fiber driveshaft
Then tubular front bumper support, ABS delete, take carpet out and take the sound pad off and re install, go to an exhaust that stops at the rear end, take the heat shields off the back of car once you put the new exhaust on, go SD tune, do wire re work for what you taken out, smaller battery, relocate fuse blocks into behind the dash during rewiring, cut out door bars inside the doors,
Those are just to name a few and there is ALOT more just depends on your budget and how crazy you want to get with it.
Good post SCott5, After you lighten one of these cars you realize why everyone has a Foxbody Mustang
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Big *** weight reduction thread at the top of this section. Read all of it, make it your bible. Ive got a bunch of weights and pics in it. My car currently sits at 3040 completely stock appearance on 18 inch wheels. I wanted the same thing you do, light but looks pretty stock.
I also forgot to add light weight brakes from strange or aerospace, light weight spindles, take fenders off and cut out that metal under those and then reinstall. Also be aware that down aftermarket parts do add weight but are needed, torque arm for example.
There are many places to take weight out of these cars you can start with tubular bumper supports, fiberglass hood and deck lid, if its a T-top car you can put a carbon fiber roof on it you can also put a tubular k-member and lower a-arms the list could really go on.
I wish someone would come out with a carbon replacement piece that would just replace the t top glass, so you didn't have to convert the car over and could just replace the glass of a t top with a carbon piece. Save a bunch there and be an easy thing to do....
As said there's lots of weight that can go.
I do t like the no carpet look I think it ruins the street car appearance, but ozite is a god alternative. I've installed it in about 50 cars and it's a 30 to 35 lb sack ga without ruining the look.
I out it in my 25.3 chassis race car. Believe me I'm after weight in it... But not enough to worry about the 5 lbs of ozite that's in it.
As said there's lots of weight that can go.
I do t like the no carpet look I think it ruins the street car appearance, but ozite is a god alternative. I've installed it in about 50 cars and it's a 30 to 35 lb sack ga without ruining the look.
I out it in my 25.3 chassis race car. Believe me I'm after weight in it... But not enough to worry about the 5 lbs of ozite that's in it.
[QUOTE=JL ws-6;19357860]I wish someone would come out with a carbon replacement piece that would just replace the t top glass, so you didn't have to convert the car over and could just replace the glass of a t top with a carbon piece. Save a bunch there and be an easy thing to do....
Feather Carbon
Feather Carbon