Weight removal?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 593
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From: Pinetop, AZ
Weight removal? I have an 02 ss that I want to take some weight out of and want to start with the jack, spare tire and rear seats.
The jack and spare tire are fairly straightforward, but how does the rear seats come out? Any other items that can come off without messing with the drivability of the car? Thx!
The jack and spare tire are fairly straightforward, but how does the rear seats come out? Any other items that can come off without messing with the drivability of the car? Thx!
minimal exhaust
all the heat shields
aluminum LCAs and PHB
lightweight wheels
All the brackets and interior panels equal about 20lbs.
Just enough fuel for ...
For a Firebird, the Formula hatch weighs about 15lbs less than a TA hatch
AC system
Heater
HVAC box
windshield wipers and mechanism
ABS
factory seats
head lights
all the heat shields
aluminum LCAs and PHB
lightweight wheels
All the brackets and interior panels equal about 20lbs.
Just enough fuel for ...
For a Firebird, the Formula hatch weighs about 15lbs less than a TA hatch
AC system
Heater
HVAC box
windshield wipers and mechanism
ABS
factory seats
head lights
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Pinetop, AZ
I would like to keep most of the goodies as it is a dd, but could not make out from the pic what exactly you are showing?
I know that the a/c and underhood items are staying. I'd love to get to 3100lbs, but don't see that happening with keeping "the goodies".
So how do the rear seats come out of these critters?
I figure if I lose 100lbs (well me personally could lose 15lbs) and pick up another 50-60 hp (working on that plan) it would put me in the top 5 in my class at the track, as I dropped out of the big bore group that I ran with my 950hp 67 camaro. Went from 160mph in the straights to 125. At the same time, if I can keep coming from 15th to 2nd it's still fun. A few less lbs and a few more ponies should get me past that pesky jacked up M3.
I know that the a/c and underhood items are staying. I'd love to get to 3100lbs, but don't see that happening with keeping "the goodies".
So how do the rear seats come out of these critters?
I figure if I lose 100lbs (well me personally could lose 15lbs) and pick up another 50-60 hp (working on that plan) it would put me in the top 5 in my class at the track, as I dropped out of the big bore group that I ran with my 950hp 67 camaro. Went from 160mph in the straights to 125. At the same time, if I can keep coming from 15th to 2nd it's still fun. A few less lbs and a few more ponies should get me past that pesky jacked up M3.
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Verdad Gallardo For a while, I swapped driver seat before event weekends.
Raking the seat mount over the mounting stud numerous times eventually galled the threads of the factory stud.
Had to cut it off and drill a hole for another bolt to be welded in.
Be careful.
Raking the seat mount over the mounting stud numerous times eventually galled the threads of the factory stud.
Had to cut it off and drill a hole for another bolt to be welded in.
Be careful.
To remove the rear seats:
1. The two seat bottoms are held in by a bolt just underneath them. Remove the bolts, and they come right out.
2. The seat back is held in by two nuts, one on each side. Remove the nuts, release the latches that hold the seat back up, and then lift the seat back out of the brackets.
While you're doing this, you might as well remove the rear seatbelts for additional weight reduction.
1. The seat belt buckle is held in by a Torx-head bolt on the floor. Remove that, and the buckle comes off. Put the bolt back in, since the bolt hole is open to the outside.
2. The seat belt is held by a Torx-head bolt on the floor and by a nut on the retractor. Remove the bolt and take off the seat belt. Put the bolt back in. To remove the retractors, take off the speaker panels in your trunk. Remove the nut on each side, slide the seat belt out of the panel, then take the retractor/seat belt assembly out.
The passenger seat weighs about 30 lbs., depending on if you have cloth or leather.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Pinetop, AZ
skorpion-thx! that was the info I was looking for. seats are leather. If this was a track only car I'd be doing ALL the items mentioned. since it isn't, and it drives the 500 mile roundtrip to the track and back, I'll just be doing a few and then taking the jack and spare tire out at the track. thx for all the info!
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Pinetop, AZ
Funny you should mention that, as I was just thinking the same thing in regards to it already being front end bias.
For today, we're gonna leave it alone. I think on the upcoming road race the day after thanksgiving, if that pesky M3 shows his face, I should have another 10hp and my sniper son who weighs 225 has gone off to Afghanistan, who was in the passenger seat on the last go round.
That should be enough to get around him.
For today, we're gonna leave it alone. I think on the upcoming road race the day after thanksgiving, if that pesky M3 shows his face, I should have another 10hp and my sniper son who weighs 225 has gone off to Afghanistan, who was in the passenger seat on the last go round.
That should be enough to get around him.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Pinetop, AZ
At 5'10" & 195lbs the gut isn't that big. But yeah, I'd like to lose 15-20 lbs like 30 years ago.
I could pull the M3 in the straights about 20-30 ft, get on his tail just before a tight 90 degree/30mph turn but he'd put that distance back on me coming out of that one turn where we had to slow so much. I think just 3.90 gears vs the current 3.42's would have sure helped to get me back into the powerband.
I'm gonna go ahead with the back seat removal and jack and spare tire for the track. Those along with the clearing out the guy in the passenger seat would total somewhere around 300 lbs and help take the pucker factor out of my hiney for that sharp turn coming off 125 mph, and add some go out of the corner to boot. I'm also going to a 180 tstat, and some colder plugs where I can throw some more timing at it.
I could pull the M3 in the straights about 20-30 ft, get on his tail just before a tight 90 degree/30mph turn but he'd put that distance back on me coming out of that one turn where we had to slow so much. I think just 3.90 gears vs the current 3.42's would have sure helped to get me back into the powerband.
I'm gonna go ahead with the back seat removal and jack and spare tire for the track. Those along with the clearing out the guy in the passenger seat would total somewhere around 300 lbs and help take the pucker factor out of my hiney for that sharp turn coming off 125 mph, and add some go out of the corner to boot. I'm also going to a 180 tstat, and some colder plugs where I can throw some more timing at it.
Last edited by dbs1; Nov 13, 2010 at 10:17 AM.
