badbaz Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Has anyone any idea how much weight can be trimmed from the MY05 STi by removing the interior, a/c, electric windows, boot stuff, sound deadening, poss air bags, etc etc? Anyone done it and know how much? Certainly makes a noticeable difference carrying passengers so maybe theres a good 60kg to be saved? Or more?
paul555sti Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Also big savings to be made ditching the front seats for some nice bucket seats.
P1_Paul Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 You should have had a look at my car for inspiration. The Spec C is 120KG lighter than the STi, it's had all the sound deadening removed, the boot is bare metal. It has a lighter bonnet, boot and A/C unit, as well as ligher glass etc. I'd say 60KG from the UK STi is easily do-able.
badbaz Posted June 29, 2009 Author Posted June 29, 2009 You should have had a look at my car for inspiration. The Spec C is 120KG lighter than the STi, it's had all the sound deadening removed, the boot is bare metal. It has a lighter bonnet, boot and A/C unit, as well as ligher glass etc. I'd say 60KG from the UK STi is easily do-able. Paul, I was just pull 60kg as a low adult weight. More would be great if acheivable. Lighter glass, mmm, wonder how much lighter the glass is over standard? It'll be interesting to see what's achievable. I intend to have the front seats out too as they make you feel as if you're sitting on the car instead of in it! When I decide to do this, i'll make sure i can weigh the car, the bits and bobs and see where we are overall at the end. Sound deadening sounds a total pig to remove. anyone any tips?
paul555sti Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Light weight batteries and flywheels are another way of saving weight. Out of interest what is the reason for the weight saving? Quarter miles times or track times? Dont take this the wrong way but sometimes driver training can make a bigger improvement to lap times.
badbaz Posted June 29, 2009 Author Posted June 29, 2009 Light weight batteries and flywheels are another way of saving weight.Out of interest what is the reason for the weight saving? Quarter miles times or track times? Dont take this the wrong way but sometimes driver training can make a bigger improvement to lap times. Changing parts would cost significant cash so for starters I'll stick to reducing weight by removal (and selling) of parts, then maybe the cash can go on improving other areas. Saving weight is mostly in an attempt to improve power to weight and the handling. I don't really intend to track the car as it will always be too slow unless I spend thousands (or tens of), quarter miles are not what I'm after either. I like my scooby, it sounds great, goes well and looks like the rally car it was in its time. I can't afford to change it for something else and I don't want to really, probably wouldn't get enough for it now, so may as well make it the best it can be for fast road use. I'm no Jenson Button, but I can hold my own in the driving stakes. Plenty race experience and there's not much more I could learn. Not at my age anyway. Cue the slagging(eh Andy?). Bottom line is I'm trying to better the car I have and want to keep. Brakes have been attended to, suspension is next month and after the weight reduction I may seek a further upgrade on the engine but not to the point where things become stupid expensive. The car's not a daily runner either.
Rednosespeccltd Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Why dont you just get a Spec C then Barry, makes more sense than stripping it all out and even then if you want to strip a spec c then it will be EVEN lighter again. When i had mine the sound deadining did not mak that much difference IMO. Mac
badbaz Posted June 29, 2009 Author Posted June 29, 2009 Can't afford to change Mac so gotta work with what I have. Didn't make much difference noise wise or weight wise?
Rednosespeccltd Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Noise wise mate, i think my current car is just as noisy TBH, in the Spec C all the panels are lighter, no cigarette lighter, no passenger sun visor, the list goes on and on Mac
DR Motosport Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 The JDM new-age cars like the classics were all lighter than the UK equivilants. However the lighter JDM cars are weighed with a very basic (ie motorsport) spec. that usually is 16" wheels and 2 pot brakes. So if they have Brembos and 17" alloys fitted, they're not as light as they should be. You don't want to go down that route anyway. But for basics, the air con unit plus radiator is about 10kg Front seats about 24kg each. A pair of lightweight seats and brackets will be less than 1/2 of that. Rear seats 8kg Carpets and under floor cushioning 12kg Sound deadning 12kg Spare wheel and tool / jack 10kg Battery 17kg - lightweight one 7kg Boot trim - very little. One last thing. For every 10kg you loose, it's the equivilant of 1.6bhp when you do bhp/ton calculations.
sti_steve Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 One last thing. For every 10kg you loose, it's the equivilant of 1.6bhp when you do bhp/ton calculations. Doesnt sound much does it
sti_steve Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Better wearing nothing when driving and going on a diet yourself
kennyuk300 Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Has anyone any idea how much weight can be trimmed from the MY05 STi by removing the interior, a/c, electric windows, boot stuff, sound deadening, poss air bags, etc etc? Anyone done it and know how much? Certainly makes a noticeable difference carrying passengers so maybe theres a good 60kg to be saved? Or more? Most definitely your calipers ,they need to be replaced with something lightweight my friend cheers kenny
paul555sti Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 I would imagine its going to be pretty noisey inside the cabin once you strip all that stuff.
badbaz Posted June 29, 2009 Author Posted June 29, 2009 Noise isn't an issue, it's pretty noisey as it is. It's not a daily runner. Every 10kgs worth 2.2 bhp so it's better than you think . Seriously though, we all know how much a passenger blunts the performance of a car, if I can shave 80kgs from the car, it's gonna be better. Success ballast in touring cars is only 40kgs, and that slows them down. Every little counts for performance no? Kenny, dream on sunshine, less weight = better stopping so the diet is effectively giving me a six pot upgrade for free
dipsy Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Smaller fuel tank big saving there on weight and empty the intercooler water tank
kennyuk300 Posted June 29, 2009 Posted June 29, 2009 Noise isn't an issue, it's pretty noisey as it is. It's not a daily runner. Every 10kgs worth 2.2 bhp so it's better than you think . Seriously though, we all know how much a passenger blunts the performance of a car, if I can shave 80kgs from the car, it's gonna be better. Success ballast in touring cars is only 40kgs, and that slows them down. Every little counts for performance no? Kenny, dream on sunshine, less weight = better stopping so the diet is effectively giving me a six pot upgrade for free well welll be like that, i'm going to lie on the floor bang my hands and feet and hold my breath THATS NOT FAIR cheers kenny ps .hope you get the car the way you want it
badbaz Posted June 30, 2009 Author Posted June 30, 2009 Kenny, baby, don't be like that, some big lovely yummy brake upgrade will be along to play with you soon! Not gonna bother changing fuel tanks, just keep it half full! Water spray crap will be going too, never used it in 2+ years anyway. I think I'll strip everything I don't need, or want and weigh up:lol: the benefits before I get rid of any of the stuff(excluding sound deadening and a/c). Who's went down the weight saving route before? Anyone got first hand experience? Results?
DR Motosport Posted June 30, 2009 Posted June 30, 2009 Take a 1450kg car with 300 bhp, and you get 210bhp/ton Now a 1350kg car with 300 bhp, and you get 226bhp/ton. A gain of 16bhp for 100kg. That's 1.6bhp for every 10kg. I went down the weight loss route with my classic track car. I lost about 120kg from the car, but then added 40-50kg back into it by fitting a cage. There was no trim left in the car, excess wiring was removed, rear doors and boot lid were just skins. Washer bottle and intercooler spray bottle were both removed from the engine bay and a single bottle from a VW with twin pumps were put in the boot. Lightweight battery, carbon spoiler, the list goes on................ At the end the car weighed about 1100kg with 320 bhp. So 296 bhp/ton. Pretty good for what was a very cheap track day toy. David
badbaz Posted June 30, 2009 Author Posted June 30, 2009 In effect then, very worthwhile, I'm on 340bhp, 1550kg, the more you take off the faster the figure rises. I'm gonna go for it.
RS Grant Posted June 30, 2009 Posted June 30, 2009 If you do all this to your 2005 STi then you're going to massively cut down the potential buyers when you do come to sell it... thats a big concern that I'd have in your position, however, if you plan to keep it until the end of time then its neither here nor there I suppose. Cheers, Grant
badbaz Posted June 30, 2009 Author Posted June 30, 2009 If you do all this to your 2005 STi then you're going to massively cut down the potential buyers when you do come to sell it... thats a big concern that I'd have in your position, however, if you plan to keep it until the end of time then its neither here nor there I suppose. Cheers, Grant In post no 6 I said can't afford to change it and won't get what I would want for it so it's time to make it what it could/should be. It's now a project, fast road project at the moment.
frodge Posted January 8, 2011 Posted January 8, 2011 In post no 6 I said can't afford to change it and won't get what I would want for it so it's time to make it what it could/should be. It's now a project, fast road project at the moment. i realise its an old thread but did you ever do it and was it worth it if you did!
scooby222 Posted January 8, 2011 Posted January 8, 2011 oh yes he did it! and did it properly, not even a gearlever gaiter having been in it id say it was worth it - though the md 321 turbo certainly helps
Badgerboy Posted January 8, 2011 Posted January 8, 2011 He sure did rip it to pieces lol As Dave says, the MD321 turbo sure helps with performance If Im right in saying, the jammy buggers car is now lighter than my spec c, by about 30kg, which is some achievement, then again I still have the luxury of a radio, door cards, rear seat, headliner etc etc............ATM! No doubt Barry will be along to tell us how hes gonna get the retaining nuts out of the pillars lol Andy
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now