Weight reduction, the way to go???

[BiGx5MurF]

I'm new here, but I've learned so much already. Anyway, from what I've gathered from people so far. Goin na is a big waste of money unless u engine swap. Goin turbo is a no no for auto (i got auto with sportshift). Not to mention mine is new with warranty extension. So I came to the conclusions that the best performance mods for my situation (prolly a lot of other ppl), would be weight reduction. Basic rule of thumb...

every 100 pounds shed is 0.1 seconds off a 1/4
every pound shed from the wheels = 6 pounds shed off rest of car

With that knowledge, how about everyone add their ideas, or opinions about shedding weight?

I'm thinkin..
cf hood (but if i do, i want to paint it red, might be counter-productive)
lighter lug nuts (dont know how much help, but its wheel weight)
lighter rims (someone recommend some, & wut r stock ones?)
stainless steel maybe even titanium exhuast system (dun kno ne)

Also, I'm thinking of upgrading suspension realli soon, I'm lookin at gc coilovers, with stock struts (until i can afford better ones). Is this a weight reduction or gain, or is it the same?

I've tried the search feature, and have thus far found very little info.

 

[I_Vtec]

I have a carbon fiber hood. Yeah it's lighter than the stock one. But not by much. I got it for the look and that's it. You'll save a very small amount switching hoods.

 

[FlannelBoy711]

i am in your exact situation. http://www.importmodifications.com/protege5weightred.html
They have alot on weight reduction. Im gonna go with new lighter wheels (12.5lbs), CF hood, Lighter seats, and a lighter exhaust cause stock is pretty heavy.

 

[Douggie]

Is this for 1/4 mile runs or just basic daily driving? If it's just for runs, run with as little gas in the tank as possible, and just remove the spare tire and the seats.

Man, if lighter lug nuts made that much difference, then I think it would make a LOT of difference if the driver got a diet! (rofl)

Welcome to the board

 

[BiGx5MurF]

I have a carbon fiber hood. Yeah it's lighter than the stock one. But not by much. I got it for the look and that's it. You'll save a very small amount switching hoods.

Are you sure there's not much weight saved? The stock hood is heavy, to lift it with one arm actually takes a little exertion on my part (i can rep and curl 95 pounds, and bench around 210). From what I've heard a good cf hood can be lifted up with fingers. I would think that's a dramatic weight reduction, at least 15-25 pounds no?

 

[FlannelBoy711]

more like 50

 

[loccusst]

Every little bit helps. Try pulleys and get rid of the air. If you are worried about dieing from heat do what I did on my civic and just disconnect the belt. Cf hood will help just do research and see who makes a light weight one for the hood you like. Carbon fiber images makes some really light weight ones but not sure about for the mp5. Get rid of the spare tire too if you are worried about weight. If you are really seriose get rid of the windows and get lexan replacements. Get rid of all weight in the car when you race. When I go to the track I strip out my car including seats. Just check with the rules for the track you go to for racing. Don't want to do all that work and not be allowed to race. Who said no to turbo just because you have a automatic?

 

[darocc]

so ,according to your rule, even if you managed to take off 1000 lbs in the car, it would be one second faster in the quarter?
thats not bad, but taking out 1000 lbs is alot of stuff, all the luxury like AC, power steering, stereo, wires etc. and sound/heat insulation( if this car has any ) ,lol, but i mean, come on, changing the lug nuts on your wheels, gonna save like a pound? doubt you would notice something like that

 

[BiGx5MurF]

i am in your exact situation. http://www.importmodifications.com/protege5weightred.html
They have alot on weight reduction. Im gonna go with new lighter wheels (12.5lbs), CF hood, Lighter seats, and a lighter exhaust cause stock is pretty heavy.

Thanks for the link, very imformative and elaborate. But they say to replace stock wheels with 11 pounders, where can one buy such rims? Anyone know of 16" or 17" that weigh 11 pounds?

Also as for the spare tire, do you keep it? Get rid of it? get a 5th lightweight rim to replace it? If you get rid of it, how do you deal with flat?

 

[BiGx5MurF]

more like 50

Thanks for correction. Now I don't see how pro5man can say that's not a big difference. I mean c'mon man 50 pounds is half an import model.

 

[FlannelBoy711]

not sure on 16's or 17s that weigh 11, gram lights are light but sure how light. Im getting 15's, good price and light. The idea of a 5th lightweight wheel is a good idea. And if you don't keep it, get AAA.

 

[BiGx5MurF]

Is this for 1/4 mile runs or just basic daily driving? If it's just for runs, run with as little gas in the tank as possible, and just remove the spare tire and the seats.

Man, if lighter lug nuts made that much difference, then I think it would make a LOT of difference if the driver got a diet! (rofl)

Welcome to the board

I don't think anyone gets a pro5 as a pure drag car, that's just wrong gutting this car. But no one denies this car can use more pep.

As for driver going on a diet, this driver's been on a diet, from 165 to 151. If I lose anymore I'd risk becoming a weakling. I just thought lug nuts may make more a diff, since taking weight off the wheels is more effective than taking it off other parts of the car.

 

[FlannelBoy711]

BiG you got any pics of your PR5?

 

[I_Vtec]

Thanks for correction. Now I don't see how pro5man can say that's not a big difference. I mean c'mon man 50 pounds is half an import model.

I didn't go out and weigh either hood. Maybe I've forgotten since I removed my old hood.

 

[BiGx5MurF]

Every little bit helps. Try pulleys and get rid of the air. .... Who said no to turbo just because you have a automatic?

Well I was following a thread here by perfworks, trying to see how micah's car was turning out which I beilieve was also an auto. It was there that I've learned turbo on auto means nuttin more than 4-5 psi, and no driving like a retard. In other words, stay off the boost and drive like an old lady all the time, unless its at the track. That doesn't sound like something I can do, I get a little spirited at times. Spool's kit looks very tempting, supposedly they have a lot of auto customers for their stage 1 kit, with low failure rates. But turbo with no intercooler? I'm not that brave.

About the pulleys, I've heard that lightweight pulleys don't make a difference in an auto, as the gains they provide are in the rpm ranges that auto will rarely hit.

 

[BiGx5MurF]

BiG you got any pics of your PR5?

not atm but I'll get some up. I'm so pissed that my front right rim is already damaged. My sister (14 years old) stole my car when I had it only for a month, and hit a curb

I'd do something, but then she threatened to tell my parents about all the times i stole their car when I was 13.

 

[BiGx5MurF]

so ,according to your rule, even if you managed to take off 1000 lbs in the car, it would be one second faster in the quarter?
thats not bad, but taking out 1000 lbs is alot of stuff, all the luxury like AC, power steering, stereo, wires etc. and sound/heat insulation( if this car has any ) ,lol, but i mean, come on, changing the lug nuts on your wheels, gonna save like a pound? doubt you would notice something like that

But a pound on your wheels is equal to 6 pounds from the rest of the car

uh... yea thats still not very much

 

[KYMP5]

centerline makes some 11.5pd 17"s

 

[juxt3r]

How much weight the car can drop depends entirely on how extreme you want to get with the weight reduction and what your ultimate purpose will be...autox/drag?
There's plenty of plastic interior trim and insulation that's totally unneeded at a track.

 

[AZDriftR]

if u took of or replaced flywheel, wheels, clutch, interior(seats/dash/carpet), body kit/spoiler, fog lights,air box, strip trunk/hatch, hood, struts/springs, lighter pulleys, lighter steering wheel (illegal if u tamper with AB)all speakers, remove steel support frames behind front and rear bumper, lighter exhaust, etc...your car would be really light but will still have no power, plus u would have just F-ked up what the car was meant to do and thats to handle