How can I put my C3 on a diet?
02-11-2003, 01:54 PM
#1
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How can I put my C3 on a diet?
Eventually I will reach a point where I no longer can get any more HP out of my engine.
I can however start lowering the weight of my car.
What are the best ways to go about this?
All C3 dieting tips appreciated.
Any good links or write-ups on this?
I need your help. My buddies Mopar is getting lighter and faster every day!
I can however start lowering the weight of my car.
What are the best ways to go about this?
All C3 dieting tips appreciated.
Any good links or write-ups on this?
I need your help. My buddies Mopar is getting lighter and faster every day!
02-11-2003, 02:26 PM
#2
Team Owner
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (John Dirks)
Yes, Somebody has a nice webpage with a bunch of ideas for reducing the weight of a c3. Cant remember who it is, but someone will chime in. :) MJ
02-11-2003, 04:09 PM
#4
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (Mystery Machine)
Go to http://www.corvettefaq.com
Then go to the "Misc" section and click on the "How to make your C2/C3 Lighter" link.
Then go to the "Misc" section and click on the "How to make your C2/C3 Lighter" link.
02-11-2003, 04:12 PM
#5
Team Owner
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (John Dirks)
Here are a few thing:
1) Remove spare tire and spare tire carrier
2) Replace the leaf spring with a fiberglass spring
3) Replace your stock seats with 80 - 82 style seats (much lighter)
4) Get rid of A/C assembly + fan blower...
5) Get rid of power steering assembly and replace with manual steering
6) Use Aluminum Heads instead of Iron Heads
7) Aluminum Radiator instead of Brass Radiator
9) Use Lightweight rims instead of steel rims... That's one of the best improvements because your weight saving will be in centrifugal weight which is worth approx. 5 times of static weight... I used to use Cragar SS chrome plated steel rims and they weighted 24 lbs/each.. Now I have Centerline Auto Drags which weight 14.5 lbs/rim...
10) Use electric fans instead of mech. Fans.. (doesn't really improve weight but increases horsepower without engine mods)
11) Replace power windows with manual windows
12) use mini starter motor
13) use lightweight aluminum water pump
14) remove stock pop up lights assembly (very heavy) and use exposed headlights (maybe with a plexiglass cover) or relocate headlights to grille)
15) remove hood hinge and lock mechanism and use hood pins
.
.
.
.
:cheers:
Olivier
[Modified by GrandSportC3, 4:13 PM 2/11/2003]
1) Remove spare tire and spare tire carrier
2) Replace the leaf spring with a fiberglass spring
3) Replace your stock seats with 80 - 82 style seats (much lighter)
4) Get rid of A/C assembly + fan blower...
5) Get rid of power steering assembly and replace with manual steering
6) Use Aluminum Heads instead of Iron Heads
7) Aluminum Radiator instead of Brass Radiator
9) Use Lightweight rims instead of steel rims... That's one of the best improvements because your weight saving will be in centrifugal weight which is worth approx. 5 times of static weight... I used to use Cragar SS chrome plated steel rims and they weighted 24 lbs/each.. Now I have Centerline Auto Drags which weight 14.5 lbs/rim...
10) Use electric fans instead of mech. Fans.. (doesn't really improve weight but increases horsepower without engine mods)
11) Replace power windows with manual windows
12) use mini starter motor
13) use lightweight aluminum water pump
14) remove stock pop up lights assembly (very heavy) and use exposed headlights (maybe with a plexiglass cover) or relocate headlights to grille)
15) remove hood hinge and lock mechanism and use hood pins
.
.
.
.
:cheers:
Olivier
[Modified by GrandSportC3, 4:13 PM 2/11/2003]
02-11-2003, 04:38 PM
#7
Team Owner
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (Maurice)
Oliver, have you every weighed your car?
:cheers:
Olivier
02-11-2003, 05:23 PM
#8
Team Owner
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (45ACP)
Go to http://www.corvettefaq.com
Then go to the "Misc" section and click on the "How to make your C2/C3 Lighter" link.
Then go to the "Misc" section and click on the "How to make your C2/C3 Lighter" link.
http://www.vettenet.org/lighter.html
02-11-2003, 05:33 PM
#9
Safety Car
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (John Dirks)
The following diet was done on my 66 big/block convertable, Alum heads , mini starter,alum water pump, & got rid of spare tire & entire carrier assembly....... composite rear mono spring, the savings over the rear spring alone is 40 LBS''' >>> 3066 LBS with out driver , wieght at NE dragway , after I got out...its easer to reduce vehickle aiewght rather than people wieght.not 1/2 half tank of fuel. :steering:
02-11-2003, 05:36 PM
#10
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Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (45ACP)
Go to http://www.corvettefaq.com
Then go to the "Misc" section and click on the "How to make your C2/C3 Lighter" link.
Then go to the "Misc" section and click on the "How to make your C2/C3 Lighter" link.
02-11-2003, 08:00 PM
#12
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Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (John Dirks)
Besides alot of the things mentioned here I run extremely light weight rims, even the MT sportsman pro tires are light. I removed every piece of metal from the front end, I mean every piece and swish cheesed it, hundreds of holes including the large vacuum tube across the front end then acid dipped the parts to reduce the already lightened pieces then powder coated everything. The front vacuum tube alone lost 19 lbs. MY machined rotors lost 3 pounds each for a total of 12 pounds,
Then to replace the lost weight I added this to keep the front end down.
I still weigh 3500 with full tank of gas and without me.
Then to replace the lost weight I added this to keep the front end down.
I still weigh 3500 with full tank of gas and without me.
02-11-2003, 09:56 PM
#14
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (GrandSportC3)
The 1980 crossmember that I just pulled out of my car only weight 1/2 the weight of the 1979 crossmember I put in. I had to make the swap for ture duals.
You could get a light weight tubular crossmember built.
You could get a light weight tubular crossmember built.
02-11-2003, 09:59 PM
#15
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (GrandSportC3)
Here are a few thing:
1) Remove spare tire and spare tire carrier
2) Replace the leaf spring with a fiberglass spring
3) Replace your stock seats with 80 - 82 style seats (much lighter)]
1) Remove spare tire and spare tire carrier
2) Replace the leaf spring with a fiberglass spring
3) Replace your stock seats with 80 - 82 style seats (much lighter)]
Besides, the 1980+ seats have better bolsters and you don't slide around as much !!
02-11-2003, 10:56 PM
#16
Team Owner
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (BSeery)
Here are a few thing:
1) Remove spare tire and spare tire carrier
2) Replace the leaf spring with a fiberglass spring
3) Replace your stock seats with 80 - 82 style seats (much lighter)]
Right there you are talking about 100+ pounds !!
Besides, the 1980+ seats have better bolsters and you don't slide around as much !!
1) Remove spare tire and spare tire carrier
2) Replace the leaf spring with a fiberglass spring
3) Replace your stock seats with 80 - 82 style seats (much lighter)]
Right there you are talking about 100+ pounds !!
Besides, the 1980+ seats have better bolsters and you don't slide around as much !!
:cheers:
Olivier
02-11-2003, 11:06 PM
#17
Race Director
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (GrandSportC3)
The comment on replacing power windows with manual...
A crank manual is no lighter, and perhaps even heavier, than power. (When power windows were introduced, they were actually found to be lighter than all the crank stuff.)
The way to lose weight there is to switch the strap-type(I woulda said pull-up, but vettenet.org corrected me.)
The Grand Sport race cars used pull-up windows. They're kinda like the side windows on vans, except go up instead of back.
-Steve
PS Yank the spare! That **** is heavy. Tons of weight gone right there. Free weight, at that.
A crank manual is no lighter, and perhaps even heavier, than power. (When power windows were introduced, they were actually found to be lighter than all the crank stuff.)
The way to lose weight there is to switch the strap-type(I woulda said pull-up, but vettenet.org corrected me.)
The Grand Sport race cars used pull-up windows. They're kinda like the side windows on vans, except go up instead of back.
-Steve
PS Yank the spare! That **** is heavy. Tons of weight gone right there. Free weight, at that.
02-11-2003, 11:31 PM
#18
Melting Slicks
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Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (Pacin'California)
Yeah, like they had on the Hemi Dart SS. Just a strap on the window, you pull it up to open the window. The old Rolls Royce Ghost Coach or whatever it was had them too, but as a luxury item :D
02-11-2003, 11:36 PM
#19
Team Owner
Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (John Dirks)
I saved 14-16 pound off the front end by buying a $1200 crank shaft.:) My Sparco fiber racing seat is only 12.6 pounds. Just another $500 by the time you mount it. To loose 150 lbs off the front end I installed a 81 Daytona front end & hood with thin fiberglass. with a paint job $8000
IMO - Once you start gutting the whole car. Yes, it does perform wonderful. But then you have no creature comforts and they get noisy and hot on the interior. I have a car that nobody big fits in and it's only good for me. I can't take a friend for a drive unless they are limber and small.
Once you cross the line it becomes a race car. You better off keeping your vette a nice hot street machine and buying a cheapo race or drag car. :thumbs:
IMO - Once you start gutting the whole car. Yes, it does perform wonderful. But then you have no creature comforts and they get noisy and hot on the interior. I have a car that nobody big fits in and it's only good for me. I can't take a friend for a drive unless they are limber and small.
Once you cross the line it becomes a race car. You better off keeping your vette a nice hot street machine and buying a cheapo race or drag car. :thumbs:
02-11-2003, 11:52 PM
#20
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Re: How can I put my C3 on a diet? (gkull)
Once you cross the line it becomes a race car. You better off keeping your vette a nice hot street machine and buying a cheapo race or drag car. :thumbs:
I go along with dumping the spare tire for a bunch of weight. Looking for weight savings 5-10 lbs at a time seems frugal from there if you are wanting to keep it like the original C-3. Granted... I opted for the CRV high torque starter, aluminum waterpump & intake... but for performance reasons only.
[Modified by bgrice, 4:54 AM 2/12/2003]
