Right...

 

I am considering gutting the interior to save weight.

 

If mine was a 2 seater the interior would be long gone.

 

However as mine is a 2+2 on occasions it is nice to take people out in the back but... when i get my car back from the garage it might be a tad lower than it was before and also running 18" rims. 295's on the rear which may rub with people in the rear.

 

I am expecting mixed comments here like dont do it will look silly, im not too bothered about the look of the interior as it will be serving a purpose. Besides windows are tinted and cant really see in.

 

I know i can loose allot of weight by gutting the interior but my main concern is most of the interior will come from behind the front seats e.g. rear seats and all trims and carpets etc. The worse thing i can do is make the rear end too light and loose all my grip and make the handling suck.

 

I could go to a level of removing door cards and all carpets and trims from centre console etc. but not too sure how far to take it.

 

I will also be looking at light weight front seats in the future.

 

mmm... what to do? any comments and thoughts?

 

Please purely look at this from a performance perspective and not for looks.

To show i am pretty serious about this i have gone to the extent for bugying 5Zigen light weight lug nuts and influenced which wheels i went for etc.

To show i am pretty serious about this i have gone to the extent for bugying 5Zigen light weight lug nuts and influenced which wheels i went for etc.

 

:D ive removed most the rear crap but left the plastic trim, only coz im not sure how it will look or sound lol. I can say however that now its lighter in the rear along with such a stiff suspension setup i get barely any traction in first gear well actually nothing in first gear and nothing in second, 3rd and fourth will just spin in the wet all day long...... my next step will be better tyres... Also the negative camber doesnt help, a more flat tyre surface would be better. apart from that just take the plung and get rid of it all, you can always replace it.

 

Im trying to think of more ways of reducing front weight apart from removing trim, wouldnt mind no carpets however. Im still holding onto the ac as ive just realised how handy it is now its getting hotter.

The panels themselves weigh very little, neither does the rear seat base.

 

By far the heaviest interior items are the two front seats, followed by the Carpet and the sound deadening fixed to the floorpan.

 

By all means replace the heavy front seats, a very good weight saving there and you can get extra support and they stil look look.

 

But for the sake of 20kg I would rather keep the sound deadening, carpets and panels. Without them it becomes ugly and noisy and completely changes the driving experience, there are other prefered places for weight loss.

Edited April 14, 200916 yr by Yowser

:D ive removed most the rear crap but left the plastic trim, only coz im not sure how it will look or sound lol. I can say however that now its lighter in the rear along with such a stiff suspension setup i get barely any traction in first gear well actually nothing in first gear and nothing in second, 3rd and fourth will just spin in the wet all day long...... my next step will be better tyres... Also the negative camber doesnt help, a more flat tyre surface would be better. apart from that just take the plung and get rid of it all, you can always replace it.

 

Im trying to think of more ways of reducing front weight apart from removing trim, wouldnt mind no carpets however. Im still holding onto the ac as ive just realised how handy it is now its getting hotter.

 

ha, yeap ac has to stay, i get travel sickness.

 

i keep toying with the idea of carpets and just have mats so your feet dont slip about.

 

yeah, thats my main concern is the grip, i did fit 275s and stiffer suspension and it still span in some gears but i think this was down to a bad setup as there were allot of lag on my turbos and when they did kick in it all come at once, with a more gradual power curve im hoping that it wont spin as much.

 

But since then i have also fitted a new atb style diff, the 295s and race logic traction control.

 

How was the handling after removing weight?

The panels themselves weigh very little, neither does the rear seat base.

 

By far the heaviest interior items are the two front seats, followed by the Carpet and the sound deadening fixed to the floorpan.

 

By all means replace the heavy front seats, a very good weight saving there and you can get extra support and they stil look look.

 

But for the sake of 20kg I would rather keep the sound deadening, carpets and panels. Without them it becomes ugly and noisy and completely changes the driving experience, there are other prefered places for weight loss.

 

Can you suggest some more prefered places for weight loss please.

 

I an waiting to get front seats, would love some Bride Gias seats but they are very expensive and at this time rather concentrate on other weaknesses

btw, when reducing weight you need to consider weight distribution. The car in stock form is front biased 55:45. You dont want to make that worse and ideally concentrate on improving it.

 

Which means removing more weight from the front than the back.

 

So far I have lost 70kg from the front, 30kg from the centre and 60kg from the rear for 160kg total loss which should give me a kerb weight of around 1350kg.

Edited April 14, 200916 yr by Yowser

ha, yeap ac has to stay, i get travel sickness.

 

i keep toying with the idea of carpets and just have mats so your feet dont slip about.

 

yeah, thats my main concern is the grip, i did fit 275s and stiffer suspension and it still span in some gears but i think this was down to a bad setup as there were allot of lag on my turbos and when they did kick in it all come at once, with a more gradual power curve im hoping that it wont spin as much.

 

But since then i have also fitted a new atb style diff, the 295s and race logic traction control.

 

How was the handling after removing weight?

 

 

forgot to mention the rear spolier, they weigh alot the stock rubber ones.

 

Well ive got the front roll bar set on soft and rear is very stiff, if i set the rear damping to hardest it will just jump around over bumps and is pretty useless unless you want to drift, trying to talk with it on hard is a joke sounds like your talking with someone hitting you in the chest constantly lol. not as bad on soft though.

 

I dont get alot of understeer like this, quite a bit of oversteer which i have been toying with. As long as i keep the throttle on round the bends its great.

 

It still needs setting up proffesional which im getting to, once ive fitted adjustable lower arms and theres nothing left to fit it will all be worth it.

btw, when reducing weight you need to consider weight distribution. The car in stock form is front biased 55:45. You dont want to make that worse and ideally concentrate on improving it.

 

Which means removing more weight from the front than the back.

 

So far I have lost 70kg from the front, 30kg from the centre and 60kg from the rear for 160kg total loss which should give me a kerb weight of around 1350kg.

 

yeah that the thing being too light at the rear.

 

the battery has been relocated to the boot. what else could i relocate to the rear?

 

And what have you done to loose the 70kg up front?

btw, when reducing weight you need to consider weight distribution. The car in stock form is front biased 55:45. You dont want to make that worse and ideally concentrate on improving it.

 

Which means removing more weight from the front than the back.

 

So far I have lost 70kg from the front, 30kg from the centre and 60kg from the rear for 160kg total loss which should give me a kerb weight of around 1350kg.

 

what did you do to loose 70kg from the front? I need more ideas....

what did you do to loose 70kg from the front? I need more ideas....

 

All fairly standard stuff that you have probably mostly done :

 

Front

Battery moved to boot – 16kg

Aircon removed (Pump, Bracket, Radiator, Condenser, pipes, Fan) – 15kg

SS Turbo elbows and down pipes – 11kg

Lightweight flywheel – 7kg

Lightweight Crank pulley – 4 kg

AIV removed – 3kg

Carbon Canister removed – 3kg

Hicas solenoid Removed – 3kg

Fog lights removed – 3kg

NA Pas Pump and Bracket – 2kg

EGR removed – 2kg

Cruise control removed -1kg

 

Everything weighed when removed/replaced with digital scales

Edited April 14, 200916 yr by Yowser

All fairly standard stuff that you have probably mostly done :

 

Front

Battery moved to boot – 16kg

Aircon removed (Pump, Bracket, Radiator, Condenser, pipes, Fan) – 15kg

SS Turbo elbows and down pipes – 11kg

Lightweight flywheel – 7kg

Lightweight Crank pulley fitted – 4 kg

AIV removed – 3kg

Carbon Canister removed – 3kg

Hicas solenoid Removed – 3kg

Fog lights removed – 3kg

NA Pas Pump and Bracket – 2kg

EGR removed – 2kg

Cruise control removed -1kg

 

Everything weighed when removed(including replacement parts)

 

 

ive done all that apart from aircon, na pump and battery relocate

 

hmmm what i have i done that u aint..

 

prvr system? :D about 3grams

cut off quite a few brackets not needed. about 40grams lol

removed all the hicas metal and rubber/hose.

the rear hicas solenoid is gone too. was a nice chunk of metal.

removed front clutch bleed point and hose

removed all unneeded air ducting from stock air filter etc

aluminium top mounts ;)

very light steering wheel.

 

 

 

but ive added weight :(

strut braces

solid arbs :(

engine skins

grounding kit.

 

 

Im still 1520kg :( want to get below 1500 at least.. means il have to ditch the ac.... hmm what else.

ive done all that apart from aircon and pas pump.

 

hmmm what i have i done that u aint..

 

prvr system? :D about 3grams

cut off quite a few brackets not needed. about 40grams lol

removed all the hicas metal and rubber/hose.

the rear hicas solenoid is gone too. was a nice chunk of metal.

removed front clutch bleed point and hose

removed all unneeded air ducting from stock air filter etc

aluminium top mounts ;)

 

 

 

I've done all of the above too (except for the top mounts atm)

 

here is the rest :

 

Centre

Lightweight seats fitted with custom mounts – 23kg

Lightweight Prop shaft – 7kg

 

 

Rear

NA Rear subframe & Diff – 35kg

Spare wheel removed – 15kg

Spoiler removed – 7 kg

Lightweight Battery fitted in boot + 6kg

Nissan Tools removed – 2 kg

Tailgate weight removed – 2kg

Rear Wiper & Motor removed – 2kg

Cargo blind removed – 2kg

Rear speakers – 2kg

I've done all of the above too (except for the top mounts atm), just did'nt list them as the weight difference was so minimal.

 

ah you win :(

 

:headvswal

I've done all of the above too (except for the top mounts atm)

 

here is the rest :

 

Centre

Lightweight seats fitted with custom mounts – 23kg

Lightweight Prop shaft – 7kg

 

 

Rear

NA Rear subframe & Diff – 35kg

Spare wheel removed – 15kg

Spoiler removed – 7 kg

Lightweight Battery fitted in boot + 6kg

Nissan Tools removed – 2 kg

Tailgate weight removed – 2kg

Rear Wiper & Motor removed – 2kg

Cargo blind removed – 2kg

Rear speakers – 2kg

 

 

ive done all that also apart from

na subframe which is a main one and speakers

 

aha i know what you havent done :D

 

removed the heavy seatbelts including the tensioner ;)

ive done all that also apart from

na subframe which is a main one and speakers

 

aha i know what you havent done :D

 

removed the heavy seatbelts including the tensioner ;)

 

my seat belts are removed ;) I have'nt weighed them though as it never had any when I got the shell. Im waiting for a friend to weld in the plates for me (I cant weld) so I can install the harnesses.

Edited April 14, 200916 yr by Yowser

my seat belts are removed ;)

 

:headvswal:headvswal

 

ok il bring this to a whole new level....

 

how much do you wiegh?

 

im 72kg with a full bladder.

lol ..ok ..umm...hang on I'll go weigh myself now.....

 

:rofl:

86kg , Bladder half full and I left my clothes on :rofl:

woohooo i win :D

Battery in the boot is the best option, spare out and carry some tyre weld (i've never been stopped on the fact the spare was missing by anyone including in its mot)

 

Change the seats for lightweight, with the seats out and the carbon bucket seat and manual seat frame in place the car handled like an elise. Those seats do weigh and absolute tonne.

 

I also took the time to fill all cavities with expanding foam which seemed to make the car very slightly quieter and very slightly stiffer without adding much weight. All the panels might as well be left in as with the carpet.

 

The stripped out feel is great for about a week then after that you crave a bit of civilisation :D

...and i weight 88kg with my clothes on pre-dump :rofl:

...I've fitted a Lightweight Drycell battery. 6kg vs 16kg(stock)

 

Stock seats were 28kg (electric drivers) , 18kg (manual passengers). Defiantly a massive savign to be had there...my new seats were 7kg each(excluding the new custom mounts)

how much was that battery?

how much was that battery?

 

about 100. hang on, cant remember which one it is..will go check...

thanks, and where from?