Hi,
I\'m still paying for my rebuild last year so I don\'t have much dollar to spend, but I still want to get faster.
I\'m thinking about the following ways to go lighter - if anyone has any hands-on experience or comments, I\'d love to hear them:
1 - take out air con (it doesn\'t work anyway). Can I do this myself easily?
2 - change seats to carbon fiber - any good makes or models?
3 - lose the carpet - just how hot does it get?!
4 - spare wheel to go
Thanks guys
Tailz
1. aircon aint that heavy...you aint gonna notice it..well not IMO.
2. Yeah go for it...just be warned that on some journeys, they will **** you off and give you a headache...not to mentionyoull look like an idiot when you try and clamber out of them.
3. heat is the leat of yur worries.....imagine the road noise.
4. from the time you break down with a puncture, youll be screwing.
thats my opinion anyway. i done all the above to my integra and regretted it. not to mention the amount of hassle it was putting the carpet and trim back in.
Ok in your order,
#1- take out the air con saves a little weight,takes an unnessary loading off the engine which will give better engine response:Thumbs-up
#2 seats are heavy so changing them will save weight, carbon ones will be very expensive around a grand or more i expect for a pair or get some buckets which will be lighter than stock and keep ya arse planted in for those fast corners.:Thumbs-up
#3 I have not noticed any heat really coming into my cabin (only dash left and coming out soon)and you will get a good reduction in weight depending on how far you go with stripping it out so:Thumbs-up
#4Maybe leave the spare it could get you out the sh#t sometime when you most need it,mazda made it out of lightweight alloy so it quite light as it is and wont loose you too much weight,then again if you have big brakes the spare wont fit anyway so bin it!
rip the aircon out bud, you dont save much weight but will aid cooling alot as the a/c rad covers the whole radiator :), as for the rest, not much point imo... the most you`d save with everything out is maybe 10kg?
I don\'t really think there\'s that much to gain from Carbon seats over FRP...
Here\'s a comparision of the Pro 2000 by Sparco...
Carbon Weight: 6.2 KG
FRP Weight: 8.6KG
Carbon Price: £725.00
FRP Price: £275.00
Now that\'s 2.4 KG Per Seat But the Cost Difference is £450 per seat. For £900 you could save much more weight by switching to FRP front wings, FRP bonnet, ditching the rear seats, rear trim, speakers and stereo, abs, aircon, etc.
Also get the lightest wheels that you can!
They will make a huge difference, on rotational inertia it helps leads and also it\'s less unsprung weight, so really help with the handling.
I\'ve been trying to find a site that lists wheel weights as well as pictures of just how bling they are.
Right if you rip out the Air Con properly , including the actual matrix inside the car underneath the glove box (a lot of people who delete the aircon forget to do this)and all the pipework, you will save just under 20KGs this includes the weight of the gas.
Seats I agree just go for FRP Bucket seats u will save loads of weight over stock seats.
I would leave the carpet unless u like extra heat and noise in the cabin, if you delete the carpet make sure you put some heat wrap stuff around the exhaust and downpipe otherwise u might fry ya clutch foot
Spare wheel dont weigh much but I removed mine as I needed the room
Indeed - I took out my Matrix and it weighs a fair bit...
Cheapest way is to go on a diet!:WaveBye
is there a how 2 on removing the matrix? removed everything i can from the engine a/c wise but does the whole dash not need to come out?
remove the glove box , two screws hold in on undeneath on the hinges, then you will see a metal bar across it , remove this, then you will see the Heater\\aircon plastic boxes, remove the centre one they will be screws around it to undo the ones are a PITA to get to, then remove the circlips, then drop the bottom cover off, you will see the Aircon matrix so then tug at this so you can manipulate the pipes behine it throughthe holes on the bulkhead, so with a little bit of force it should come out
Don\'t forget to get the gas removed. If you don\'t and you just let the gas out don\'t do it in a consealed area, like a garage, it won\'t be nice!!!
Quote from: tailzHi,
I\'m still paying for my rebuild last year so I don\'t have much dollar to spend, but I still want to get faster.
I\'m thinking about the following ways to go lighter - if anyone has any hands-on experience or comments, I\'d love to hear them:
1 - take out air con (it doesn\'t work anyway). Can I do this myself easily?
2 - change seats to carbon fiber - any good makes or models?
3 - lose the carpet - just how hot does it get?!
4 - spare wheel to go
Thanks guys
Tailz
Hi
Go de cat, lose the cat, it is about 30kg, lose the air pump...
Regards,
Michaelb
Perspex instead of glass :yes
go on a diet.
Quote from: RemarkLimaAlso get the lightest wheels that you can!
They will make a huge difference, on rotational inertia it helps leads and also it\'s less unsprung weight, so really help with the handling.
I\'ve been trying to find a site that lists wheel weights as well as pictures of just how bling they are.
Pretty comprehensive list of wheel weights, however no pics:
http://www.mysportscar.com/features/wheelweight.htm (http://www.mysportscar.com/features/wheelweight.htm)
Taken from here:
http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=87008&highlight=wheel+weights (http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=87008&highlight=wheel+weights)
Cheers Dan, also found this:
http://www.superhonda.com/tech/wheel_weights.html
Which has a couple of lines:
Mazda RX7 FD3S Cast 16x8 15.4
Mazda RX7 FD3S - PFD Cast (Brittle) 16x8 13.8
So stock wheels (like all manufacturers it seems) are pretty light!
There is plenty of weight to be lost from the car, Ive lost over 300 kgs.
The diet is a good thing....Ive lost over 14kgs off me alone!
The general rule on unsprung weight it is for every 1kg lost is equivalent to 8kgs taken off the car!
It helps with acceleration, braking and turning.
But there are many ways, you have to decide how much of a road car you intend to keep.
Bonnet, wings, doors, tailgate, plexi glass. These will all lose you weight. My Corbeau seats (Carbon/Kevlar) were only £300 and are 6.3 kgs. The Sparco Revs are even less than that, in both cost and weight.
There are other ways, making the car stiffer will help, if what you are after is quicker lap times.
If you want some light wheels Im buying some Speedline Mags, they are £295 per wheel and at 6.5kgs each....saves you 36kgs on the car......almost 300kgs weight when moving.
Quote from: AtomicRexIf you want some light wheels Im buying some Speedline Mags, they are £295 per wheel and at 6.5kgs each....saves you 36kgs on the car......almost 300kgs weight when moving.
They sound loverly! If only the tax man didn\'t take all my money :(
DON\'T TAKE OUT THE AIRCON!!!! These cars get hotter than most anyway cos of the way the engine works and where the engine is. It doesn\'t way much, and if you don\'t want to load the engine too much, don\'t turn it on. And the aircon rad might be infront of the rad, but seriously... If the car is to be used as a comfortable daily driver, leave it in - at least try driving the car during summer without the aircon, and see how you get on before ripping it out. It will prob only need a charge, and all will be well!
Weight saving - eat fewer pies. easiest way to save 10kg\'s, and still have a car you can sell. Put in less petrol. remove the airpump and cat. wear flip-flops. Just don\'t rip out the aircon...
And saving 20kg\'s is less than 1.5% of the total car\'s weight - using the online calcs based on the weight of the car and 280hp, you would increase your 1/4 mile terminal by .06 seconds and .43 mph. And you\'d get out of the car with a sweaty arse. LOOOOOOONS!!!!!
Quote from: ArchbishDON\'T TAKE OUT THE AIRCON!!!! These cars get hotter than most anyway cos of the way the engine works and where the engine is. It doesn\'t way much, and if you don\'t want to load the engine too much, don\'t turn it on. And the aircon rad might be infront of the rad, but seriously... If the car is to be used as a comfortable daily driver, leave it in - at least try driving the car during summer without the aircon, and see how you get on before ripping it out. It will prob only need a charge, and all will be well!
Weight saving - eat fewer pies. easiest way to save 10kg\'s, and still have a car you can sell. Put in less petrol. remove the airpump and cat. wear flip-flops. Just don\'t rip out the aircon...
And saving 20kg\'s is less than 1.5% of the total car\'s weight - using the online calcs based on the weight of the car and 280hp, you would increase your 1/4 mile terminal by .06 seconds and .43 mph. And you\'d get out of the car with a sweaty arse. LOOOOOOONS!!!!!
you big girl cant you take the heat hahaha
*lol* nah - just like being coooool....
like, you may win the 1/4 by .06 seconds, but I\'ll get out still perfectly coiffured, cool to the touch, clothes still stylishly dry.... You will get out of your sweat soaked seat, staggering toward the beer tent, sobbing for water, leaving pools as the perspiration drains out of your waterlogged clothing... Oh, yeah, that\'ll make you the winner. You can have that win. Allllllll yours. *grin*
Every journey starts with the first step!
So rip out that Aircon....then do the ABS....that will save you some weight!
So the first thing the hospital will have to do is give you a bed bath to get rid of the stench, after you\'ve been cut out of your car, after suffering heat stroke and smashing into the barrier cos your brakes aren\'t as good... *sigh* IT\'S THERE FOR A REASON, AND NOT JUST TO INCREASE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT!! Even the Le Mans cars have Aircon these days...
Quote from: Archbish*lol* nah - just like being coooool....
like, you may win the 1/4 by .06 seconds, but I\'ll get out still perfectly coiffured, cool to the touch, clothes still stylishly dry.... You will get out of your sweat soaked seat, staggering toward the beer tent, sobbing for water, leaving pools as the perspiration drains out of your waterlogged clothing... Oh, yeah, that\'ll make you the winner. You can have that win. Allllllll yours. *grin*
Im planning just to race on the strip in just my boxers that will be keep me cooooool
You gonna wear the matching sussies and basque? They don\'t weigh much... *GRIN*
hey atomic where can you get those sparco rev seats for under £300??? me like!!
so removed the a/c, decat and airpump you save about 50kg? wow thats not bad lol
Quote from: BlitzBoyIm planning just to race on the strip in just my boxers that will be keep me cooooool
Make sure they\'re FIA approved nomex lined! In case of a fire you know.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
I\'m gonna take out the a/c as it doesn\'t work anyway. Does anyone have a \'how to\' that would be ok for a beginner like me to have a go at?
Anyone.............?
REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER BUD AND THERES 4 BOTS I THINK THAT HOLD THE A/C RAD ON Oopes caps on lol.. emm think theres 2 brackets for a few pipes that you need to undo to remove it... under the bonnet if theres no gas, just cut the a/c pipes undo the small tank, cut these pipes as well and it shud all just lift out :)// also removein the glovbox, matrix part 2 which iv still to do..