Weight reduction: Running out of ideas. - Page 59

BBShark · #**581** 09-23-2020, 11:16 AM

The support for the nose of the car looks like a compromise between what is ideal and what would fit the car. Probably all caused by the open hood taking up the space needed to do it properly (as you describe).

The triangulation of the center brace by the rod is really poor. I question the effectiveness of it in the first place. Also, the nose of the car is notched so that the bumper attaches directly to the bracket and does not really support the nose body work. The corner braces do capture the body between the brace and the bumper but how effectively does that support the nose. Support of the nose appears to be accomplished by the headlight brackets that are mounted directly to the bumper. That is a pretty convoluted system for a support.

I don't have a good answer but I was hoping to use a conical front mounted air filter in between the U shaped center brace. Unfortunately, the rod is in that space so I need to come up with something else.

rtj · #**582** 09-29-2020, 11:37 PM

BBshark, there was a guy building a snorkel that went over the rad to an airbox filter on cf. That design might allow you to put a filter on the inlet and tie into your TB. I was kind of amazed he snaked it through there. Probably not hard to tweak/fab.

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On another note, cf one piece roof. Lightweight isn’t cheap. I posted some of his vids and he mentioned this, but didn’t show it.

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Fiberglass lower cost version

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69427 · #**583** 10-19-2020, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69427

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The in-progress picture above is one of the aluminum mufflers I made a few years back, replacing the Dynomax turbos previously on the car. The Dynomax pieces sounded nice and flowed well, but were 16# each. The aluminum replacements ended up at 10# each. They flow well and I'm told they're pretty quiet at WOT. They were a lot of work to fabricate, but I think I can make a couple glasspack syle mufflers pretty easily. They ought to be noticeably lighter, and if the noise level increase is also noticeable, I can just use them at the track, and keep the full size mufflers for street duty.

BBShark · #**584** 10-20-2020, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtj

BBshark, there was a guy building a snorkel that went over the rad to an airbox filter on cf. That design might allow you to put a filter on the inlet and tie into your TB. I was kind of amazed he snaked it through there. Probably not hard to tweak/fab.

Haven't made this yet but according to my measurements, this will work.

rtj · #**585** 10-21-2020, 09:58 PM

How do you plan to fab it? That guy at cf was making two halves and then bonding them.

COLE SWEAT · #**586** 10-23-2020, 03:50 AM

Has anyone tried pulling the air from the cowl or windshield wiper space

69427 · #**587** 12-30-2020, 09:07 PM

Finished up the front bumper aluminum center support bracket a while back, and got it installed. The original steel bracket was 6.8#, and the replacement ended up at 4.4#. I was satisfied with that reduction, given that I don't feel like I scrimped on the material thickness that I used.

Leverage wise, a bit more than that 2.4# off the front axle, and a wee bit more of the vehicle rear mass allowed to settle back down on the rear axle.

Win-win.

phantomjock · #**588** 12-31-2020, 02:11 AM

Excellent! That means you now have 2.4# for a small carbon fiber splitter - or low weight PVC airdam. Get back that "missing" mechanical downforce (weight) back at speed with some small aero improvements!
(put tongue in cheek Emoji here...)

Cheers - Jim

69427 · #**589** 01-01-2021, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phantomjock

Excellent! That means you now have 2.4# for a small carbon fiber splitter - or low weight PVC airdam. Get back that "missing" mechanical downforce (weight) back at speed with some small aero improvements!
(put tongue in cheek Emoji here...)

Cheers - Jim

My Pace Car spoiler has a short "splitter" length in its design, and I've got a sheet of 1/8" Lexan under there going back to the suspension crossmember. The Lexan sheet and brackets weigh 4.6#, so the bumper bracket weight reduction helps get rid of about half of the mass penalty of the "splitter pan".

69427 · #**590** 01-01-2021, 05:37 PM

While perusing one of the local U-Pull-it junkyards I noticed a couple cars with the bumper covers removed, and I noticed what looks like an extruded aluminum structure underneath. The shape looked like a capital B (looking into the extrusion). Got me thinking if one of these items might be a decent candidate to replace the extreme rear (bumper) crossmember on my frame. Down side is I suspect the stock steel crossmember weighs next to nothing, but it's just a guess.

I think I'll do some measurements of the frame crossmember material thickness and width/length, and try to calculate the volume/weight of the crossmember to see if this idea/change makes any sense.