84rzv500r
Knows just enough to be dangerous!
never thought about it exactly that way but our philosophy is the same :lol:
if it don't make it faster or safer then I dont need it:beer::beer:
Weight reduction: Running out of ideas.
- Thread starter 69427
- Start date
never thought about it exactly that way but our philosophy is the same :lol:
if it don't make it faster or safer then I dont need it:beer::beer:
69427
The Artist formerly known as Turbo84
Finally got the muffler welded up. I still need to smooth the edges and polish the outlet to look like the SS tip on the other side, and then put a coat of flat black paint on it to match the other side. The weight ended up at 10.1 pounds, while the previous (now spare) muffler was 16 pounds.
I ran the engine for a while and stuck my head near the exhaust tips to see if I could discern any differences in volume and tone between the two sides. The volume level seemed pretty close (I've got a sound dB meter ordered), but the tone was slightly different. The RH turbo muffler had a nice calm low tone to it, while the new muffler had a slightly higher tone, with a kind of burbling sound that reminded me of the exhaust sound on my buddy's Olds 442. It's a nice exhaust note, and I can live with that.
I ran the engine for a while and stuck my head near the exhaust tips to see if I could discern any differences in volume and tone between the two sides. The volume level seemed pretty close (I've got a sound dB meter ordered), but the tone was slightly different. The RH turbo muffler had a nice calm low tone to it, while the new muffler had a slightly higher tone, with a kind of burbling sound that reminded me of the exhaust sound on my buddy's Olds 442. It's a nice exhaust note, and I can live with that.
69427
The Artist formerly known as Turbo84
2780#
I disassembled a good chunk of the rear suspension and exhaust yesterday to swap out the C3 batwing for a weight savings C4 batwing, but first I decided to get a quick weight on the car before it's out of commision again. I took it to a local truck stop by the interstate the other day and put it on the scales. With about an eighth of a tank of fuel and no spare tire/tub, I got a reading of 2780 pounds (I'm assuming it's +/- 10 pounds rounding error due to the weight range and display resolution).
If everything goes as hoped, the modified C4 batwing will be 5# lighter than the C3 batwing, but I also ought to be able to pull an additional 6# off the car due to the removal of some steel brackets I welded up to adapt the C4 leaf spring and C6 toe rods to the C3 batwing.
I've also got an aluminum front suspension crossmember partially constructed, but I first need to pull the present steel front crossmember out and build a jig around it so I can get all the spacings and geometry points (LCA mounts) of the new crossmember in the correct locations. I'm hoping for about half a dozen pounds off the front end with that piece.
I disassembled a good chunk of the rear suspension and exhaust yesterday to swap out the C3 batwing for a weight savings C4 batwing, but first I decided to get a quick weight on the car before it's out of commision again. I took it to a local truck stop by the interstate the other day and put it on the scales. With about an eighth of a tank of fuel and no spare tire/tub, I got a reading of 2780 pounds (I'm assuming it's +/- 10 pounds rounding error due to the weight range and display resolution).
If everything goes as hoped, the modified C4 batwing will be 5# lighter than the C3 batwing, but I also ought to be able to pull an additional 6# off the car due to the removal of some steel brackets I welded up to adapt the C4 leaf spring and C6 toe rods to the C3 batwing.
I've also got an aluminum front suspension crossmember partially constructed, but I first need to pull the present steel front crossmember out and build a jig around it so I can get all the spacings and geometry points (LCA mounts) of the new crossmember in the correct locations. I'm hoping for about half a dozen pounds off the front end with that piece.
rtj
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2011
- Messages
- 3,141
http://www.astrotops.com/68_82tops.html
17 lb one piece top I saw the other day. Carbon fiber would be better if someone made them.
17 lb one piece top I saw the other day. Carbon fiber would be better if someone made them.
phantomjock
Well-known member
Once upon a time - Ecklers and others had a collapsible Targa Top -- Called it a Rain-cover, something like that. Could be pretty easy to DIY. Save a heap of weight. Could glue Velcro tapes to leading edge to keep it down.
Cheers - Jim
69427
The Artist formerly known as Turbo84
See post #298.
Danny Boy
Member
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- Feb 15, 2015
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- 9
I saw that post.
All this effort to reduce the weight of the car as measured in ounces at the cost of possibly weakening the structure. The human body can lose pounds and be actually stronger and safer. Just sayin'.
69427
The Artist formerly known as Turbo84
Two things:
1) I'm a design engineer. I have a decent working relationship with the laws of physics, materials strength and properties, and several unpleasant-to-learn varieties of mathematics. I'm not just sitting under a shade tree drinking a beer and butchering up a car.
2) I'm 6'3" and 200 pounds. Is it your position I'm portly?
Corvettes White
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2009
- Messages
- 181
As an aside it still takes a bit of nerve without the resources of GM. A saw a photo of a fatigue testing machine cycling C3 trailing arms. Now if I were to make some trailing arms, I would have a hard time reassuring myself I got them right. Same goes for a lot of other parts. Kudos. George
vette427sbc
Well-known member
Im really interested to see what StingrayComposites comes up with for either a carbon t-top of 1 piece targa... The factory tops are pretty heavy and are the "highest" weight on the car.
On another note, I chose to do the fuel lines in my car with aluminum tubing over steel or stainless... a roll roll of the alu tubing is notably lighter than the stainless roll of the same length. Thats a PITA job for marginal weight that is already down low though
On another note, I chose to do the fuel lines in my car with aluminum tubing over steel or stainless... a roll roll of the alu tubing is notably lighter than the stainless roll of the same length. Thats a PITA job for marginal weight that is already down low though
Bullshark
Well-known member
Not a fan of aluminum tube fuel lines. The marginal weight reduction doesn't make up for the compromised safety, IMHO.
Which brings to mind this recent scary event. A friend, who has just finished his experimental airplane build, suddenly lost power at about 3k ft altitude. After going through proper protocol, he looked down and saw an old airfield with big yellow X's on the runway below him. He immediately dead sticked the plane down, successfully landing with no damage. He left a trail of fuel the length of his landing. Turns out he had a broken aluminum AN coupler in the fuel line. Looking at it, it appeared to this EE to be a fatigued aluminum tube within a swivel female to female coupling.
I told him not to bother buying a lottery ticket in the future, because his luck is all used up.
Which brings to mind this recent scary event. A friend, who has just finished his experimental airplane build, suddenly lost power at about 3k ft altitude. After going through proper protocol, he looked down and saw an old airfield with big yellow X's on the runway below him. He immediately dead sticked the plane down, successfully landing with no damage. He left a trail of fuel the length of his landing. Turns out he had a broken aluminum AN coupler in the fuel line. Looking at it, it appeared to this EE to be a fatigued aluminum tube within a swivel female to female coupling.
I told him not to bother buying a lottery ticket in the future, because his luck is all used up.
mrvette
Phantom of the Opera
I don't recall ever changing the fuel line in my '72 vert....but did have the rear brake line fail, right under the driver seat, so got two lengths of brake line, spliced them together with a brass fitting, I forget if compression or flare, probably flare.....no biggie....but an ALUMINUM fitting?? don't think I ever seen one, let alone USE one.....
:surrender:
:surrender:
OZgreen69
Well-known member
Well? If you look at modern fuel injected cars, you will rarely find some steel in them, they even are in "plastic" ! And alloy is certainly easier to bend than S/S !
rtj
Well-known member
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Three different hardtops
Red, looks like a factory top, with 69 date written in grease pencil. Trim and weatherstrip intact. No interior, no latches.
51.2 lbs
Blue, says "Parrish Plastics" on rear window. Indoor/outdoor carpet glued in for interior. No latches, bolts on with 4 bolts (not included). Shell construction.
34.2lbs
Attachment:
Bare fiberglass
No rear window, no trim, no weatherstrip, no brackets. Similar construction as factory.
Weight 33
Factory brackets no bolts 1.78 lbs
My brackets 0.61lbs
Red, looks like a factory top, with 69 date written in grease pencil. Trim and weatherstrip intact. No interior, no latches.
51.2 lbs
Blue, says "Parrish Plastics" on rear window. Indoor/outdoor carpet glued in for interior. No latches, bolts on with 4 bolts (not included). Shell construction.
34.2lbs
Attachment:
Bare fiberglass
No rear window, no trim, no weatherstrip, no brackets. Similar construction as factory.
Weight 33
Factory brackets no bolts 1.78 lbs
My brackets 0.61lbs
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OZgreen69
Well-known member
Going on my car from a 1" front bar to 1.1/4 gained 6.60lbs more !!
Have you checked the weight of the alloy hub on the original steering wheel ?
1.54 lbs!!
I did replace the hardtop glass window ( 9.26lbs ) with Lexan , and not refitting the roof lining ( 13.99lbs ) as well.
Another funny one is the original radio + speakers = 8.81lbs
Electric window mechanism + motor per side = 8.70lbs . I should have check the elec motor alone, as I am still using the manual mechanism.
Removing the protective tar from underneath the body an wheel arches = 3lbs!
But the weight of the roll cage = 21.27 lbs
A China made radiator frame =12.5lbs Original =13.9lbs See!! China stuff is really good !
Brake master cylinder Iron= 8.59lbs Alloy = 3.74lbs
Another that you don't see too often on Vette anymore, is the hub cap of the rally steel wheel = 1.76lbs + wheel trim at 1.32lbs = 12.32lbs for 4 wheels !
Have you checked the weight of the alloy hub on the original steering wheel ?
1.54 lbs!!
I did replace the hardtop glass window ( 9.26lbs ) with Lexan , and not refitting the roof lining ( 13.99lbs ) as well.
Another funny one is the original radio + speakers = 8.81lbs
Electric window mechanism + motor per side = 8.70lbs . I should have check the elec motor alone, as I am still using the manual mechanism.
Removing the protective tar from underneath the body an wheel arches = 3lbs!
But the weight of the roll cage = 21.27 lbs
A China made radiator frame =12.5lbs Original =13.9lbs See!! China stuff is really good !
Brake master cylinder Iron= 8.59lbs Alloy = 3.74lbs
Another that you don't see too often on Vette anymore, is the hub cap of the rally steel wheel = 1.76lbs + wheel trim at 1.32lbs = 12.32lbs for 4 wheels !
rtj
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2011
- Messages
- 3,141
Definitely trade-offs.
A carbon fiber convertible top and deck lid could save some serious weight. Like this unit:
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