[3X163]

I'm a weight weenie. It started with mountain biking. I know how much every part of my bike weighs to the gram. Same with my ultralight backpacking hobby.

Since it is part of the way I'm wired, it has of course carried over to cars. I've always left the spare tire/jack at home if the car comes with one (not offroad trucks though). The Elise/Exige is a unique car in that it is already very light. This isn't a McLaren F1 though - there is still a lot of weight to be lost.

I've seen all of the weight loss threads on here, but I'm interested in the crazy lengths people have gone to save weight.

When I saw this picture from today http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f25/what-190193/, my first thought was to cut that extra thing off and save weight!

 

[3X163]

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f154/reducing-exhaust-bracket-weight-when-engineers-get-bored-95382/

Another example - drilling holes in an exhaust bracket. It all adds up, right?

And please no one say, "just take a dump before you drive".

Anyone else switched non weight bearing bolts to aluminum or anything radical like that?

 

[pray4mojo]

Anyone else switched non weight bearing bolts to aluminum or anything radical like that?

Aluminum is heavy.

 

[Almighty]

Before I got my Elise, Silver_Surfer would always harp about weight in the car and I thought he was insane... well more so at least. Now that I have one, I see why there's so much hype.

There is some weight to be lost in the car still, but you'll have to ask yourself... will the car be as livable as it was prior to the reduction. Also, there will be a point where you'll be tempted to use exotic materials for this weight reduction as well. As we all know... exotic = expensive.

 

[MotoGeek]

You could probably drill out the centers of the majority of the screws on the car. Since most of the screws are steel, it would add up quickly. I bet with just 200-300 hours of work, you could loose over a pound of material.

Also, speed holes.

 

[3X163]

will the car be as livable as it was prior to the reduction.

I think that is different for everyone. I will NOT remove my airbags, even though it is a significant amount of weight. I did, however, remove a different safety device - those 2 little red reflectors in the doors. I think it was around 1 ounce for both of them. No joke - I'm sick.

I also removed the interior side carpets and wheel caps because I like the way it looks better without them.

 

[3X163]

You could probably drill out the centers of the majority of the screws on the car. Since most of the screws are steel, it would add up quickly. I bet with just 200-300 hours of work, you could loose over a pound of material.

Also, speed holes.

Those are good ideas! I had to look up 'speed holes' - ha ha. Yeah, I'll probably start drilling holes all over my rear clam tomorrow. :crazyeyes

 

[<@¿@>]

I use titanium bolts...

 

[3X163]

I use titanium bolts...

Other than lugs, what have you replaced with Ti?

 

[CMP]

remove yourself. make it a remote control car. ;-)

 

[komiko]

have you seen DarkSol's webpage for his car? He has a breakdown of weights - of all his Elise part changes. A whole lot of parts changes. Haha. Interesting.
http://www.darksol.com/

 

[drchris1]

This didn't cost anything - I even had the matches lying around.

I think I saved about 600 pounds.

 

[Silver_Surfer]

I did the easy big things like new battery and muffler decat. All heat shielding (except motor mount shield). Got rid of the sound deadening (touring) and windshield washer bottle. Still have the carpets though. I plan on getting rid of the rear speakers because they are dead and I won't miss them. I only have 1 speaker that works, but I will go ahead and replace the dash speakers. But I'm not really concerned about getting rid of anything else (maybe seat weight). I am really more concerned about what I might add, but since I have a FF275 waiting to go on, anything I have already done is pointless.

 

[glb]

these ideas make little sense to me.

On a race car, sure.

But, for cars not tracked, seems silly.

Even at HPDE, it's not like:

• We are driving at 10/10ths everywhere, i.e. I recommend driving schools to almost everyone.
  
• We get $$ or a trophy for going .02 seconds faster.

My 2 cents.

 

[<@¿@>]

Other than lugs, what have you replaced with Ti?

Just the suspension bolts for right now...and caliper studs...

 

[Gunpilot]

Stop picking up fat girls!

 

[DarkAardvark]

My 2 cents.

I lost .18oz by leaving my 2 cents on my night stand.

 

[njboy]

OP if you are really as hard core as you say ditch the A/C.
Remove the passenger seat. Drive with the top off. And never fill your gas past 1/4 tank.
Remove your battery and start your car at home only.
I mean how much of a weight weenie are you really?

 

[Swic]

Hey AZelise, any chance you have a bulkhead panel (the one behind the seats with the speakers) to sell? Some crazy previous owner threw away mine...

 

[derrek1280]

Let your daughter drive it... ta-da! You lost 100 lbs!

I would agree that body panels are overrated... I mean, you don't go fast enough on a track to need them, anyway. I would also rip apart the transmission and just take out gears 4, 5, and 6 since you never go fast enough to need them anyway.