How to Lighten your Car
So, you are looking for that extra tenth on the strip, are you? Well, one way is to increase your power to weight ratio. There are two ways to do this, increase power or reduce weight (or or combonation of both so, technically, three ways).
Non racing lightening (road use and the odd track day or RWYB):
Empty boot of anything not required (take out spare tyre, jack, essential tools, spare bulbs, warning triangle, ec).
Clear rubbish from floor of car and glove compartments, door pockets etc.
Don't run with a full tank of fuel when on the track.
Fit lightweight, but rigid and comfortable, front seats.
Take out any easily removable carpets.
If you have fitted a huge ICE system and body kit, you are on the wrong website. You will probably feel more at home
Race lightening:
This is not an exhaustive list, just what I have done/thought of. The scope for lightening is only limited by your own imagination and finances.
First off, cut down on the burgers/beer/wine. What is the point of spending a lot of time and money reducing the weight of your car when you weigh over 250lbs?
Take out spare tyre and everything else in the boot, including carpet.
Remove radio, amp, speakers etc
Remove heater and associated pipework.
Remove rear seats if fitted. If not required by the regs, the passenger seat also.
Remove carpet and any underfelt, sound deadening etc.
Make sure only 1 1/2 threads extend past top of nuts.
Maximum 2 x bolt diameter of bolt thread in blind holes. Minimum is 1.5 bolt diameters.
Use half height nuts.
Don't use flat washers unless necessary. Replace locking washers with thread locker, lighter and more effective.
Now it gets more difficult (and more expensive).
Replace front seats with lightweight racing seats. Leave out passenger seat when not required.
Remove all unnessesary wiring.
Replace side and rear windows with Lexan or equivalent. A lot of race regs prohibit changing the windscreen.
Replace alternator with a lightweight racing item.
Same with starter, if available.
Small race battery. Lithium batteries weigh virtually nothing.
Replace front engine pullies with aluminium ones.
Wheel companies, such as Image Wheels, will lighten their already lightweight wheels further, based on your car's weight and planned use.
Lightweight body panels - fibreglass or, preferably, carbon fibre.
Lightweight, usually aluminium, front hubs.
Lighten rear hubs.
Drill brake discs. For short duration events, such as sprints, hillclimbs and drag races, you can also skim them
Skim backs of brake pads. Not recommended for circuit racing or rallying as heat buildup will be significantly increased, resulting in a deterioration of braking efficiency
Replace as many steel nuts and bolts as possible with titanium or aluminium, based on original bolt specification and intended use.
Centre drill bolts when reduction in strength does not compromise safety. Be very careful here.
You can also reduce the bolt head material. Again be very careful.
Replace steel items with titanium, aluminium of even carbon fibre, taking care to allow for the stresses the part will have to contend with.
Remove unnessary material from chassis. This needs to be undertaken with great care as you don't want to compromise its rigidity or structural integrity.
Replace steel fuel tank with aluminium version.
Lightweight flywheel, unless drag racing.
Lightweight propshaft, aluminium or carbon fibre. Carbon fibre has the added advantage of dampening drivetrain shock loads.
Lightweight CV joints and rifle bored driveshafts.
Aluminium diff casing if it isn't already and they are available.
Strip all paint from remaining body panels that haven't been replaced with GF/CF and replace with just enough to get desired effect. A few extra coats of paint can equate to a couple of pounds in weight
