Reducing Vehicle Weight

[rsperegrin1]

Hello,

I want to trim weight from my '75 280z. I would love to drop 350lbs. Any one have any experience and can give me some advice?

Thanks

Robert

[Perfect240Z]

Get a 240z?

[beermanpete]

What are you planning to do with the car? For track use there are a lot of items that can go. Heater, A/C, wipers, bumpers, carpet, trim, and so on. The seats are heavy compared to racing seats. These can easily add up to 200 pounds.

[rsperegrin1]

My bad, I should have been more specific. Road only, light to light, I would like to focus weight reduction on body, if possible. Seats yes, heater, AC, PB, PS etc I would like to keep

[psdenno]

Remove the spare tire. Only fill gas tank to 1/2.

Dennis

Edited April 11, 2013 by psdenno

[Jeff G 78]

Keeping the PS will be tricky.

Seriously though, you can shed about 80 lbs by replacing the big bumpers and shocks with either 240 chrome or fiberglass/CF bumpers. Besides the bumpers, you can ditch the spare tire and jack/tools, replace the iron exhaust manifold with a header, install a smaller battery, remove the mastic from the interior, and install a fiberglass or CF hood.

[black gold man]

PS= play station

[jmortensen]

So you want to drop 350 lbs worth of body panel weight? I don't think that is going to happen. The Z panels are pretty thin to start. You could get a carbon fiber hood and hatch, try to round up some fiberglass doors and front fenders, but I'd guess that this would get you maybe 200 lbs (with the FG doors gutted).

Get a 240Z is pretty good advice. My 70 with Autopower roll bar, 5 speed, L28, R200, extra sound deadening, very heavy wheels, and heavy seats weighed in at 2350 lbs.

[SteveJ]

Have you gotten your car running, yet? I have a sneaking suspicion that there are more important issues for you to attend to than trying to reduce weight. Make sure the car runs right and all of the components (especially soft hoses) are in good order.

[240260280z]

[SteveJ]

There's always this guide...SCC Technical Assistance Program- Sport Compact Car Web

[gnosez]

Stock interior door pulls had numerous 1/8 inch holes drilled on early race cars.

BTW, the difference between FG and metal body parts (fenders & hood) will not yield 200lbs unless you got a complete FG car save the roof (doors, hatch and rear qtrs).

Replacing the rear hatch glass w/lexan will help.