Door glass & regulator, Anybody know what they weigh? Options

[campbellcj]

I am planning to convert to f/g deck lids and probably a "skin" top later. But I am looking for anywhere else I can skim off weight in the meantime, whilst still keeping the car in a basically factory-looking configuration which is both required for the class I run and also what I want.

The car is already highly gutted so the "obvious" stuff is long gone.

Here are some options I have thought of so far:

1) Remove door glass and regulators (I need window nets anyway)
2) Rear glass -> Lexan
3) Dry cell race battery
4) "S" alloy calipers (I have A calipers now; same size but much heavier)
5) Body weatherstrip/seals

After this stuff I don't think there would be much else that could be removed, other than starting to sawzall-out large sections of metal and head down the semi tube-frame route, which is not really in the plans for this car.

I would consider gutting out the doors completely, window stuff & metal. Right now (thanks to the PO) I have 1 early door and 1 late safety-beam door. Does anybody know what the door innards weigh?

I need to look this up (again) but I think I can run at 2050lbs, which is pretty aggressive for a steel-bodied six with full cage and safety gear.

[campbellcj]

Oh yeah...for now I am trying to keep it "barely street legal" so it still has a wiper motor, headlights, etc.

[J P Stein]

Come winter I'm gonna do some measuring and sketch up a thingy.....then find someone with a mill. Those head light motors are gonna be history. I gots a plan....

How much does your car weigh now, Chris?
I can go to 2100 lbs....er ... degrees in class. My WAG is I'm 100 lbs over that now & "barely street legal" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[campbellcj]

I have thought about doing a manual headlight setup like the GT's. But I figure the lamps and bracketry prolly weigh about as much as the motors (?) Doesn't seem like a lot of bang for the buck compared to the other stuff I listed.

Actually I don't know what the car weighs now. It was right around 2000lbs before the six conversion and mondo oil cooler, which obviously added a fair amount. I will try to get it on the scales soon, to get a new baseline before another round of lightening.

[J P Stein]

I have thought about doing a manual headlight setup like the GT's. But I figure the lamps and bracketry prolly weigh about as much as the motors (?)

I agree.......but that ain't what I'm gonna do. I believe in KISS.

[URY914]

1. Those little headlight motors are heavier than they look and there is hareware that goes with them.

2. Also pull all the freash air vent crap that is at the base of the windshield.

3. Get a lightweight f/g targa top-those stock ones are heavy and it is the highest point of the car so changing it will lower the CG.

4. Doors- glass is heavy but the doors themselves are heavy. Get f/g one but they are $$$.

There is much more of course.

Paul

[drew365]

There is much more of course.

Maybe Paul should start a fat camp for 914's.
"300# in 30 days, guaranteed!"

Chris; I'm probably mistaken but I though we had to maintain windows in the car? Probably not for the V classes though.

[campbellcj]

Paul - Ventilation system is already gone. Maybe I will expedite the 'skin' targa top though; good point about how high up that weight sits.

Andy - Uhoh, I'd better RTFRB (read the fine rule book) -again- before I tear into anything. You may be right about the door glass. I suppose I could look into Lexan with manual pulls/sliders, but that is a PITA

[URY914]

Another thing-
Go through the car and take every little nut, bolt, clip, bracket, wire, switch, screw, washer, etc, etc, etc out.
This little crap adds up.

Paul

[seanery]

won't it fall apart? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[URY914]

OK, slight clearification...

Remove only those parts that aren't doing anything to make the car go or stop.

Paul

[SirAndy]

what year is your car? 73?
if you can't afford FG doors, make sure you get early doors without
the extra side impact schtuff. the early doors are MUCH lighter ...

Andy

[campbellcj]

Chris; I'm probably mistaken but I though we had to maintain windows in the car? Probably not for the V classes though.

Nope; you're correct -- for POC "V" classes we have to keep all the windows in factory locations, although the glass can be swapped for "alternate materials". It technically does not say that the window lifts/regulators have to be kept unchanged either, so it seems like you could do lexan windows with simple slider lifts?

Also we can do just about any body part in f/g or c/f including doors and fenders. Dunno how you'd keep stock-ish windows w/ fiberglass door skins though...