Going on a diet.....

Ex Skyline · Jun 21, 2014

No,no!! Not me! I mean I have decided to put the '44 Turbo on a diet [

]. Nearly got nicked for speeding the other day but,
the "Plod" was a semi human sort of chap (for a change) and, let me off with a lecture [8|]. He also loved the car [8D]!!
Anyway, it got me round to thinking that, to get my speed kicks, I should turn Him into a track biased car and, do a few more
track days and, "Ring" visits [8D][8D]! So, I am going to put him on a strict diet and "strip Him out" [

]. I shall be putting a
full, welded-in roll cage in Him and, harnesses, fire extinguisher, get rid of the electric windows and, air con', tidy up the wiring
and, shove a pair of race seats in Him and then.....Off I shall Jolly well go [8D][

]!! I have always really wanted to do this,
(I guess it's just the "Boy Racer" in me screaming to get out) so, now I am going to [8D][

]!! Gonna go for that re-spray and,
maybe some tasteful graphics to complete the look. The wheels will be re-furbished too [8D]. I can't wait!!
Just wanted to share my next mid-life crisis with you all, my good forum buddies [

]!!

Masher · Jun 21, 2014

Welcome to the mid-life crisis crowd! I bought my car as 'track prepared' which included no sound deadening, bolted in half cage, recaro seats along with some engine mods (currently with Augment Automotive to remap and get the running spot on). With regard to weight saving I have often wondered how far you go.

Seats - originals certainly heavy and an easy swap.
Sound deadening - saves maybe 20kg so I hear. If you intend using on the road much... Is it worth it?
Taking out electric windows - by the time you put back in the winders will it save much?
Wheels are worth looking at since I understand savings in this area help the suspension and steering work better
It has always struck me the glass weighs a lot. I've no idea what the fit, finish and longevity of the plastic replacements is like.
Fibreglass bonnet, bumpers and front wings along with a plastic rear hatch strikes me as a good way of balancing weight loss on what is already a well balanced (if slightly porky) car.

As you can see, I have no strong opinions on the subject since I am never sure of the pay-off balance between weight loss and usability of the car. Maybe it depands on whether the car is a pure track tool.

One thing I know others have found satisfying is to weight the car now, weight each item off the car (and on with respect to the roll cage, fire extinguisher and seats) and weight the car at the end. I think this helps justify all the time, effort and money [

]

Above all else, have fun [

][

]
See you on track,
Mick

Ex Skyline · Jun 21, 2014

Hi Mick, I'm going to be as extreme as I can be regarding the diet. I won't be using it that much on the road mate, it really is
going to be a track focused car [8D]. I am probably going to have a carbon Fibre bonnet, mirrors and, a couple of carbon door
cards from EMC. Having spoken to Kevin at EMC, he strongly advises me to avoid the plastic glass route as, after six months you
can barely see out of them [

]! My attitude is; Fcuk it! It's something iv'e always wanted to do so, now I'm going to do it and,
"to Hell" with the consequences [8D][

]!! I'll be on the lookout for a light weight trailer soon too.

Eldavo · Jun 21, 2014

I had plastic windows on manual winders in my car. The plastic windows were rubbish and scratched if you looked at them and the glass isn't that heavy either. The manual windows couldn't be opened when harnessed in - no fun with no aircon or sunroof so leccy windows back in.

I have the EMC CF doorcards - they're made by ClubAutoSport also in Birmingham so buy direct to save about £40 each. They were £120 + VAT each but I got a 50% discount on mine as I wasn't happy with the finish and I don't think this was a one off. They do GRP ones for £60 + VAT so I'd be tempted by those.

I've got no sound deadening but have replaced the carpets - it's decent compromise.

With a full cage you're really making road use difficult unless you wear a helmet all the time.

To give you an idea on weight, I've got a half cage, buckets, harnesses and extinguisher - air con removed and am 1300kgs wet.

Pete - The more track-focused you make the car, the less road use you'll have and it'll be less enjoyable too. I'm just going to come out with it; you've hardly used the car due it being constantly in the garage, so you flit between selling it or not, when you drive it you proclaim you're never getting rid and you're going to do this that and the other to it. Your car is becoming the poster boy for the modified turbo that never gets used. Just drive it and spend as much of the year with it on the road as you can. I enjoy the spannering and tinkering side too so can do that on my terms and my time. If you have to get a garage to do everything then the car is away for far too long and this radically diminishes your enjoyment of it.

It's a very tidy car, enjoy it!

944 man · Jun 21, 2014

Neil started a very helpful thread about parts weight. Worth seeking out. The only window really worth changing is the back one, but youll need to equal the weight loss at the front too, or youll upset the cars handling somewhat. Polycarbonates main advantage in the side glasses is its strength.

I went to quite extreme lengths in my series one car and the performance certainly improved (G-Tech said 180whp at standard weight - so it performed in gear like an S2!).

Cater_Racer · Jun 21, 2014

Kevin has a thing about plastic windows. but he's not always right.

I've had mine in for 3 years now, just took this photo this morning looking through the plastic:

Through side door and out the back...

Gerry

944 man · Jun 21, 2014

I believe that his real objection is that you cant polish them up, like you can with glass.

T3rra · Jun 21, 2014

Unless you want because the race car look. Strip out comfort bits. May save weight off one person. More power you make the more that 100kg makes

944 man · Jun 21, 2014

Lost weight is felt when accelerating, but its felt far more, or rather the benefit is far greater when braking and cornering.

944Scott · Jun 21, 2014

I lost over 6 stone so I didn't have to strip my car out [

]

Now I have to run around in the shower to get wet [

]

Ex Skyline · Jun 22, 2014

ORIGINAL: 944Scott

I lost over 6 stone so I didn't have to strip my car out []

Now I have to run around in the shower to get wet []

Actually Scott, I could do with losing six stone myself so, I think I'd better go on a diet as well [8|].....Seriously!!

Dave', let me explain mate, firstly my '44 Turbo is a "Toy" and, as such, it only gets played with when I get the time. As we are
stupidly busy at work, these times are getting few and far between [8|]. As a Plumber and, Commercial Heating Engineer, I can
find my way around a tool kit. However, rather than 5od about reading Haynes manuals and the like, I find it more financially
viable to go out and do what I do, to earn the money to be able to pay an expert (usually Jon' Mitchell), to do what they do to my
car so, when I eventually do get a bit of free time, the car is there ready for me to enjoy (just like today in fact) [8D].
Now, as I almost got nicked for speeding the other day and, got away with it by the skin of my teeth, I got around to thinking,
life would be a b1tch for me without a driving license. In fact, my business may suffer somewhat [

]. And so, I came up with the
idea of turning Him into a track day tool, albeit a road legal one (for the occasional little sprint up and down the Sea front [

].
Now, what could be wrong with that? Every time I say I'm thinking about selling Him, It's usually when I haven't sat in Him or,
even seen Him for a while and, I get to thinking that He is taking up too much space and, should be used, abused and enjoyed to
the Max [8D]! So now I have come up with the perfect solution (especially as I hate garage queens) of turning Him into a track
day weapon [8D][

]. So, that's what I am going to do and, I will make a First Class job of it too! If it wasn't for the fact that I
can't get a racing license at the moment, I would also have a go at club racing as, it can be fully tax deductible [

].

Eldavo · Jun 22, 2014

There must be some weird thing going on with track cars as every car I've owned has been a "she" but the 944 is a "he".

The fact that you already call yours a "he" must be a sign

Ex Skyline · Jun 22, 2014

All my cars are "He's" Dave. Always have, always will be. Nothing weird about that. I'd tell you the reason why but, I'd probably
get banned from the forum.

944 man · Jun 22, 2014

Speed. No medical.

Ex Skyline · Jun 22, 2014

Erm...go on Simon? What do you mean?

944 man · Jun 23, 2014

A 'Speed' licence. Hillclimbs and sprints. The PCGB championship is excellent too, as it allows modified cars to compete as road cars, so a few upgrades don't see you in with the modified mentalists.

edh · Jun 23, 2014

Some weight saving is well worth it - I'd agree with Dave & try & keep it a bit road friendly. Go for the big savings first. Also, for your car I'd be trying to make sure any changes are easily reversible. For example, keep th emain aircon pipes in place - they weigh nothing but are a big job to reinstate.

My car has carpets but no sound insulation, bucket seats, no cage. It's perfectly comfortable for long european trips, and much sharper for trackdays. (You might find standard KW springs a bit soft for a track car though)

Ex Skyline · Jun 23, 2014

Thanks for your input chaps. I probably will keep the main air-con' pipes in but, I am going to strip everything else out and, start
from there [

]. If it all gets to be a bit too much ie noise, vibrations etc, then i'll have a re-think. But, as of September, it is all
coming out [

]. It is most defo' going to become a track day/"Ring" car first and foremost with just a minimal amount of road
use in the summer months and, I do mean minimal. Thanks for the hint about Sprints and Hill climbs Simon [

], I used to go to
Prescott every now and then with a cousin of mine who, used to compete in Hill climbs in his 1949, Frazer Nash, Le Mans Replica.
I had forgotten all about them and, you say, you don't need a racing license? Now there's a thought [8|]. Splendid [

]!!

944 man · Jun 23, 2014

You need an MSA licence to compete, but it isn't a 'Race' or 'Rally' licence. Its particularly for 'Speed' events and you don't have to take proficiency tests or pass medicals to obtain it.

Remember too that you don't need to go to your own doctor for an MSA or HGV medical and plenty of people will complete the form for about £50 with a cursory examination.