More stripping out

[Tam Lin]

The rear hatch is certainly worth replacing. On my "track" hatch, we used the frame from a standard 944 glass hatch, bonded in a polycarbonate screen from plastics4performance.com, and the result is about 12 Kg lighter. Doesn't leak, and best off all, pressing the button in the footwell causes the hatch to open majestically under the pressure from even old worn telescopic supports.. For winter, I've swapped back to glass, as I missed the heated rear window in the mornings.

 

[333pg333]

I'm not sure if anyone makes a really good FRP or C/F door, but having felt the weight or more precisely the lack of, on a friends GT3 that is virtually a Cup Car, swapping to some of these would certainly impact on the lightening stakes.

I think in general you will see a line in the sand and have to decide if you want to cross it. By this I mean that as a dual purpose car, it will become obvious where your focus lies. A stripped and caged car on the road is going to become a pain in the bum after a pretty short time. As you get into the track side of things moreso, you will find that you want to get the car down as light as possible as it does make a big difference. Add to this some simple or not so simple mechanical improvements and you win in both depts. I am tossing a somewhat similar notion up at the moment. I don't know if I want to strip out my new replacement car and compete against the big boys, or wait for the project car, and keep some civility into what will be a pretty modified road / track car.

Having driven a race prepped M3 the agility and responsiveness was intoxicating. Just lacked that boost kick...but this can be overcome...

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: barks944

I thought it was pretty hard stuff, although I guess not as hard as glass...

Polycarbonate is quite soft and even the Margard coated type isnt durable. Acrylic is far more resistant to scratching.

 

[Peter Empson]

P4P were going to make some sliders with additional spacing for me to prevent scratching, I'm guessing this will be at the expense of wind noise however. I have seen some nice transparent 1mm seals which I was hoping to incorprorate somehow, but this has been put on hold for the time being.

 

[lali]

ORIGINAL: MarkK

Disagree,carbon door cards are superb= make the doors way lighter..

+1....

Everyone else is just jealous.

 

[333pg333]

Here's a link to a guy doing a full c/f lightened car. What is useful is his chart of all the parts that he has taken off and replaced or will replace. I have saved this chart for reference. Here's the link to a thread on Reutterwerks:

http://reutterwerk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10279

 

[MarkK]

Really want a carbon bonnet[8|]

 

[Hilux]

Now that I`ve lost the majority of the weight I can from my current *project* I cant be *rsed to spend loads to save the weight difference in a door card as I`m not a good enough driver to notice the difference or for it to make a noticeable difference..............................and without appearing cynical...............is anyone? [8|][8|]

I appreciate a cumulative weight loss is ideal however I would have thought that putting the money into good suspension etc would be a better bet and then a small healthy breakfast and having a light salad for lunch on a regular basis would offer equal weight savings []

I recently saw a professionally stripped out Fiesta on track at Mallory with everything possible done to lighten it clearly at great expense however the driver must have been at least 20 stone [&:]

Just a thought in case it helps, an aesthetic alternative is carbon effect sheeting

 

[Eldavo]

A friend had a carbon effect vinyl wrap on the roof and wing mirrors of his M5 and it looked very good. Although I suppose you would be adding a tiny amount of weight so perhaps counterproductive for this thread!

 

[MarkK]

I needed the carbon doors or something similar to tidy them aswell as shaving a bit of weight,the studio check(in pink) would have ruined the whole project,i would prefer some plain plastic to fake pretend carbon.Looking forward to having a drool at Mr Empsons CF bonnet on Sunday[].

 

[u63af]

collected the donor doors for the car last night. Cant believe the weight of them I will do a before and after weight of them when they are gutted without side impact bars etc. I have full cage now anyway so dont really need the them. I take it that 924 doors fit straight on without any mods?

 

[944 man]

Yes and very early ones wont have side impact protection bars either.

For polycarbonate windows I settled on fixed fronts without any holes and vented rears with clear NACA ducts and directional hose. Its a relatively quick and simple to swap over for a 'with reach-hole' front when required, or a 'without NACA duct for people to urinate in' rear when prudent... []

I agree with Neil about the real value of CF doorcards, but I do appreciate that the value of some parts extends beyond their actual contribution: and carbon formed door cars certainly make your car faster on the grid...


Simon

 

[u63af]

do the door vents / sliders leak at all? I will be using the car as a road car so wanted would prefer not to have water pouring in. May I add that i do live in scotland so the weather is sh*te all the time. Doors must be early 924 as there is no holes on the pasenger side for wing mirrors.

 

[MarkK]

Will you post some pics when you are done?

 

[Neil Haughey]

Interesting thread linked by Patrick, massive savings. Some of the guys weight figures for the original parts are miles away from mine, can a 951 steel bonnet really be 9Kg or so heavier then my S2 one?

The last few posts tally in exactly with what I have learned from this project, the vast majority of the weight saving is done by stripping apart and taking parts of the car. As an example when we took of the front PU it weighed 20 Kg complete, but this includes the bumper bar, the lights and the front valence and all associated brackets. The FG replacement part only weighs 6 Kg, however on a like for like basis the stripped down stock front PU doesn't seem to be hardly any heavier [].

Some of you guys follow the UK racing. I had a brief chat with Chris Dyer at the start of last season, looking around his car I noticed a lot of it looked stock. He even had standard steel wings and the body work looked like it had been scraped to loose underseal etc. He confirmed that the entire front end was stock components apart from the bonnet, he just stripped everything out he could and was no more then 10 Kg over the minimum weight limit.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Having said that these parts are miles lighter then the ClubAutosport panels and look like a factory replacement fit
http://teilecar.com/?body-parts,2,3

Check out the replacement doors [8D]

Shame that with the pound in the toilet those prices once delivery costs are added makes for a fair old wedge. You pays your money you takes your choice as they say.

 

[lali]

ORIGINAL: u63af

collected the donor doors for the car last night. Cant believe the weight of them I will do a before and after weight of them when they are guttedwithout side impact bars etc.

I have full cage now anyway so dont really need the them.

I echo what Neil said earlier... I really would leave the side impact bars in.


...no REALLY!!

 

[MarkK]

I wouldnt change my doors,i put my whole body weight on them(plus Kev at EMC would not approve of lightweight doors for saftey i reckon) to slide into the car over the roll cage,couldn't believe it when i had my getting in and out of the car lesson at EMC,didn't think the hinges would take the strain but they do/have done until now anyway..!Funny what you said about the front P.U,i sold my standard front P.U it weighed an absoloute ton compared to the GRP one the GRP one is like its made from eggbox material....?!My steel bonnet weighed an absoloute TON aswell but the GRP one i reckon is still too heavy it is also the weakest lookswise and is a bit ripply looking when its polished,first excuse i get i am going to ditch it for an unpainted carbon one[8D]

 

[333pg333]

Oh, I have finally had my c/f bonnet finished after being stuffed around by one guy and then the next guy took his time, but this is the result. Put some D9 hood vents in while he was at it. Looks a bit ricer but it will be going on a black car so I think it will be ok. Can always paint it.

The Backstory is that I bought this hood from Van Zweden (in Holland) at the same time as I met some of you guys when I was in the UK. When it arrived it was less than I expected in terms of finish so that's why I've had it sent away to be 'completed'. It has become a very expensive, long winded, and frustrating exercise. Shipping was not cheap either.
Ah well, live and learn...[]

 

[333pg333]

Here's a bit of a before shot.

As far as doors go, I don't think I'd be removing the cross brace unless I have a proper cage. You could pick up the doors off my friend's GT3 with one finger I reckon, so they are very enticing...but with a cage.