Weight vs HP
01-03-2003, 11:20 AM
#2
Drifting
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Espoo, Finland
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Depends a lot on what kind of a car you're talking about. In my case (N/A), the cheapest way would be to go on a diet... but on a stock turbo, just chipping it would get instant bang for the buck.
01-03-2003, 04:49 PM
#4
[quote]Originally posted by K27w:
<strong>What do you think is the most economical way to gain performance, lose weight or increase HP.</strong><hr></blockquote>
The problem with losing weight is; where do you want it to come from? Are you willing to gut your interior if you drive the car often? I've always heard 'lose 100lbs and gain a tenth' of a second. Easy way to lose ~100lbs is to switch to racing seats and remove the folding back of the rear seats.
What are you willing to do?
Daniel
<strong>What do you think is the most economical way to gain performance, lose weight or increase HP.</strong><hr></blockquote>
The problem with losing weight is; where do you want it to come from? Are you willing to gut your interior if you drive the car often? I've always heard 'lose 100lbs and gain a tenth' of a second. Easy way to lose ~100lbs is to switch to racing seats and remove the folding back of the rear seats.
What are you willing to do?
Daniel
01-03-2003, 05:49 PM
#5
Race Director
A few months back, Sport Compact Car explored the question of how losing weight affects acceleration (but nothing about braking and handling which also benefit). They took a current model Sentra (factory car that was to go to the scrapper anyway) and gradually stripped it and then cut the body away a bit at a time. I cannot remember the improvement in 1/4 mile times, but it was an interesting intellectual excersize.
Trending Topics
01-03-2003, 06:03 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[quote]Originally posted by Geo:
<strong>A few months back, Sport Compact Car explored the question of how losing weight affects acceleration (but nothing about braking and handling which also benefit)... </strong><hr></blockquote>
When I read that I thought "well duh." With the typical "sports compact car' crowd only worrying about beating that other Civic to the next stoplight, it is a surprise that's all they thought about? I know it's a bit of a generalization, but it's also a pretty true one.
<strong>A few months back, Sport Compact Car explored the question of how losing weight affects acceleration (but nothing about braking and handling which also benefit)... </strong><hr></blockquote>
When I read that I thought "well duh." With the typical "sports compact car' crowd only worrying about beating that other Civic to the next stoplight, it is a surprise that's all they thought about? I know it's a bit of a generalization, but it's also a pretty true one.
01-03-2003, 06:10 PM
#9
Nordschleife Master
[quote]Originally posted by DangerIsland:
<strong>
When I read that I thought "well duh." With the typical "sports compact car' crowd only worrying about beating that other Civic to the next stoplight, it is a surprise that's all they thought about? I know it's a bit of a generalization, but it's also a pretty true one.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually SCC writes some good articles, they did a great set on boost controlers and how the differnet ones performed with different types of wastegates. It may be filled with a lot of fluff but get by that and there are some very good reads.
One of the reasons they didn't do braking and handling comparisons I think might have had to do with the fact that they cut away most of the body and the handling would have been compromised and they would not want to put the driver in danger (but thats just my take)....
<strong>
When I read that I thought "well duh." With the typical "sports compact car' crowd only worrying about beating that other Civic to the next stoplight, it is a surprise that's all they thought about? I know it's a bit of a generalization, but it's also a pretty true one.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually SCC writes some good articles, they did a great set on boost controlers and how the differnet ones performed with different types of wastegates. It may be filled with a lot of fluff but get by that and there are some very good reads.
One of the reasons they didn't do braking and handling comparisons I think might have had to do with the fact that they cut away most of the body and the handling would have been compromised and they would not want to put the driver in danger (but thats just my take)....
01-03-2003, 06:11 PM
#10
Nordschleife Master
[quote]Originally posted by gleamingred944:
<strong>To gain performance, Driver Education!</strong><hr></blockquote>
And this is just so true, but beware it is very addictive...
<strong>To gain performance, Driver Education!</strong><hr></blockquote>
And this is just so true, but beware it is very addictive...
01-03-2003, 06:19 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[quote]Originally posted by ian:
<strong>
One of the reasons they didn't do braking and handling comparisons I think might have had to do with the fact that they cut away most of the body and the handling would have been compromised and they would not want to put the driver in danger (but thats just my take)....</strong><hr></blockquote>
I can just imagine someone sitting in a 1500lb shell of a Sentra with no glass, fenders, or anything, praying that the car doesn't break up at the end of the run. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />
But damn, was it fast!
If I owned any of the cars the SCC covered, or had any desire to, I might check it out.
<strong>
One of the reasons they didn't do braking and handling comparisons I think might have had to do with the fact that they cut away most of the body and the handling would have been compromised and they would not want to put the driver in danger (but thats just my take)....</strong><hr></blockquote>
I can just imagine someone sitting in a 1500lb shell of a Sentra with no glass, fenders, or anything, praying that the car doesn't break up at the end of the run. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />
But damn, was it fast!
If I owned any of the cars the SCC covered, or had any desire to, I might check it out.
01-03-2003, 07:05 PM
#12
Race Director
[quote]Originally posted by DangerIsland:
<strong>
When I read that I thought "well duh." With the typical "sports compact car' crowd only worrying about beating that other Civic to the next stoplight, it is a surprise that's all they thought about? I know it's a bit of a generalization, but it's also a pretty true one.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually it's a pretty strong over generalization. There are many very very knowledgeable and talented folks in the "sport compact" community. Unfortunately the riceboys and other morons are just the visible and that certainly hurts the "sport compact" community as a whole.
SCC is an excellent magazine with hard core editors. I know a number of the personally and they are as hard core as and as knowledgeable as anyone here. I'm not a fan of the new editor, Scott Oldham (who came from European Car). I think he's dumbing down the magazine and pandering to the riceboy crowd. I don't know if it's his decision or if these were his marching orders, but Larry Savaadera (former editor) had a much better vision for the magazine. Scott is reducing the technical content and shortening the articles causing them to be less in-depth. Still, they have some of the best technical content around, if less in quantity.
<strong>
When I read that I thought "well duh." With the typical "sports compact car' crowd only worrying about beating that other Civic to the next stoplight, it is a surprise that's all they thought about? I know it's a bit of a generalization, but it's also a pretty true one.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually it's a pretty strong over generalization. There are many very very knowledgeable and talented folks in the "sport compact" community. Unfortunately the riceboys and other morons are just the visible and that certainly hurts the "sport compact" community as a whole.
SCC is an excellent magazine with hard core editors. I know a number of the personally and they are as hard core as and as knowledgeable as anyone here. I'm not a fan of the new editor, Scott Oldham (who came from European Car). I think he's dumbing down the magazine and pandering to the riceboy crowd. I don't know if it's his decision or if these were his marching orders, but Larry Savaadera (former editor) had a much better vision for the magazine. Scott is reducing the technical content and shortening the articles causing them to be less in-depth. Still, they have some of the best technical content around, if less in quantity.
01-03-2003, 07:15 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
Too late already addicted to DE, but Fr- Rr seats, carpets, AC, carbon fibre hood and a few other bits and pieces should shed quite a bit of weight.
I see the likes of Lotus cars with 200hp or less posting pretty quick numbers with excellent handling characteristics and it's all down to weight.
I don't think you can chip away pieces of body work without compromising the structural integrity so I cannot see a track test being an option for the sentra
I see the likes of Lotus cars with 200hp or less posting pretty quick numbers with excellent handling characteristics and it's all down to weight.
I don't think you can chip away pieces of body work without compromising the structural integrity so I cannot see a track test being an option for the sentra
01-03-2003, 07:28 PM
#14
SCC makes for an interesting read, I enjoy checking it out from time to time. They explore interesting concpts and are good about quantifying the results, either by dyno or at the track. They pander to the rice crowd, but thats their target.
Besides, Machaivelli said it best, "know thine enemy"! Most of 'em are bad wings, stickers, plastic and coffee cans, but some of those cars CAN move.
As for the original question... on my NA, I would GLADLY take 5lbs less of wheel weight over 30 hp gain any day.
As for the 951, well... hehehe... chips do make a difference, and thats usually just the first step. Mine is sporting less weight than the factory intended, and I am planning on putting it on a very strict diet soon PLUS trying to hit the 320-350rwhp mark. Best of both worlds for me... Weight loss is cheaper on the wallet, until you get into replacing body parts with CF.
Regards, ...Scott
Besides, Machaivelli said it best, "know thine enemy"!
Most of 'em are bad wings, stickers, plastic and coffee cans, but some of those cars CAN move.As for the original question... on my NA, I would GLADLY take 5lbs less of wheel weight over 30 hp gain any day.
As for the 951, well... hehehe... chips do make a difference, and thats usually just the first step. Mine is sporting less weight than the factory intended, and I am planning on putting it on a very strict diet soon PLUS trying to hit the 320-350rwhp mark. Best of both worlds for me... Weight loss is cheaper on the wallet, until you get into replacing body parts with CF.
Regards, ...Scott
01-03-2003, 09:34 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
My car is just under 2400 without fuel. But then, that only works on the downhill side 
And it has all the comforts of ..............?
Alan
And it has all the comforts of ..............?
Alan