Lorax

Solo, have you seen that 1900lb all CF bodied rx-7 race car? I remember someone posting pics here a while back. That thing was SWEET.

And jeff: yeah.... maybe I should wait until AFTER I get out of orlando....lol Its just so tempting.

ivai

Solo: I think I remember in Guns' GTR info thread they said 2500 lbs.

MPD47

My car was 2650lbs or so last year, but it still had AC lines/compressor, power mirrors, a bunch of sheet metal im cutting out, tar coating in the interior, underbody coating, PS, stock alternator, glass side windows, etc, etc, when it was weighed (didnt run most of that during the season). I'm doing SERIOUS weight redux this winter. Goal is under 2500lbs wet. Shouldnt be a problem.

Skip Wolfe's car has GT Racing carbon 1/4 panels and The Racers Group carbon fenders. It (at one time) weighed 2450lbs. But I think it'll weigh in closer to 2550-2650 now (correct me if I'm wrong Skip).

MPD47

Oh yeah, and in terms of the carbon stuff for the cost, I wouldnt say it's worth it.

ivai

Yeah, I guess only if you're doing a full blown race car and have unlimited funds

Otherwise, fiberglass sounds like the way to go.

Lorax

Mike, How many hours did it take to make those FG panels look so good?

MPD47

I dont do body work, so I couldnt tell you. It's the only thing I dont do on my cars. You can be the judge of how my car looks if you come up to Fest (or I bring it down to Florida with me).

SoloRacer

I even bid on that car when it was for sale on E-bay. It ended up selling for $50K which is probably a steal when you consider all that was in it. I'll see if I still have pictures of it somewhere.

Lorax

Please post them up... that car was awesome!

333pg333

From what I gather the look or finish of the c/f or f/g panels is generally what is referred to as a 10' foot car. That is from 10' and further it looks ok, from any closer they look a bit kit car. It depends on how much weight you want to lose and why. As Mike has shown, there is plenty of weight to be taken out but at what compromise? If you're going to do a lot of track days then it could be worth it, but it will be noisier too once you start dealing with insulation.

MPD47

333pg brings up a good point. I hear absolutely everything in my car, I knew I would. I drive with the windows down nearly all the time (even when it's raining, ill just roll them up a small bit to keep most of the spray out). The car is hot, it's loud, and uncomfortable at times. But it's exactly what I want. Granted, I'm sure the solid drivetrain mounts, solid bushings, etc dont help any.

333pg333

Exactly. As an experiment take out the removable carpet in the rear of the car and see how much the noise increases. I do this on race days and I don't mind the extra noise but can imagine what it would be like with all the carpet out and insulation gone plus solid bushings and race suspension etc...the noise just gets transmitted so much moreso.

Skip Wolfe

This is one thing that the 911's have over the 951 in racing - the 911's have a fairly significant weight advantage. There is no way you can get under 2000# without going tube frame - this would be tough even for a 911. Here is the description of my car when it was originally sold by Chris Cervelli who built the car:

"All fiberglass or carbon fiber bodywork. Hood, nose, fenders, and bumper cover is Racer’s Group carbon fiber. Doors are from IFC. Rear bumper and ¼ panels are from GT Racing. The ¼ panels accommodate a 14-inch wide rear tire. The stock rear valance is place. Custom lexan rear window with authentic factory 968 TRS wing...The roll cage is a custom Chrome-Moly cage with gussets at key locations...This car weighed in at about 2350lbs with the engine and a 968 trans."

The car now has steel doors, a fiberglass front bumper cover, and a stock base torsion bar assembly vs. the Kokeln torsion bar assembly. However, the stock dash was replaced by a CF dash, the headlight assembly has been removed, the stock wiring harness was removed, and I am running Charlie Arms vs. the Fabcars that were originally on there. Not sure how much weight difference between the 951 motor/trans that I am running vs. the 968T motor/trans that Chris was running. I am guessing that I will be in the 2450-2500 lb range when all is said and done but I won't know until I load it onto my corner balancing scales.

If I were to go back to fiberglass doors and a Kokeln tbar assembly, which is likely just not this year, and a went with a Lexan windshield (not likely) and rear side windows (likely), I MIGHT be able to dip under 2,300. The car is a sunroof delete car does have a full steel roof but that seems crazy to fool with that.

333pg333

Skip, how come you changed so much on the car from what you'd bought it as?
Did you go back to steel doors for safety? Is this a pure track car which leads me to ask what's the fitting finish like for all the panels?

MPD47

333, so much was changed from when it was sold, because the parts from that car are owned by 5 different people now. Redlineman has the doors, I have the suspension minus the JRZ's, someone else has the JRZ's , 944 Fanatic has most of the engine stuff, and Skip has the chassis.

Not sure about the because I know Skip is really the one going