Ed Hughes

I'm really gonna want a ride when the diet is done!

nile13

Did you later weigh it with driver inside the car as well? I'm not liking those cross-weights so much as shown.

Analog Theory

We did this outside not nearly on level ground...the car was corner balanced and aligned at Rothsport not that long ago...

nile13

Jordan, that's good to hear.

The weight loss is actually really beneficial, it can be felt in every turn. I've been starving my autocross appliance, it's down to about 2,070 lbs. Need to get rid of another 100 or so, not sure where yet.

Flying Finn

Bill,

I'd call that more "locational" than personal...
I never missed the a/c in my 911 in Finland but if I didn't have it here in Miami...

cavlino

That's a good one I don't really need it in my parts so I don't mind not having it in the 993 but I would not remove it from my GT3

Analog Theory

What!? 2070lbs!?? How?

Cupcar

Given the choice between adding horsepower or its equivalent as weight loss, I will take weight loss every time.

For example if a stock 993 with driver weighs 3250 pounds and has 286 HP then weight to horsepower = 3250/286 = 11.36 : 1.

If we add 50 HP it becomes 3250/336 = 9.67

If we decrease weight by an equivalent = (9.67/11.36) X 3250 = 2766 pounds target weight.

3250 actual - 2766 target = 484 pounds required reduction.

So losing 484 pounds in this example is = 50 HP as far as acceleration is concerned, however every other performance criterion will improve as well: cornering, braking and steering response. The lighter car will be faster around a track.

The car will be easier on brakes and tires and there is no downside other than increased NVH.

nile13

It's my autocross appliance (Miata), not 993

NYNick

Is it actually possible to get a 993 to lose 484 pounds without turing it into a track car?

Cupcar

Probably not, 425 pounds takes a lot of work and removing the A/C and getting down to the bare creature comforts with heat and defrost for 2 people and still keeping the bumper beams.

If one removes the HVAC completely and uses lighter exhaust header plus removes the bumper beams 500 pounds reduction is in sight.

The 484 pounds was derived from picking 50 horsepower as a nice round number and working from there.

Removing 400 pounds is roughly the equivalent of 40 added horsepower in a 993.

Bill Verburg

Depends on what you want in a street car, the only amenity I kept is heat. No radio, AC, or insulation of any sort

I'm at 9.11 lbs/hp, very streetably, I could easily drive to the track or anyplace else if wanted to waste the tires,

honestly, the big 3 in order are weight, gearing and them hp/torque

nile13

There's also a question of what's "streetable". I can drive my appliance to the events, but would not want to drive it around town much (it's loud, it's hot, it's hard to get in and out of, it has no radio, it's stiff as a brick, it's dangerous in the wet, it doesn't start well, etc). But, hey, it lost about 15% of its initial weight.

trophy

The other option is to add power and loose weight Mine will be in the vicinity of 7.2 lbs/hp

IainM

Good discussion!

I've been thinking about unsprung mass as the biggest potential bang-for-the-buck modification for my car for the same reasons discussed here. I suspect that unsprung mass savings improve NVH, can't prove it yet.

Just put new rubber on and was impressed by 31lb rims with 28lb rubber. New rotors must have been another 20lbs. There must be close to 100lbs on each corner.

Saw an article on some kevlar/carbon fiber wheels that had same strength for 10lb savings. There must be NASA technology for light weight rotors? I don't see any of this available yet. Is it the safety approvals process?