Does anybody know the weights of the car body parts?

[MattGWilson]

Just wondering if anyone knows the weights of the following parts:
Bonnet
Front wings
v6 door parts
side pods
rear quarters

Thanks in advance guys/gals.
I'm asking because I was wondering what weight could be saved by having a full carbon conversion.

Matt

 

[Kett]

Hi Matt

I'm not sure there's a "whole lot of weight" in the body panels.
A standard Clio (non-v6) is quite a light car. The V6 merely has some glassfibre body extensions.
I believe that the bulk of the excess weight can be found underneath (sub-frame etc)...
...much to everyone's frustration! :evil:

Regards

Kett

 

[Jamesv6]

A couple of weight topics Matt.

Ray has looked into the CF area so he may be able to advise further.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10540

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=11678

I could only tell you the packaged weight of parts ie
side pod = Packed weight : 1,150 g
rear quarter Packed weight : 6,550 g

 

[Williams]

The roof spoiler on the 255 is quite a weighty item. I asked Streamline for a price on a CF one, but they dont make one.. as yet. They would need a minimum order of 6 i think Bic said.. and for an 'unfinished' spoiler ready for painting, would come in at about £300.
Another relatively easy and heavy item is the boot lid. These are already available, but I have no idea on cost or composite of the one I felt the weight of.

Shaun

 

[MattGWilson]

Cheers guys, I'd be interested in the carbon fibre spoiler if you want a name to add to the list of 6? Phill (russo) may also be interested although, I think he has a trophy on at the moment.
I'll have to look into the boot lid, the more weight lost, the better, if anyone has any further details on these please let me know!

Matt

 

[T1RBO]

In our quest for weight loss, by far the biggest culprit were the doors.

I'm not sure why the standard ones are so heavy but we are now on steel frames with fibreglass skins.

I did try full fibreglass ones but the frames are too flimsy at the A-post, and, at speed, the doors bowed out about a foot :rofl:

 

[MattGWilson]

T1RBO, is yours the dragon 2000 car? Just looking at your avatar....
Any reason why you didn't go for a carbon door?

 

[v6Max]

Doors are indeed the heaviest "panels" thank side impact protection for that; don't bother with the GRP doors from the people on eBay they don't fit properly (unless you want to get wet and possibly sucked out at speed).

If you do go down the replacement door route don't forget that lightweight will mean no side impact protection - the choice is yours.

Rear tailgate is quite heavy and the company selling the non fitting doors does a GRP replacement that is considerably lighter and does it after a bit of fettling.

Bonnet is not very heavy either - the carbon fibre bonnet sold by K-Tec is only about 1kg lighter (probably due to the fibreglass skeleton the CF sits on).

Subframes are not as heavy as you'd perhaps imagine - the rear one is only 20kg for example. The front one is probably around the same.

You've got some weight tied up in the glass as well which you can replace with Lexan etc.

But... why are you trying to get the weight out and how far are you prepared to go? It'll cost you less and get more weight out by removing things like the interior, replacing the seats (each one is around 20kg) with lighter ones, losing the airbags etc etc.

 

[MattGWilson]

I am looking for Recaro's, they are items that I can bid on from time to time when the appear, but with replacement pannels etc. I'm prepared to buy them new since you just don't see them up for sale 2nd hand.

Thanks for the info so far by the way all.

Looks like on my shopping list is boot, lexan back window and possibly a carbon spoiler. I'm always on the lookout for recaros too.

 

[T1RBO]

I do have quite a lot of panels that I don't need including tailgates with, and without, Trophy spoilers. I'm sure that some are ally, some fibreglass.

They will all need painting but I can have a search if you can't find what you are after.

Lightest seats that I've had are Motordrive. I have the carbon SPA Hans ones now and they are twice the weight of the Motordrives.

At one point I got the car down to 960kg but even with lexan/fibreglass etc, I'm now up to 1100kg or so.

Don't do all this on a road car though, you'll spoil it and decrease its value at the same time

 

[Mike T]

diet
no passenger
no passenger seat
no passenger airbag

sorted

 

[MattGWilson]

I'm definately not going to rip out the interior, all the parts I change on the car, I intend to keep (not that I intend to sell the car). Which is why I'm interested in the body parts. I guess I'll stop looking for Recaros and look for motordrive ones instead!

I'm very grateful for the info you've shared with me!

I'll look around for a boot and indeed, I'd be happy to take one off your hands if it's not what you need any longer.

Matt

 

[ray]

the bits your looking for mat are few and far between and when they do come up the predators on here will get to them long before you even get a sniff and every thing you are after are a mint so get used to shelling out the cash welcome to my world

 

[Spike]

ahh ray, theres never any bargains left int pound shop tha knows.

 

[ray]

i never have that much left to spend

 

[k1ano]

For information a set of c/f or kevlar Recaro seats comes in at abour 14 kg rather than about 50 kg for stock seats, this is a major weight saving also ... Recaro replacement seats of the trendline variety aren't much lighter but are of course more comfortable ...

Martin

 

[MattGWilson]

I've sorted seats now guys, getting them fitted on monday, gone for the motordrive ones, 4.5Kg each )

 

[Kett]

4.5Kg each )

WOW! [smilie=icon_eek.gif] :approve:

 

[k1ano]

I've sorted seats now guys, getting them fitted on monday, gone for the motordrive ones, 4.5Kg each )

Actually you have made me think, I think my kevlar seats are 5 kg not 7 kg ... They are very light and when I worked out the power to weight increase based on the stock vee kerbside weight of 1400 at 255 hp the seat saving alone was around 7 hp (3% weight reduction).

OK these are ball park figures but they represent a tangible difference.

Martin

 

[T1RBO]

The Hans SPA Recaro ones that I have are listed as 7kg but compared to the Motordrives, something is not quite right as they are way heavier. I did think that maybe the 7kg was the 'shell' only i.e. without the cushions.

In a road car, Motordrives are a great way to save weight, for motorsport they have too little head protection for my liking.

Great choice Matt.