Light weight parts??

[Brett]

Can anyone recommend any companies that produce light weight good quality parts for the clio ie boot, doors, bonnet etc etc. My vee is soon to be fully stripped down for a full body overhaul and respray. The car must still look oem so panel quality and fit is pretty important.

Thanks

 

[Jamesv6]

MAx had some info good and bad. LINK

 

[Kett]

My business partner is buddies with a panel beater who can fashion parts out of aluminium. He was a whole time escort rally car panel maker not long ago.

Can't be that cheap though - whereas those CF bonnets might be found for reasonable cash secondhand.

Plexiglass should be straightforward enough...

Otherwise it's a very tricky exercise. It might be worth 'keeping it simple' and not bothering... as seen in some other examples in 'special projects' threads.

 

[Brett]

Yeah, wont be going aluminium Kett due to the huge cost but keeping it simple is my thought exactly.
For example. Currently one of my door skins have came away from the door so needs stripping and fixing. Im pretty sure im going to remove the originals (keep stored) and fit manual wind up window doors from a base model. The stock interior is hardly a lap of luxury so I'm sure I can live with the wind ups. Besides the manual windows I could also fit grp 1*2 door skins for the v6 skins to sit on which could offer yet more weight saving. The rear windows will definatly be lexan but the fronts will be glass. Not sure, but i think the 182 cup uses thinner glass so hopefully that will be an avenue for saving. The number one rule is it needs to look completely oem.

 

[Andrew]

Would say xsport racing in Basingstoke. I've got a carbon Kevlar bonnet on the 182 which is from them.
Some of the carbon fibre ones are not much lighter than standard as double skinned.

 

[WONGY]

Rickyricky3211 member from Hong Kong is having parts fabricated in titanium if your interested

Think he's looking to get below 1000kg

 

[looch]

Rickyricky3211 member from Hong Kong is having parts fabricated in titanium if your interested

Think he's looking to get below 1000kg

F**k me he must be loaded!

Cant really see the point of that with Titanium being a relatively soft metal

 

[Brett]

Titanium is a mega material! The only place it would save weight is in suspension and subframe components. To be honest, I'd love to get parts specially made from the stuff but I want the car to be relatively practical to use aswell as maintain. I have a few titanium parts for my other project and the cost is huge.
I'm not sure that a loss of over 300kg is possible on a road going vee. If it is, I heavily doubt you could use it in the colder months. Get some pics of that car up though!

 

[rustedandrotten]

could always go this route :rofl: [album]13998[/album]
getting rid of the roof and doors would save a whole heap of weight :bow: I believe a bunch of frogs grafted a Renault 4 body onto a Vee so this would be even lighter! :rofl: :race:

 

[WONGY]

Yeah think he's getting the parts done in China

Think he said 15-20k

Also adding turbocharger

But struggling with gearbox which is why he posted about power the box can handle

 

[Brett]

Ah I see. Part of the reason why I want to loose a little weight across the car is because the turbo's and all the assosiated plumbing and cooling weight. 20k is alot if your refering to sterlin!

 

[Bounoax]

I ordered a few parts from mc racing in France not that long time ago, a boot, a rear bumper and a rear wing. really cheap, I think I paid 150€ for the rear bumper and it's a pretty good fit, I'll be fitting the boot next week if all goes as planned. I looks like it needs a little work but it is straight, I'll let you know. The rear wing though was a waste of money, the form was probably made on a trophy car (with screw holes ) and is anything but straight, I won't be using it.
I'll take some picts and weight tomorrow if you're interested.
boot:
mc racing
cheers,
Benoit

 

[Brett]

I ordered a few parts from mc racing in France not that long time ago, a boot, a rear bumper and a rear wing. really cheap, I think I paid 150€ for the rear bumper and it's a pretty good fit, I'll be fitting the boot next week if all goes as planned. I looks like it needs a little work but it is straight, I'll let you know. The rear wing though was a waste of money, the form was probably made on a trophy car (with screw holes ) and is anything but straight, I won't be using it.
I'll take some picts and weight tomorrow if you're interested.
boot:
mc racing
cheers,
Benoit

Thats fantastic Benoit. Maximan mentioned MC to me yesterday and initially I wasnt interested due to language barrier and shipment. I have since read good things about them though. Pictures would be great as would a weight comparison.

Thanks

 

[WONGY]

Yes Stirling Brett!

He's got 4-5 cars including the only carbon fibred Elise in hk - a true petrolhead

 

[Bounoax]

Hi again,
Old boot (naked) 8200gr - new boot 2950gr
Old rear bumper 5200gr - new 2200gr
New rear wing only 1650gr, I don't know what the old one weights as it's still on the car... It looks like a pain to remove it, does anyone knows how to? It is glued??
I'll get back with some picts when I get home tonight.
Cheers
Benoit

 

[Brett]

Excellent work Benoit! The boot definatly seems a worth while saving allied to the fact a GRP boot also requires a lexan or similar window. I like the idea of getting rid of some weight from behind the rear wheels.
For your info, the spoiler is quite easy to remove. You will also be very surprised at how heavy they are considering they aren't that big.

 

[Bounoax]

I meant the rear fender when I wrote the rear wing not the spoiler... Sorry (i'm french remenber )

 

[Bounoax]

here are a few pictures
[album]14020[/album]
[album]14021[/album]
[album]14022[/album]
[album]14023[/album]
[album]14024[/album]
[album]14025[/album]

I would guess that the rear bumper would need 2-3h of work to make it fit perfectly, they are selling "light weight parts for competition use" so I guess that a little filler and sanding here and there is not so bad, especially for the price they're asking.
let me know if you need more picts and if you need help with ordering from them or any other french company
cheers,
Benoit