Speaking from a hypothetical standpoint.

Giving the aftermarket industry about a years time to come out with new products, how much weight do you think can be shaved off the new Mustang?

Lighter engine components, carbon fiber, titanium etc.

50 pounds?
100 pounds?
More?

I guess I'm asking existing owners based on what they've seen, or been able to do to reduce weight with their current vehicles?

Just something to discuss whilst we pass the time.

 

If I exercise everyday I can shave 20 lbs off the mustangs weight

 

 

I think it will be difficult -- and not very cost effective -- to lose much weight. Considering the car will weigh in a around 3400 lbs, a loss of 100 lbs is around 3%. I don't think the seat of my pants would notice such a small difference unless is was taken from the very front or rear end (i.e. the bumper structure) and had a larger effect on weight balance.

The only way I can see creating a significantly lighter Mustang is to build a V-6 version with an alumimum block and heads and a very light load of options. Even then I can't imagine the car would be much lighter than 3200 lbs and would be hard-pressed to offer the power and torque of the GT's V8.

I would have loved to see a 2800 lb GT, but when you look at the competion for this size and performance, only the RX-8 (using the packaging and weight advantages of the rotary) even comes close to that kind of weight. I

 

Removing all of the interior trim pieces, carpet, insulation, speakers, amps, and headunit should be worth about 150lbs.

The '05 Mustang GT already will be using an aluminum block and heads, so I don't think there is weight to be lost in the engine bay, nor the suspension, as it already uses a coil-over shock setup.

Besides, when there are so many "power-adders" for the Mustang already, I think I would focus on which one will provide the best power for the money.

 

The car itself has already been on a diet,

the hood is aluminum, so are the lower control arms, so is the engine

Unless you want the car to be super-light for the track, you will have to gut the interior, power windows, etc.

 

I've already been working on that issue.

Lord knows we've got the time to do it

 

Gotta start working out to get into 'race weight'

 

On the current mustang replacing the k-member with a chrom-moly one saves 40lbs a dynabatt battery will save another 13 I think then light weight wheels as long as you don't go to much bigger will save about 5 each.

 

I will probably have to throw the spare tire out of the trunk, since my own personal "spare tire" is not as easy to get rid of...

 

What about using carbon fiber or fiber glass bumpers instead of stock bumpers? That could shave a few few pounds.

 

Yea, for about $8,000 bucks to have em custom made. You would loose about 20 lbs.

To save weight enough for race duty, only way to do it is ALL of it: interior fabrics, all seats but the driver seat(replaced with composite shell) dump all power acessories, sparetire, all insulation and interior plastics, replace glass with plastic except windshield, take out the air conditioning, lightweight wheels. Should save you about 400lbs.

 

Its a waste of money. I wouldnt bother with any of that crap. 3400lbs is not heavy. To save 700 lbs by going to advanced componets in the chassis and some body panels would cost you about $20-30,000 to do. Dont get stupid ricer mentality.

 

2 words

Speed Holes

Anyone on Blue Oval knows exactly what I'm talking about
Funniest thread I've read in a long time.

 

hittin BON now.............

 

Isnt that drilling holes in the main chassis????,,,,,kinda like they do on travel trailers???

 

Kev it was a really old thread on the Cobra board.
Too bad it doesn't have a search feature.

The basics of the story was the guy drilled holes in certain parts of the car to make it lighter.
But I mean...it was funny...

 

on main structural points i bet. It'd be funnier if he did.

 

i dont know why i am picturing someone riding on a milk crate,,,,,,with no interior,,,,,and holes everywhere all around

 

get rid of the spare, and back seat...and if you don't have side airbags, get Recaro racing seats. Ya can drop the power windows, but then ya can't lower the windows, unless you fabricate a winder or seatbelt pull.

This would be an intensive and costly overhaul...unless you are draggin for bucks or have a lot of free time, I don't recommend it. Grab an old 5.0 and put that on a diet, much cheaper, and just as fun.