Well after much deliberation into how to get more power for my zed without TT, also considering the expensive less travelled road of the supercharger. I have decided to look at removing weight. After printing out the list of things to remove, from a post I found in the search mode I wasn't happy. Most of the things people speak of removing take away the cars practicality. Any who where am I going. I want to know the nitty gritty details involved in having the doors and front quarter panels made in fibreglass/carbon fibre/aluminium. Who's dunit, how much weight is there to be saved, and what is the cost. I feel this is the best option for dramatic reduction without tarnishing performance in any form. This mod would make no difference to the cars ability to perform any task and I would imagine a 100kg loss could equate to something like 20rwkw (only an educated guess).
Gotta be honest with you.. If you're willing to go to that much trouble to gain power from your NA then honestly why not look the TT route? Save the time and money from fiberglassing etc and put it towards a good TT. Just my 2cents Someone with more experience want to discuss the cost/benefit analysis with regard to the NA...
It would probably cost a small fortune to replace the panels And I doubt it would save you much weight since I suspect the thickness would have to increase using alternative materials. Replacing the engine block with an alloy one would save quite a bit of weight. Glass windows with polycarbonate plastic. Wheels are another good place to start and they also have rotations inertia in addition to linear inertia. I know I've mentioned this before but there have been advances in the way magnesium can be cast which has made it much cheaper to manufacture. Magnesium is 2/3 the weight of Aluminum and is of similar strength. I believe it's the lightest of all metals. There are a few manufacture which make wheels, strut braces, etc, out of magnesium.
To go to all that trouble why not just drop in a ttengine? Or just add turbos to your NA engine (Been done b4). Seriously to start swapping out panels for light weight ones is much more extreme than any of these. Plus your then messing with your safetly and that of others if you have an accident. If it was for an offroad car Id suggest the first thing to swap out is all the glass for racing glass.
Mate I think you may be a little... ... extreme with the doors just yet, but there are going to be easier ways to start getting the weight off. I think you could do far better on more simple methods first such as a lighter flywheel, lightweight exhaust system (titanium!!), lightweight tailshaft. Next you could go for all fasteners such as titanium/alloy nuts, bolts, studs and screws (this would shed some serious kilos). If you have targas and want to get some carbon fibre on the car you could start off with getting some custom made c/f targas, you could also replace the small rear windows with c/f panels. Seats are also a good place to strip weight with lighter racing seats. I reckon the rear hatch could be another good place to rid excess kilos, you could get a new hatch made up from fibre glass or c/f. Im suprised these are not already available with a wing moulded in.
Re: Mate I think you may be a little... If you do get some lightweight doors done up let me know so i can buy a copy
Do not comment if your suggesting a TT I'm sick of it, frankly I don't like the way turbos perform so please only answer my question.
Getting even more dis-heartened Did the maths and to get the same power to weith as the STOCK 300TT I would need to get to about 1100kg:wacko::wacko: Using the numbers for these two cars every 5 kg equates to 1 hp. How is this car so heavy, where is all the weight???
for those curious about lightweight doors see here >>> https://www.amzperformance.com/z32/...category_id=b42adad512581f28c948c3ae557cb0db&
Dont be too dis-heartened A mildly modded NA from this forum pulled off a 14.53sec 1/4mile. No 'weight reductions' as such and thats as good as some TT's times. For the NA's advantage they have higher diff ratio (but perhaps you can get it higher than 4.1 still if you dont mind cruising at higher rpm?) Raising the compression is another thing you can do but would be rather expensive and would require the best of the best fuel. An excellent set of tyres can drastically improve performance as well. If you replaced all the panels and glass etc, you might find it hard to register and even engineer as all the crumple zones etc would have changed.
Maybe you need to expand on what you dont like so we can be more specific Im not sure what there isnt to like with turbo applications so some info would help. Spool, maintenance, power curves etc? If your keen on staying NA, what about dropping in an LS1? Still an NA, much more power and cost effective to modify plus sounds unreal to listen too. Other option is a 200 shot of nitrous. Honestly, if its remaining on the roads and you want it "practical" I think your out of other options. Sell it and buy a lotus, now thats a light car
they would be nice minus the price tag, $800US each Plus I'd only fit them if I could get some sort of certificate to say they were safe on the road, without a roll cage
not interested in 1/4 mile times, just a better overall car. The engine is near the limit of developement as we all know. So I figured go less weight. I have concidered the V8 option. I'm starting to think I'll just keep it as is and not be bothered with making it faster. Reason why I dont like turbos is cause there not a totaly predictable power curve. I mean not like a consistant increase like an NA or S/charged engine. A lot of extras are needed for twin turbos too, all the piping, two turbos, intercooler(s), new exhaust, compared to a simple S/charger or V8. I would love to do the V8 swap but only if i could see it done and have a price from a garage before i started. With dynoed results and knowing will the tranny take the torque.
Surely....... these doors would be illegal in Aust? With all the rules and shit I can't see these as a good option (without rollcage as stated) But man 8lbs each!!!!!!! I wonder how weight that would actually save though? Work out how many $ it takes to cut 1 lb off the total weight. I think this would be a nasty figure, especially in Aust $. JMO
ls1 with edit, cai and exhaust will net you around 230rwkw, then you have the option of a cam, my mate put in an agressive cam with some porting of the heads, 302rwkw.. now believe it or not but the ls1 is LIGHTER than the vg30de. not only will you have LESS weight but your DOUBLING the power and torque.. with a diff ratio of 4.1, and a TT gear box, it'll be a high 11 sec street animal.
The engine is near the limit of developement Do you mean your engine? I dont think so! Your dreaming about fitting an 8 unless you have a truck load off money, and you dont like turbos, wtf! You want more power but refuse the obvious.:wacko:
Macman, I was considering moding my NA Sat down one day and went through the options. Weight reduction is a must, but ultimately you'll only save a couple of hundred kg's, if you strip it bare. The other was engine, balance, blue printing, etc, etc. Even with Nos, the best you'll get is about 200rwkw + -. After doing my sums, I was left with a very large bill that was unrealistic. After which, I went for a spin in a 400rwkw Zed. That was it. The extraordinary acceleration and tourque was awesome. I didn't give it a second thought and bought a 280rwkw Zed a few weeks later. I love my NA, but it's about $1k per 10kw to modify, it just dosn't make cents.
ls1's can be had for around 5k now inc loom etc.. fit it yourself, conversion shouldnt cost more than 7 all up. lets not forget you'd be the only one is oz with one
