scooter Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Ive seen the fabbed crossmembers floating around for sale for motor swaps and such, i was wondering if anyone has tried making one out aluminum plate? Would it be worth making one for a weight reduction? Whats your thoughts? Im looking for things to get the weight out of my car without making the inside look ghetto or like a race car. Quote Link to comment
Ratwagon1600 Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Slightly off topic. Years ago I decided to remove all the body deadener from my car (inlcuding what was on the underside). I got approximately 7kg (15.4lbs) out of the car. Other things: Perspex/lexan windows Smaller fuel tank Lighter wheels Lighter seat(s) Different brake calipers (can also reduce unsprung weight) Fibreglass bumper bars, bonnet, boot lid, guards Lightweigh battery (Lithium batterys can be lighter than lead acid) Take a big 5hit Dont know about aluminium cross member. Not saying it cant be done though. Quote Link to comment
TENDRIL Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 i think it could be done however thats alot of stress/torque on alum parts 1 Quote Link to comment
scooter Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 I like the idea but to make it strong enough i think it may end up weighing as much as the stock one 3 Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 CXRacing makes one. It looks like crap. 1 Quote Link to comment
scooter Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Thanks for letting me know that lol... Thats kinda what i had in mind, maybe make the cross plate flush with the bottom, i have no clue of the 510 crossmember has the same pivot height as s10 200sx, or the same width, bolt pattern etc... Does one of you guys have dimensions for a 510 crossmember to crosscheck this? The cxracing crossmember weighs 13 pounds, what does a stock one weigh? Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 CXRacing makes one. It looks like crap. ^ That. A hefty sneeze would dislodge the welds on that thing. Quote Link to comment
scooter Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Yeah fair enough, maybe ill look elsewhere for weight savings.. The car is going in a pro touring direction but i want it to just decimate at autocross next spring.. Bwahaha Quote Link to comment
tr8er Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Being that it is such an important part of the suspension, I'd likely keep it steel. I doubt you would drop 8 pounds. Helium in the tires might help. Quote Link to comment
INDY510 Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 The cxracing crossmember weighs 13 pounds, what does a stock one weigh? 5.8 kilograms Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Forget the cross member. Aluminum would have to be too thick for the same strength. Titanium but too costly and hard to work with. Put battery in trunk or under car. There's over 5.8 Kg removed from the front and better placed to the rear. Quote Link to comment
scooter Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 I'm going to make a recessed box that comes down to Frame height under the back seat for the battery, and mount a fuel cell where the spare tire well is. it might not be much lighter, But at least it'll get the weight back more and a lot lower in the car. That should make for a lot more trunk room too. I'm also thinking of ditching the leafs for a 3 link setup when I swap the rear diff. Aaanndd the ugly and heavy as fuck stock bumpers are comming off, going to make some that are a little nicer and a lot lighter. Quote Link to comment
TENDRIL Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 i can tell you the weight difference between a gutted 510 door and a complete one is really noticeable Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 You need the regulators and handles on a 2dr. You could strip the rears of a 4 door. The battery does not need to be a group 27 it can be much smaller and lighter. Leaf springs are simpler and provide lateral support. Easy to add leaves for stiffness and blocks to lower the ride height. Lighter 'mag' rims that are in a 14" or 15" size for more tire choices. Lighten anything that is spun by the engine... lightened flywheel, aluminum tube driveshaft, mag rims. Get a '78 or newer internally regulated alternator and get rid of the regulator. 1 Quote Link to comment
TENDRIL Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 lose the hood Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Go on a diet? 2 Quote Link to comment
scooter Posted November 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Going on a diet wouldn't be a bad idea Quote Link to comment
q-tip Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Aluminum crossmember wouldn't be worth the trouble. You really want to save weight, get rid of the glass and put a tiny lithium battery in it, I know a guy that has one in his quarter midget that weighs 5lbs. Quote Link to comment
scooter Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I was looking at light batteries and that's going to happen, right now it has a heavy ass group 24 in it right now. If it was a real race car I would lexan the windows but not for the street :P Continuing with the light weight theme, Whatcha think about aluminum hubs? Ermish sells them, I could probibly make them... Quote Link to comment
TENDRIL Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 And this is still a street car? He sells those I'm assuming as a race track item probably not dot approved, because you hit a curb get a slight bend start to wobble, starts to wear the soft alum. One day you decide to open it up on the freeway 80-90-115 mph and BOOM your wheel is racing you now and is a Prius crushing torpedo... Just saying things can happen Not to mention your car is nose diving to start to spin out of control hit pot hole and a slow motion tumble begins Quote Link to comment
q-tip Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 And this is still a street car? He sells those I'm assuming as a race track item probably not dot approved, because you hit a curb get a slight bend start to wobble, starts to wear the soft alum. One day you decide to open it up on the freeway 80-90-115 mph and BOOM your wheel is racing you now and is a Prius crushing torpedo... Just saying things can happen Not to mention your car is nose diving to start to spin out of control hit pot hole and a slow motion tumble begins Good times.... 1 Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Fiberglass/carbon body panels will save lots of weight. Up high too. Quote Link to comment
scooter Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Tendril, its more like a weekend warrior kind of car, im my experience with race car parts is that if theyre made properly theyre very tough. Im not really worried about it not being dot approved. This things pretty much a race car with glass, lights and liscence plates. No inspection rules or smog here :) Im sure if i get pulled over by a cop on a bad day it wont be a good time, fuck it.. Its got "dot legal" tires on it haha. If i could get fiberglass/carbon panels for the old 200sx, id buy them. 1 Quote Link to comment
Chopper Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Like Datzenmike said move the battery to the trunk....better yet use a 15lb AMG Braile and take off 30 plus lbs....I'm doing this with my VG transplant. I'm almost to the installation point.....I'll post some pics this weekend as I'm starting the wiring and remote battery install. Also upgrade to an aluminum radiator....probably at least 5lbs there. Not much weight savings in the fiberglass fenders, but a glass hood without the inner stiffener and use hood pins. Somebody mentioned seats...definitely a weight loss here with a race type seat. Loosing the rear qtr glass is also pretty big, easy to make these out of slim lexan...rear glass has a flat enough profile that it can be done in thin lexan as well....don't want to do this with the front glass though...if going lexan up front it needs to be thick and treated. Glass bumpers or none at all Chip Quote Link to comment
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