Diet Update on the AWD Options

[KOU In3]

So far I've got 500 pounds out and weighed. About another 100 pounds in the garage awaits the scale.

I'm estimating another 150 pounds easy from various sources can still come out as I haven't even gotten around to pulling the AC system or emissions even yet. Plus a 30 pound reduction from ditching the stock hood (44 pounds vs 14).

The down side is the 100 or so that I have to put back in in terms or lightened stock seats and belts, gauges. Oh, and the nitrous bottle is another 20 pounds to drag around. I don't think I'll quite make my target weight at this point. But I do think I can sneak it under 2400 pounds.

I'll try to get a pic up in all it's ugliness here soon. Just wait till I paint the exterior it's planned FLAT black. Every last person I've mentioned it too has tried to talk me out of it. Who knows, maybe I'll even drive it some day.

[AWD DSM 1]

Sounds like fun!

Just be careful with that thing, with that much weight reduction, there has to be some comprimises in structural integrety. Are you planning on putting a roll bar/cage in it at any time?

[JBone]

Consider the cage. Yeah, I know it will add a good amount of weight, but after your first run in the "stitched together beast," we want you to still be alive to tell us about it.

Batteries not included so I bought an Optima. HA HA HA
That's funny.

[KOU In3]

I'm thinking pretty hard about front and rear, upper and lower strut bars. Anyone have any info on costs of a cage?

I have to admit I have that nagging fear in the back of my mind of "oh sh!t I bent the frame first time I launched it because I cut too much out". Like the idiots who decide to make a convertable at home by sawz-alling the top off their car.

Obviously I'm dragging my feet at adding back in the wieght and expense but I should at least look into it. Anyone know where and how much for a cage? Daryl?

[AWD DSM 1]

You *might* be able to make one if you have some welding ability. You would be more than welcome to stop and take a look at the one that's in my car anytime and get some ideas.

Strut tower braces would definately be a good idea. You plan on driving this car on the street too, right? My big concern wouldn't be bending the frame off the line, but loosing control at 120+ mph and rolling it, or getting t-boned by some idiot not paying attention. It'd be kinda nice to have the ability to hit a few corners now and then without fear of turning the car into a pretzel... you know the twisty kind....

[awd4kicks]

I have to admit I have that nagging fear in the back of my mind of "oh sh!t I bent the frame first time I launched it because I cut too much out".  Like the idiots who decide to make a convertable at home by sawz-alling the top off their car.

Your cutting on the frame!? WOW! Be careful or you will end up with a big pile of crumpled junk even if you do live.

I know that sounds over the top, but it only takes a small cut in the wrong place to allow a crack to propogate through other important areas of the structure. It's a cheap sheet metal unibody for cryin out loud.

Marcus

[KOU In3]

No no, even I'm not stupid enough to cut on the frame. But from my understanding even plain sheet metal adds some structural support to a car. Supposedly, hard top cars have more rigidity than T-tops or even sunroof models for instance.

That nagging fear of bending the frame is just a paranoid 'par for the course' attitude shining through on my part.