I did some research on weight reduction for the NASA Spec Neon SRT 2005 race rules, and I thought that I would post the information that I compiled. The listed weights of replacement parts are just examples of some available parts. Of course, there may be differences between replacement models and brands. I was not able to get all of the information that I was looking for. If you know the correct weights for some of the "?" areas, post them, and I will edit this post with them added. If any of the numbers are incorrect, please post so I can correct them here. All measurements are in pounds. I left out the really small stuff.
General Info:
Stock Curb Weight: 2970# (per Dodge)
Distribution: 62% front 38% rear
Fuel Tank: 12.5 gallons
The lightest documented SRT4 to date is the PVO SRT-4 Extreme Lightweight at 2400 lbs. It was stripped, with a single race seat, roll cage, and carbon fiber hood, front and rear fascias, decklid, and doors with Lexan windows, a side exhaust, SSR Comp wheels, Mopar Coilovers, and Stoptech brakes.
Removable Items:
AC system.........................22.5*
Front Passenger Seat..........43*
Front Seatbelts...................5*
Rear Passenger Seat...........10*
Rear Pass Seat Back...........30*
Rear Seatbelts....................7*
Rear Deck Cover................10*
Carpet.............................22.5*
Trunk Carpet and Pads........12.5*
Sound Deadening/Insul........20*
Floor mats..........................6*
Spare Tire and Hardware.....28*
Jack.................................4.5*
CD Play.............................4*
Wing................................5
Passenger Air Bag...............7*
Driver Air Bag.....................3*
Head Liner.........................2*
Moonroof..........................26*
Side Windows......................?
Heater Core/Blower...............?*
Variety-small trim stuff..........?*
Front Bumper.....................20
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Total Listed savings...............262 lbs
Total w/moonroof removal.......288 lbs
*= NASA SRT class legal.........263 lbs Replaceable Items:
Item_____________Orig. Weight___New Wt.___Change__Total Redux
Wheels and Tires*..................44................32...... .....12............48
Drivers Seat*........................ 43................23...........20.............20
Hood ($900 race version).........30..................3...........2 7.............27
Deck Lid ($800 race version).....23.................3............20... ..........20
Battery*...............................30......... .......11...........19.............19
Springs/Struts (to C.O.’s)*.......20................14.............6. ............24
Brakes-front (TCE/Wilwood)*....11..................7.............4.. ............8
Brakes-rear (TCE/Wilwood)*........................................9 .............18
Flywheel*................................?........ ..........?.............8..............8
Exhaust*...............................45......... .......18............27.............27
Underdrive Pulley.....................?...................?.. ...........?...............3 Radiator*................................7........ .........9.5.........-2.5........Damn!
Front and Rear Windows............?...................?.......... ..?.............a lot
Rear Side Windows (to Lexan)*...?...................?............?...... .........?
Doors.....................................?....... ............9.............?..............?
Fenders..................................5.5...... ..........?.............?..............?
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Total............................................. ...................................219+ lbs
* Total (NASA SRT race class legal).......................................153+ lbs
The NASA Spec Neon SRT rules will be out this week!!!
We're going to start with a minimum weight limit of 2950 lbs with driver and whatever gas is left at the end of your race. Up to 100 lbs of ballast may be added to those race cars that are underweight already. We want to be able to include as many cars as possible, without drivers having to buy expensive CF upgrades, etc. As well, there is just enough room in the rules for someone to basically have a street legal race car that can be driven to the track. Some of the above listed modifications will not be legal in this class the first year, but I included them for reference. With the weight limit at 2950 lbs., there are over 110 lbs of extra weight savings listed already (over 135 including moonroof), and that's not including the driver's airbag. So, there are a good variety of options to get a vehicle down to the minimum weight. However, a cage, fire extinguisher, and 5 pt harness will obviously add some weight back (? 100+ lbs).
Greg
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Blue 2004 #77 US Touring Car Championship--, Hotchkis Sway Bars, Mopar S2,Cat Back,and STS, TCE big brake kits, Raybestos ST43 front, Porterfield R-4 pads rear,Clutch Masters S4 Aluminum, Iceman intake, KW Var 3 coilovers, Boogers, GReddy CC,MSD wires,DC Sports F.& R. STB,17x7.5 SSR Comps w 225/45/17 Hoosier R3SO4's, Custom Cage, MP shift Ball, Ground Control camber plates, Cobra Imola II GT seat, Simpson 5 pts, Griffin Radiator
Last edited by FordTraitor : 09-21-2005 at 06:26 AM.
Here's a quick rule of thumb from the racing world;
After you pull out all the easy stuff, and really get down to the nuts and bolts of it, figure it's "a hundred dollar a pound" to put the car on a serious diet. Some a bit more, some a bit less, but close.
Don't believe me? You'll see...keep it in mind when you shop.
Todd, do you mean a dollar an ounce? Looks to me like once you get into replacement parts for the sake of weight reduction, that it's closer to $16 to $40 for every pound saved.
Last edited by FordTraitor : 08-05-2004 at 12:26 PM.
Howell Automotive lists the weight of carbon fiber door shells as 9lbs. Anyone know the stock weight?
Problem is they only list front doors, they cost $675 each, and you would have to install a pretty serious cage to use them and still keep your crash protection. I guess in a dedicated race car you would only use the front doors anyway and gut the rear doors.
Underdrive pulley saves 2-4lbs
I doubt composite fenders are going to save 5 lbs. The makers are more concerned about looks than weight.
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Sometimes knowledge eludes me and logic fails me, so to compensate I lie.
Granted it's not ALL this way but after the easy stuff, you'll need deep pockets! lol
If you want some ideas, send me an email and I'll show you ways you can shave weight with WORK rather than purchases. You'd be surprised what things can be re worked on the car if you take the time and have access to some machinery.
Cool stuff! We've taken a lot of the items listed out of our ITE car. It's pretty much gutted on the inside. I've got some notes somewhere what the weights were. We started weighing everything as we took it out, but that got old real fast! I'll look for them and if I have anything that is missing above, I'll post them.
At last check, the ITE car was 2695lbs (without driver). Since then we have added the Stage 2 + toys and removed both front windows, tracks, and power window assemblies. We still have to take the AC out (yeah, I know!). I'd like to get to 2800lbs with me (235lbs with helmet and suit), which means we have another 130lbs to remove from the last weigh in. Maybe I should go on a diet or something!
Yes, it's always cheapest to remove it from the driver....
When you get things out like the AC compressor and such, you then want to cut and remove all the brackets needed to support it. However if it's holding something else you only cut what you can and leave the web as needed for the other parts. You would be amazed at the amount of weight you can cut out of factory parts. But it can be very time consuming and costly to do.
I was offering up a pic of the front pully package on my PP car as an example of how you can cut, mill and drill if you have time. Also having been converted from twin belt drive to single belt removed the whole tensioner from one drive. Trust me; when you get started it becomes a sickness.
Howell Automotive lists the weight of carbon fiber door shells as 9lbs. Anyone know the stock weight?
Problem is they only list front doors, they cost $675 each, and you would have to install a pretty serious cage to use them and still keep your crash protection. I guess in a dedicated race car you would only use the front doors anyway and gut the rear doors.
Underdrive pulley saves 2-4lbs
I doubt composite fenders are going to save 5 lbs. The makers are more concerned about looks than weight.
You don't want the ones from Howell. They will come apart on you.
Mike V.
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BSME
1995 Plymouth ACR Coupe
1997 Dodge Neon Sport Coupe
I usually let my wife race my car. She's only 110 lbs. Im at 155 lbs. So thats 45 lbs off the total weight.
Her 1/4 mile times are usually faster that mine.
I'll post a link to them in a new thread when they are up on the website. The press release on the SRT4 class will be in the upcoming issue of Grassroots Motorsports. It shouldn't be much longer before the draft version is made official. If you have any specific questions in mind, pm me.
Greg
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Weight Reduction
I'll look for them and if I have anything that is missing above, I'll post them.
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