Reducing weight

[Pronto]

How much weight can be saved by using an aluminium driveshaft and RJ pulleys? I figure if I can drop a few pounds it will help with my ~12.2 goal. I know that reducing the weight of rotating mass is worth more than just reducing static weight. Luckily I have a lightweight car to begin with. How much do the T rims weigh? Maybe lighter rims would help there too.

[Louie L]

How much weight can be saved by using an aluminium driveshaft and RJ pulleys? I figure if I can drop a few pounds it will help with my ~12.2 goal. I know that reducing the weight of rotating mass is worth more than just reducing static weight. Luckily I have a lightweight car to begin with. How much do the T rims weigh? Maybe lighter rims would help there too.

I dont have specific weights but Your goal of 12.2 should be easily attainable with out too much lightening of the car. Racing wheels are always cool so there are some savings. RJC pulleys are awesome i love my set. The exact weight for the set is in the RJC site.

[TTA850]

The only thing I can add to this topic is be carefull running an alum driveshaft.Our motors make a ton of torque and with a good hook you can rip one apart.I personally split two of them before going to a 3" chrome moly shaft with 1350 series u-joints(and I was only in the mid 11's when I broke the alum shafts).

HTH,
Steve

Here's two pics of how mine broke

[JayC]

Something to consider, you would probably get rid of more weight by removing the sound deadening material from under the carpet/behind the back seat than you could save by going the pulley/driveshaft route.

Toss into that removing the steel bumper support in the front and rear (If your car has them) and you can get a pretty substantial weight savings.

[Pronto]

Wow those pics are scary. I got the aluminum supports and next to no options so I got a lightweight. How do the pulleys hold up over time, are they showing signs of wear?

[NastyGn]

Wow those pics are scary. I got the aluminum supports and next to no options so I got a lightweight. How do the pulleys hold up over time, are they showing signs of wear?
I have had the aluminum underdrive pulleys on the car for 8 or 9 years and they still look great and I see no signs of ware.

I agree with Jay's comments. For your goal get rid of the insulation, changed the bumper supports and change to after market aluminum wheels. This should be more than enough with a good tune to hit your goals

Happy Holidays

[jmidolo]

I would agree w/what's already been said. I dont' know your combo, or if you are one of these street tires and 93 octane kinda guys..but 12.2 should be doable with minimal to no lightening.... I ran a 12.2@111 in my first 86 GN..it was a heavy car w/astroroof and all power options too. Only thing I had done was removed the sound deadening under the rear seat and behind it cause it was all dry cracked and making a mess.

[jsta6]

if you are one of these street tires and 93 octane kinda guys..

I heard that... :)

I like the pulleys, but $280 is some serious scratch... :confused:

I am going to add a page to my website dedicated to weight savings.

Only the 87's had steel bumper reinforcements, 86 and earlier had aluminum.

[TType85]

I had the RJC alum crank pully on my car for a while, sold it with all the other speed parts to not have to sell the car and I noticed a difference in how freely the motor revs, it was slight, but a difference none the less.

[1badTTA]

The best weight savings are the rims and tires, there is a ton of performance to be gained there compared to all the other weight savings, better tires make a big difference too.

[jsta6]

Here is a start:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shawnco/gn/weight/weight.htm

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

BTW, I saved 169 lbs. :cool:

[jmidolo]

The best weight savings are the rims and tires, there is a ton of performance to be gained there compared to all the other weight savings, better tires make a big difference too.

Yea, but we're only talking about a 12.2 here..not an 11.5 in stock trim etc....
There's no need to really put the car on a diet to run a low 12.

[Pronto]

I have a current best et of 12.7 with a Thrasher 92 chip (with recommended mods for it)with GT100 fuel, Hooker cat back/no cat, homemade CAI and drag radials(track only). So I guess that qualifies me as a 93 octain kind of guy :confused: At any rate what do the stock T rims weigh in at? I know the steel rims are heavier. I don't drive around with the drag radials on so they could be mounted on a real lightweight rims (which I know are $$). Are you guys replacing the sound deadning with anything else? I don't want to increase the noise level in my car since that is one of the reasons I sold my T/A-too loud! I also have some 36lb injectors to try next spring and figure I'ld end up with alcy injection too.
Once I'm done with the BFG dragradials I'll look at those new MTs. They look very interesting.

[jmidolo]

I have a current best et of 12.7 with a Thrasher 92 chip (with recommended mods for it)with GT100 fuel,


Yep, that explains it..if you wannna run a 12.2 like that then keep shaving weight. Or..just put in some race gas, turn up the boost to 23# and get it on your first pass... If you wanna run it on 93 octane, get alky :)