Reducing Weight

[rb-racer]

I'm curious what sort of weight reduction I can do on my r32 gtr and maybe some corresponding gains from them.

I'm thinking about having a cage built but i'm not to excited to have a car that weighs 3500 lbs.

[DrMango]

Is there anything that you have already removed so you don't get repeat advice?

Kyle

[mcfly]

Fiberglass doors if you are caging your car? Not sure if you can put handles in them or not. also not sure where the best place to get them is.

I think you can save big weight with those.

[TougeJunkie]

This spring I will be doing some weight reduction on my type M
(it has a 7 point cage for safety)

Ive removed a bit so far

- back seat
- stereo / speakers / amp
- spare / jack
- trunk trim / carpet / false floor
- removed rear wing
- trunk lid (replaced with carbon fibre)
- hood (replaced with carbon fibre)
- GTS steel front fenders for alum GTR fenders
- removed hood latch assembly and cable (replaced with Sparco hood pins)
- horn (it was broken anyway)
- rear wiper assembly

To get removed in the spring

- carpet and heat insulation
- all interior panels and headliner
- door cards will be cut off just below the arm rest
- scrape off sound damping
- remove the back half of the console
- remove A/C system, fan, pump, rad and unused lines
- charcoal canister
- HICAS system and lines
- front fender liners
- R33 power steering pump (less than half the size)
- alum fuel cell
- alum radiator

and probably some other usless bits as I come across them, its not a daily driver so Im not too worried about comfort and noise

[DrMango]

Is a R33 PS pump pretty costly to attain?
How will the door cards be attached at the bottom, just zipties? I'm sure with as far as you are going it shouldn't really matter looks wise. Should be a fun ride!

Kyle

[TougeJunkie]

I will probably just rivet them on the bottom, also thinking of removing the heater system and all the electronics, ducts, blower motor, coolant pipes and heater core
since its a dry weather car anyway

[Rapier46]

A little makes a big difference. I may remove ac on my gtr this summer, because I'm too lazy to get it recharged. But its nice in the summer.

On my gts I took off quite a bit of weight. Ac, all hicas and lines, useless trunk stuff. But I'd like to keep my gtr pretty nice to drive in. Though I want to reduce the weight of my fat ass gtr, I shouldn't.

[TougeJunkie]

It can get pretty freakin hot in the car with out the carpet or insulation, I was stuck in traffic in the summer heat wave with no ac (out of charge too) and it was very crappy to say the least, but this spring my down pipe and header and turbo hot side is getting heat wrapped, I think that will help alot. If you see alot of traffic or drive it every day for work the weight savings is not worth it all over the comfort

[TougeJunkie]

[QUOTE=DrMango;2635]Is a R33 PS pump pretty costly to attain?


I think Judasential on GTRC had one up for sale just a little while ago ...pretty cheap I think under $100

[DrMango]

Is a R33 PS pump pretty costly to attain?


I think Judasential on GTRC had one up for sale just a little while ago ...pretty cheap I think under $100

Thanks

[Bignate]

Hicas and A/C removal will drop serious pounds. I couldnt believe the size of the pile i had after i ripped those out. Not only that the car is much easier to work on.

[DrMango]

Hicas and A/C removal will drop serious pounds. I couldnt believe the size of the pile i had after i ripped those out. Not only that the car is much easier to work on.

The weight is even more importantly shed from the nose too which I like. I was happy to get more direct flow to the rad too. Getting the HICAS solenoid out was definitely nice for doing the oil changes in the future

Kyle

[Bignate]

The weight is even more importantly shed from the nose too which I like. I was happy to get more direct flow to the rad too. Getting the HICAS solenoid out was definitely nice for doing the oil changes in the future

Kyle

agreed, the GTR is very nose heavy. I ripped every trace of hicas out. Ended up remaking my PS lines and running an aftermarket PS cooler in a better location. cleaned things up a treat.


heres a peek at it

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd263/bignate58/DSCN1017.jpg

[DrMango]

Damn thats nice! Is that a pricey addition?

Kyle

[Bignate]

Damn thats nice! Is that a pricey addition?

Kyle

nah I think i got that little ps cooler for like $20 off summit. the godzilla sized B&M oil cooler was about $80 I think. Suck on that JDM brands!!

[Skym]

Interesting subject.

Most of the weight is in the doors, bonnet on R32 GTS-T and doors for R32GTR. R32 doors are around 36kg each (72kg total). Can lighten them to around I think was 7.1kg each last time I worked it out. That's with carbon doors, Lexan style of windows, saving alot of weight (57.8 kg).

Door weights are mentioned here -

http://www.racepro.co.nz/racepanels.htm

And weight of Lexan style of windows vs stock windows are mentioned here -

http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003web-catalogue/e190_others.html

That's without touching aircon, sound deadening, etc. Also chassis underseal (under car and inside wheels arches) adds weight and plastic trim in arches (these are removed on GTR racecars and underbody painted).

When preparing racecars they strip chassis of windows, engine, subframes, etc and dip chassis in a tank to remove underseal, sound deadening, paint etc (multiple layers of paint adds weight to car). Then add rollcage, spot weld panels, use sealant on gaps between underbody panels so water doesn't get behind them (eliminates rust problems) and paint top of car, underbody. Then fit lighter 2 piece rotors, lighter, bigger 1 piece brake calipers, magnesium or aluminium suspension arms (or custom stock arms that are rosejointed), modified engine, etc.

Hicas rack weighs 5kg on it's own. Arms on each side of HICAS rack about 1kg each (around 7kg total when put on scales). The other weight is the powersteering, HICAS solenoid, piping, etc to rear of car.

[DrMango]

nah I think i got that little ps cooler for like $20 off summit. the godzilla sized B&M oil cooler was about $80 I think. Suck on that JDM brands!!

Thats damn good. I wonder about all the hardware and lines though? I wouldnt need the PS cooler but the oil cooler is always a good addition

Kyle

[Rapier46]

All i did on mine, was take off the oem cooler, and put in a cooler that i could attach the rubber lines too. you dont need to replace any lines, just put in longer rubber ones to reach the cooler. and get any old cooler thats the right size from pick n pull. paint it up nice and there.

[Bignate]

All i did on mine, was take off the oem cooler, and put in a cooler that i could attach the rubber lines too. you dont need to replace any lines, just put in longer rubber ones to reach the cooler. and get any old cooler thats the right size from pick n pull. paint it up nice and there.

I was going to do that, but I figured why have those unneeded lines running from one side of the motor to the other when I could just move the PS cooler to the other side. Cleans things up a bit more I figured.

[DrMango]

That makes sense. My issue being that I drive a GTSt so I don't have lines already there. I don't see it costing that much to get lines and fittings and add to a relocator kit
Will do so in the spring

Kyle

[Terrh]

I hate weight but I'm not sure I'd want to remove the hicas. I would think without it the car is going to understeer pretty badly? I can certainly feel it at work when canyon carving. Rear of the car feels like it's about to step out but it's the rear wheels steering.

[DrMango]

If your in a GTR then maybe keep it but us GTSt guys dont need the weight. I just let it get a little happy in the rear and boom understeer isn't an issue

Kyle

[TougeJunkie]

Ive got mixed feelings about the HICAS system, feels good during twistys but when you go to slide the car a bit it gets very unpredictable..... my solution ditch the HICAS and get wider tires

[Rapier46]

never had an underateer problem with my gtst. Even after weight reduction. Hicas makes canyon carving smoother if anythig. You can predict 100% what the car is gonna do. Plus drifting is fun as hell!

[DrMango]

never had an underateer problem with my gtst. Even after weight reduction. Hicas makes canyon carving smoother if anythig. You can predict 100% what the car is gonna do. Plus drifting is fun as hell!

Well said. Thats what I was trying to get at!

Kyle

[Rapier46]

oh wait. i said it wrong. NO hicas makes canyon carving better! shit. without it you can predict it very well. lol sorry

[Skym]

Interesting.

My car handles, turns in tighter and rear doesn't step out when exiting corners without HICAS. Have to resetup stock suspension to suit (bigger rear swaybar, etc), as car understeers on entry to tight 90 degree corners (the reason HICAS is there and diagram of this happening can be found in R32 catalogue). Also rearend feels more stable on motorways when changing lanes, etc.

I think HICAS is good in theory but bad in practice.

[mcfly]

I like how skylines handle with working hicas. tight low speed corner turn in feels awesome.
I ditched it for weight, not to mention my car only need to go straight.

[DrMango]

Interesting.

My car handles, turns in tighter and rear doesn't step out when exiting corners without HICAS. Have to resetup stock suspension to suit (bigger rear swaybar, etc), as car understeers on entry to tight 90 degree corners (the reason HICAS is there and diagram of this happening can be found in R32 catalogue). Also rearend feels more stable on motorways when changing lanes, etc.

I think HICAS is good in theory but bad in practice.

I agree. For me to have the best daily driver and a car that can have a lot of fun in, I would rather not have it. Its not something that was ever a factor. I never once thought to myself, geeze that HICAS is awsome. Sure is weighty though


Kyle

[mcfly]

doors

http://www.racepro.co.nz/racepanels.htm

Bang for buck I would get the 3.9kg fiberglass door over the 2.1 carbon.

[Skym]

Interesting.

Mcfly, I thought the same, handled ok with HICAS in low speed situations (sweeping corners or turning into another street at light's). But mid to highspeed situations or exiting roundabout and car going sideways was just plain dangerous. It had to go.

I can understand removing HICAS for straight line use (dragstrip).

Not sure if that is wet or dry carbon R32 door. Probably dry carbon, going by weight of panel. Croydons R32GTR ran those FRP R32 doors (might be from the same place).

[Terrh]

perhaps something was worn out or broken on your car?

My only complaint about how the car handles I believe chiefly has to do with the torque bias - I just don't see the point of spinning the rear tires exiting every corner.

I've never had the car suddenly go sideways on me or be unpredictable in any way once I fixed all the suspension bits that were worn out.

[DrMango]

It was never unpredictable for me either. I just didnt like the lack of road feel as a whole. I know with a GTSt I dont need to worry about understeer as I can toss the rear out very easily. A GTSt has the advantage of weight already so I might as well try to make that advantage a stronger one

Kyle

[Snow]

I've never had any complaints with my HICAS. I think some cars malfunction and act up. I've taken mine through Manning Park to Osoyoos and on a couple other fun highways and it's felt great. It's never jumped out on me or anything crazy, although I have friends who have experienced this; they're into a hard corner it feels great and bam they're shitting their pants correcting before the exit...

I haven't done much for weight except for removing ABS. Previous owner did it. Wide tires are where it's at anyways :p AC will stay, since I don't like being a sweaty mofo in the summer months (especially last summer). Would remove all the HICAS if it started acting crazy, but while it's in good working order I might as well save myself the money on the lock out bar and spend the time doing something else!

Oh and I ditched my spare tire and jack. Have a really light Recaro (not that it makes much of a difference). I'm more concerned about sprung weight... lighter wheels (Blitz lightweight 17's), lighter lugs, removing clutch fan, maybe some pullies in the near future. We'll see. I want to keep my car comfortable as although I will be tracking it come spring, it will still be primarily a street car... and a daily in the summers.

[Skym]

Interesting.

Terrh, HICAS did have fault, hicas arm on passenger side of HICAS rack was loose causing toe in, out problems and shocks were worn (not leaking). Had HICAS ECU problem before that. Alot of people remove HICAS rack, due to it's cheaper to remove HICAS than replace or rebuild the HICAS rack, etc (more things to go wrong with HICAS).

Never had problems at higher speeds with HICAS before above problems on my car (more at mid speeds), but have seen it happen at high speed with Skylines that have HICAS and are on a racetrack.

Never had car go sideways out of the blue after sorting suspension, HICAS. The setup I'm using actually makes car handle the same way it did with HICAS, but turn in is alot better and rear stays planted when exiting corner. Also acceleration increased due to extra grip.

[RABBIT]

so far heres my removal list ( on a HNR32 coupe)
-CF hood
- took out all the AC stuff ( kept the heater )
-15.7 lbs wheels
- took out rear seats and rear seat belts
- no more spare tire
- clutch fan and shroud ( went electric much lighter )
-all the little useless crap in the engine bay ie . the emissions canister ( i also traced the lines back to the gastank and got rid of em)
- new intake plenum , hp gains yes but its made of aluminum much lighter then the stock set up


ive got more on my list still , will be getting done in the coming weeks.



i switched over to a GTR transmission so i had to shed wight just to get back to stock weight , and im pretty sure im still heavier then a stared out , oh well 650whp here i come weeeee!

[Allan74]

Does anyone know for sure what weight savings stuff like HICAS and A/C have on a BNR32 ?

I would like to get a knowledgebase-type thread done up with something like this:

(obviously weights are inacurate, so pay no attention)

Weight Savings:

BNR32 HICAS 100% System Removal = Minus 52.7 KG

BNR32 A/C 100% System Removal = Minus 23.4 KG


Something like that.....I'm sure you all get it.

I have to remove all this stuff from my car, so when I do, I may just box everything up and throw it on a scale and record the results......unless someone has already done it and can give us that info ?

[RABBIT]

Does anyone know for sure what weight savings stuff like HICAS and A/C have on a BNR32 ?

I would like to get a knowledgebase-type thread done up with something like this:

(obviously weights are inacurate, so pay no attention)


Something like that.....I'm sure you all get it.

I have to remove all this stuff from my car, so when I do, I may just box everything up and throw it on a scale and record the results......unless someone has already done it and can give us that info ?

i have the full A/C engine bay components , PUMP, belt, rad, fan, and all the lines if its the same on the 26's i can weigh it up for you.

[Allan74]

Cool. Give it a shot. We will just label it as whatever car you have, as I will be weighing my BNR32 stuff anyways. It can't hurt, that's for sure. The more info the merrier.

[rb-racer]

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/electric-demist-heater--demst-309-p.asp
electric defrost for those who may be removing your heat core/ac core.

The trunk lid with lock(no spoiler) weighs 10kg
Rear wiper motor weights 1.5kg

[DrMango]

Allan I can get a scale of the full HICAS system including all lines in by the end of the weekend but I threw out most of the A/C system so I can't help there

Kyle

[DrMango]

RABBIT, 15.7 lb per wheel is nuts. Mine is damn light and they are 17+ @ 10.5 " Wide 17s
What are they?

Kyle

[RABBIT]

RABBIT, 15.7 lb per wheel is nuts. Mine is damn light and they are 17+ @ 10.5 " Wide 17s
What are they?

Kyle

RPF01's

[DrMango]

Umm I run RPF1s? what specs are yours?

Kyle

[hozer]

Does anyone know for sure what weight savings stuff like HICAS and A/C have on a BNR32 ?


A/C was at least 80lbs

[DrMango]

We are gearing this forum towards specific accurate info so Allan was looking for a very specific weight

Kyle

[mcfly]

A/C was at least 80lbs

seriously? Wow i certainly do not remember all of that 80 lb's

wheel weights .net offers this

[RABBIT]

Umm I run RPF1s? what specs are yours?

Kyle

yeah your running fatter then i . 17x9 35 errm sorry the weight is actually 15.9 got my facts wrong ＿|￣|O

[DrMango]

Close enough. Mine must have been custom order because they arent listed on the Enkei site. They are for sure above 17 and less than 18 I would guess

Still quite light either way :D What finish did you end up with RABBIT?

I dont think my complete A/C system was 80 lbs either. Maybe closer to 50 all told but we will have accurate numbers soon

Kyle

[RABBIT]

Close enough. Mine must have been custom order because they arent listed on the Enkei site. They are for sure above 17 and less than 18 I would guess

Still quite light either way :D What finish did you end up with RABBIT?

I dont think my complete A/C system was 80 lbs either. Maybe closer to 50 all told but we will have accurate numbers soon

Kyle

nice , i got sliver but im gonna powercoat them Grimace purple or something lame like that .


im gonna weigh each AC part and post up the weight in a new thread. tomorrow.

[DrMango]

I got the SBC but its pure ass. Ill be doing something else when the budget allows but will likely be after a lot of other purchaces

Kyle