Carbon Fiber weight reductions, is it worth it? Options

[dutchboy]

How much do each of the OEM style CF hood and hatch from Seibon / Vis shave from the weight of the car?

Are hood pins required for the hoods(has OEM style hood latch).

Be sure not to count the glass in weight measurements.


Just wondering if it is worth the cost of the parts.

Thanks!

[yarik83]

Ill try to be consise.

Is fiberglass and carbon fiber lighter than metal? Yes it is. My 7 year old sister can lift my carbon fiber hood all by herself. For comparison the stock hood weighs as much as my sister. By taking off hood, hatch, fenders, bumpers etc you will save weight. how much I can not tell but basically you should be shedding 95 percent of weight give or take 10 percent. I am not a weight to power ratio guru but from what I heard you free up 15 hp for every 100 lbs shaved off or something like that. No that does not make you gain hp what it does do is quicker acceleration etc etc.

Do you need hood pins? No. VIS hood comes with the latch. Now that does not mean that you can slamm the hood.. you need to handle it with care but it will lock.

[CelicaST_CALI]

yea i think the hood is probly the best carbon fibe rthing to replace if u want a lighter car,also and truck/hatch.

[BloodyStupidDave...]

yea i think the hood is probly the best carbon fiber thing to replace if u want a lighter car,also and truck/hatch.

I'd go for the trunk/hatch. Overall there is much more metal there than the hood/bonnet. Are our bonnets steel or aluminium? I'd say that the GT bonnet weighs about the same as the GT4 bonnet. Now I know the GT4 is aluminium so if the GT is steel I'm surprised there isn't more of a difference.

Alloy or steel wheels weight quite a bit, too. Perhaps some lightweight rims? What about the fuel tank - is that plastic or metal?

[vsideboy]

OR you could just stop giving any fat mates a lift and free up a load of HP. lol.

[playr158]

a) "free up 15hp per 100lbs shaved"
technically you don't free up hp...you have the same amount of HP....BUT your power:weight ratio does get better...IE 1hp:27lbs may go to 1hp:23lbs

b) you'll probably save more weight by getting a HOOD (this is just my hypothesis) because a good bulk of the hatch weight is in the GLASS.

c) hood & hatch = good when both are CF

d) look @ stuff on the interior as well, there are LOTS of heavy pieces in there

[vsideboy]

Aye, strip out all the seats, interior panels and carpets and you'll probably save a fair amount of weight.

[dutchboy]

a) "free up 15hp per 100lbs shaved"
technically you don't free up hp...you have the same amount of HP....BUT your power:weight ratio does get better...IE 1hp:27lbs may go to 1hp:23lbs

b) you'll probably save more weight by getting a HOOD (this is just my hypothesis) because a good bulk of the hatch weight is in the GLASS.

c) hood & hatch = good when both are CF

d) look @ stuff on the interior as well, there are LOTS of heavy pieces in there

Thanks for the info!

How much does each seat weigh(standard, cloth)?

When it cools down tonight I'm going to remove all the seats. I'm 6'3" so I should still be able to see over the dash.

Going on a diet is the best advice. I could stand to lose about 30-40 lbs.

[playr158]

lol

ltw racing seats (certified and approved of course)
are a good investment if your serious about weight reduction
seats are probably close to 30-40 lbs per piece i think (est)
rear seat bottom(hatchback) is ~10lbs
backs are a few founds as well
speakers = heavy
spare tire/jack = heavy
sunroof = 25lbs (est)

diet = always good idea haha

This post has been edited by playr158: Jul 5, 2007 - 12:39 PM

[goferris]

diet = always good idea haha

lol!!!
You=heavy

honestly unless you are turning your car into a race car for the track you really don't have to worry. a lot of people get the carbon fiber for the look not because it is lighter. it's for their bragging rights.

[dutchboy]

diet = always good idea haha

a lot of people get the carbon fiber for the look not because it is lighter. it's for their bragging rights.

If I do get CF I will be painting over it eventually, unless I suddenly fall in love with the look (not likely)

This post has been edited by dutchboy: Aug 27, 2011 - 7:13 PM

[Kadett]

diet = always good idea haha

Lost 35 Pounds, Another 10 to go

Also, Dont drive with a full tank of gass, half would suffice = 60lbs weightreduction.

Already removed spare tyre+jack, but installed a subwoofer and Amp.
Replace steel bonnet with Alu GT4 hood, but installed a heavier engine

[playr158]

but installed a heavier engine

but increased power:weight

This post has been edited by playr158: Jul 5, 2007 - 1:09 PM

[laff09]

Installing Lexan "glass" in the rear hatch would free up a good amount of weight, idk how cost efficient it would be though

[playr158]

Installing Lexan "glass" in the rear hatch would free up a good amount of weight, idk how cost efficient it would be though

lexan scratches up very easily

[dutchboy]

Installing Lexan "glass" in the rear hatch would free up a good amount of weight, idk how cost efficient it would be though

lexan scratches up very easily

There is a lexan treatment called Marguard / Margard that is supposed to improve the durability/reduce scratching.

Have thought about this in the past but I doubt it is worth it for a street car, may scratch up quickly, have to pay more for smoked lexan, and would lose rear window defroster.

This post has been edited by dutchboy: Aug 27, 2011 - 7:06 PM

[dutchboy]

I was able to pick up a Seibon OEM style CF Hood for pretty cheap. It has some scratches and scuffs in the clear coat but I'm sure they can be filled in(especially if I paint it).

THe crappy thing is, it's not all that much lighter than the stock hood(Stock=36.5lbs, CF=23.5 on bathroom scale). Just don't think it is worth it for the price, at least for a daily driver(my goal is to improve city MPG).

The fitment is pretty poor as well, the curve near the windshield ends don't match very well, and the hood is a centimeter narraower than stock, so there is a fair sized gap on one side(made the passenger side more flush to impress my girl

[OOBE]

When I replaced my stock hood with the GT-4 one, it was so freaking light. You can feel the difference, haha.

[playr158]

13lbs is a nice little weight savings
not sure what the GT4 hood weights?

but sucks that the hood has poor fitment, maybe due to abuse from previous owner? I know when i checked out droptopgt's CF oem style hood (VIS i'm pretty sure) fitment was pretty good.

[Sinyk]

You are planning all this weight reduction to save on gas? I thought it was to make a race car