Carbon Fiber weight reductions, is it worth it? Options

[playr158]

Curb weight on a USDM celica is like 2398lbs or something close to that....its feasable to hit 2,000.....

[BonzaiCelica]

2,415 is the curb weight for an ST Liftback celica, but that doesnt include abs (abs weighs another 30 pounds)... While tegs are lighter than celica yes I used to think they were really lightweight. The real lightweights are eg6 and ek9 civics....

2,395 pounds is the coupe st

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Dec 13, 2016 - 2:15 PM

[SwissFerdi]

Well, the official weight of mine is 2409 (I do not have ABS). However, I'm factoring in tC wheels at 22 pounds each, and a subwoofer and amp in the back. So I give it 2450.

[BonzaiCelica]

refer to my post down low. there are more accurate numbers there!

the more weight you take out from the interior the more it throws off the front to rear weight distribution. So if you had coilovers and got them weight balanced so that you can get as close to a 50/50 ratio then it would be fine. The more weight you take off the rear means the front will only get heavier, which will be prone to more understeer and unstable rear end right?[/b]

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Dec 6, 2012 - 7:06 PM

[azian_advanced]

on a fwd, there's going to be more understeer but with a lighter rear-end, the center of gravity shifts towards the front giving you better acceleration.

[playr158]

yea i've removed the sunroof (fabricating a composite plug to replace it) its like 4x lbs all together.

[BonzaiCelica]

yea i've removed the sunroof (fabricating a composite plug to replace it) its like 4x lbs all together.

really azian advanced I didn't know that?? interested I'll look into that. Hey let me see that sun roof cover when you get a chance to take some pics please!

[willsmorke]

It 's very good things to Reduce the Weight and making the vehicle lighter. The best way to lighten your new car or truck is to remove parts which you do not need as well as to take the vital parts of your car and replace them with lighter models.

[azian_advanced]

lately, i've been thinking of adding weight to my car to get more traction in the snow... lead weights positioned at the front behind the bumper would be the best spot to put them..

[Culpable04]

or you can get thinner tires for the front.

[BonzaiCelica]

Weight Reduction Modifications

• Sunroof with motor and Headliner 33 pounds

• Interior Panels from Driver Seat to Trunk 18 pounds
• Air Bag from Steering Wheel 4 Pounds
• Full Bucket Racing Seat 10 pounds less over stock
• Liftback Trunk Cover 6 pounds
• Spare Tire, Wooden Tire Cover, Trunk Carpet and Jack 35 pounds
• Rear Seats (Backing and Cushion)36 pounds
• AGM 17 lb Battery 18 pounds less (OEM Battery Weighs 35lbs for USA Market)
• Cruise Control, Rear window wiper/Motor and OEM Antenna 5 pounds
• Door Panels 12 pounds
• Floor Mats, Carpet n’ Lining and Firewall Lining with Sound Deadening 20 pounds
• 6 Speaker Audio Sound System (Headunit, Amplifier, Speakers n Brackets) 12 pounds
• 1st Generation Scion TC (2AZ-FE) Starter 2 pounds lighter
• Stock SS-III Front brakes weighs 54 lbs

• Fiberglass Hood with carbon overlay (VIS or Seibon): 11 pounds less or Aluminum ST205 Hood: 14 pounds less or Wet Carbon Fiber Hood: 25 pounds less (Carbon Microsystem)
• 3SGE Stock Exhaust Header n B-Pipe = 32lbs, Stainless Steel Header n' Bpipe for 3SGE = 20lbs (12lbs lighter)+ Test Pipe (4lbs lighter) + Kakimoto R Exhaust (7lbs lighter) = 22 pounds less
• Adjustable Coilovers 28 Pounds less


For a weekend/track set up vehicle which amounts to 272 pounds.


REMOVING THE A/C SYSTEM AMOUNTS TO 45 LBS + All headlights and fog lights replaced with headlight covers = 12 pounds. Rear Window (swap in for Lexan) = 17 pound savings. These parts are not included in overall total!!!

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Jun 14, 2024 - 12:45 AM

[Arsaces]

I had an Integra, I don't have numbers, but from what I was always told they were "heavy" compared to other Hondas (Excluding Del Sol). I can tell you this, the Celica has a much nicer ride, and the performance is not that much worse (roughly the same after the few mods I have done).

[BonzaiCelica]

Curb weight on a USDM celica is like 2398lbs or something close to that....its feasable to hit 2,000.....

hmm It would take a lot of work to cut down the weight from an st to 2,000 pounds. I already listed everything you could lose weight from. An additional 25 pounds all around with some forged 16 inch wheels would be a good idea. But the that would only bring the weight of the car down to 300 pounds from stock weight. So where would that extra 100 pound weight loss come from???

And how to cut 33 pounds from the top of your roof:





This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Dec 17, 2012 - 3:36 PM

[johnyboy1976]

Cant give figures but i have removed a lot of kit from my JDM ST205
Removed aircon
Fg wings
Cf bonnet
Cf hatch & lexan screen
Cf mirrors
Rear seats removed
Aerial & motor removed
Rear wiper & motor removed
No spare wheel , jack ect
Dash swapped for non air bag version
Coilovers
Uprated discs and callipers all round - quite a lot lighter despite being far bigger
Cf seats
Also got FG doors but i might sell these on not sure yet

[Rob_A]

The wings and bonnet don't make too much difference unfortunately Johny

Aircon is the biggest one, as is losing the failbox for a FMIC.
Light wheels and brakes will make biggest difference to acceleration!

[BonzaiCelica]

ohhh Rusty....

can we get this stickied please , maybe change the title to "how to lighten you celica for track use".....

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Oct 23, 2011 - 1:13 AM

[johnyboy1976]

The wings and bonnet don't make too much difference unfortunately Johny

Aircon is the biggest one, as is losing the failbox for a FMIC.
Light wheels and brakes will make biggest difference to acceleration!

Yer my team dynamics are very light - not as light as your volks though and FMIC and lightweight battery
Might be my imagination but my versions are motor sport spec and they seem lighter than the regular ones on Erins

[SwissFerdi]

Light wheels and brakes will make biggest difference to acceleration!

Really true. I've come to realize my wheels might be unacceptably heavy, I've lost a bit of steering feel and acceleration going from the original tire diameter (185/70/14) on steelies to these wheels, 20 or so lbs per wheel, 225/45/17 tires. A very heavy and tall combination.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Oct 23, 2011 - 9:16 AM

[BonzaiCelica]

another thing I was reading from the honda tech forums. If you replace the rear hatch window for a lexan/plastic type material it is highly recommended to install a roll cage. The glass on the hatch helps a lot with rigidity. Since their double wishbone suspension is more rigid then our, I think they know what they are talking about...

of course this only applies to FF Layout Celica's....

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Oct 28, 2011 - 3:40 AM

[playr158]

Bonzai, i removed all my windows.

door windows are gone (you can't race with them up, and you can always replace with lexan/plexi
also removed the two smaller side windows as well and having them replaced. However, *everything* is gone from my car so it doesn't count until i put things back together

once i get my coilovers I should really take my shell to the weight scales

I like what you did with the roof, but rivets

This post has been edited by playr158: Oct 28, 2011 - 8:32 AM