Author Topic: Reducing Vehicle Weight  (Read 3972 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Online dakazman

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jun 2016
  • Location: Florida
  • Posts: 4,231
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #15 on: Friday,August 09, 2019, 05:41:50 PM »
No one has mentioned bumpers! Composite bumpers.

  Composite seat trays is a good thing.  Plastic windows. Titanium bolts. All at a price.

This other item I noticed during stripping the car was layers of rubberized spray in the wheelwells.

  Dakazman


Offline Chuck Nukem

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Mar 2013
  • Location: Denton TX
  • Posts: 1,082
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #16 on: Friday,August 09, 2019, 06:18:41 PM »
No one has mentioned bumpers! Composite bumpers.

  Composite seat trays is a good thing.  Plastic windows. Titanium bolts. All at a price.

This other item I noticed during stripping the car was layers of rubberized spray in the wheelwells.

  Dakazman

I actually took a mold of my bumper to make a carbon fiber copy. The flange did not come out right so I will be redoing it eventually.

When I removed the front wishbones+hub+brakes+spring+damper I was surprised at how heavy the whole assembly was.  The stock brake caliper is particularly heavy.  So aluminium hubs, dampers and brake calipers are definitely on the shopping list.



I was also amazed how heavy this stuff is. I am going to be putting mine on an aluminum diet eventually.

Offline Dan C 2624R

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Joined: Apr 2017
  • Location: Monmouth, New Jersey
  • Posts: 82
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #17 on: Friday,August 09, 2019, 06:35:23 PM »
I second all of the listed rust victims.  I suffered the same fate for my TC, parked under a front yard Oak tree for years.  Additionally I lost the highly-collectable and VERY rare Sparkamatic Wedge 5 x 8 speakers.  I guess I will have to remove the Eight Track stereo tape player after all.  The shame, the shame.

Offline literarymadness

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Mar 2017
  • Location: South Florida
  • Posts: 550
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #18 on: Friday,August 09, 2019, 10:37:52 PM »
I am finally replacing my non-adjustable steel shocks with aluminum Protech ones.  I'll  A/B the weight after I get the other ones off.  Most of my Europa diet has been replacing heavier parts with lighter ones on a per need basis with the exception of the aluminum flywheel and mild steel headers. Starter went...replaced with a lighter one.  Same with the radiator and so on.  Pfreen replaced his cast iron front axles with stronger alloy ones.  I plan on doing that next month.  But I love some of the changes that some of you guys have done to go lighter and will consider some of the suggestions. By way Lotus changed its logo again.

Offline 1970EuropaGuy

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Oct 2018
  • Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
  • Posts: 302
    • Lotus Europa Restoration
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #19 on: Friday,August 09, 2019, 10:41:15 PM »
By way Lotus changed its logo again.
I really dislike the new logo. Bring back one of the older ones.

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,999
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #20 on: Saturday,August 10, 2019, 06:08:14 AM »
Why they feel the need to screw around with a perfectly good logo is beyond me. Every time they do, they make a mess!

Offline jbcollier

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Posts: 5,978
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #21 on: Saturday,August 10, 2019, 06:24:34 AM »
My favourite is the original but I like the new one next.

Want to save weight and feel good as well?  Have a #2 (big poop) right before heading out.

Offline literarymadness

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Mar 2017
  • Location: South Florida
  • Posts: 550
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #22 on: Saturday,August 10, 2019, 06:41:19 AM »
I guess Geely felt the need to demark themselves from the previous ownership.  By removing the logo's unnecessary metallic border and fill, while still maintaining the basic color scheme and brand info, they were simply adding lightness to the logo. :confused: jbcollier: now I know your secret to better road handling before one of your little road trips LMAO

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,999
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #23 on: Saturday,August 10, 2019, 07:06:08 AM »
I do admit that the new logo is better than the change in the '80's but I don't understand the idea behind changing an iconic logo. Would anybody want to change Mercedes' tri-star, BMW's rondel, Ford's script or Chevy's bow tie? I don't get it.

Online dakazman

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jun 2016
  • Location: Florida
  • Posts: 4,231
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #24 on: Saturday,August 10, 2019, 12:13:32 PM »
I came here to post the weight of a steel fuel tank but I see we’re talking about the new plain logo.
Well I’ll  just hang on to the nicer old stuff.
BTW it’s just over 10 lbs or 4687 grams
Dakazman

Offline Music City Lotus

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Joined: Feb 2019
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Posts: 52
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #25 on: Tuesday,August 13, 2019, 06:44:23 AM »
I weighed my S2 against a Twink on race scales for some real life comparison

S2 (with spare tire and fuel):   1420 lbs.
Twink (no spare tire, but fuel): 1750 lbs.

both cars are factory standard, both alloy wheels.
1971 Lotus Europa Type 65

Offline literarymadness

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Mar 2017
  • Location: South Florida
  • Posts: 550
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #26 on: Tuesday,August 13, 2019, 08:24:49 AM »
Was the S2 a type 54 or a type 65? And I assume the twink had all its emissions equipment in place. That is a hundred pounds more Lotus listed as the federal spec. I am going to try and weigh my car in the next few days.

Online dakazman

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jun 2016
  • Location: Florida
  • Posts: 4,231
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #27 on: Tuesday,August 13, 2019, 09:32:26 AM »
I weighed my S2 against a Twink on race scales for some real life comparison

S2 (with spare tire and fuel):   1420 lbs.
Twink (no spare tire, but fuel): 1750 lbs.

both cars are factory standard, both alloy wheels.

Weighing In,
Now this would be an interesting thread ! It would set goals or standards.
Dakazman

Offline Chuck Nukem

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Mar 2013
  • Location: Denton TX
  • Posts: 1,082
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #28 on: Tuesday,August 13, 2019, 11:27:18 AM »
Want to save weight and feel good as well?  Have a #2 (big poop) right before heading out.

I came here to post the weight of a steel fuel tank but I see we’re talking about the new plain logo.
Well I’ll  just hang on to the nicer old stuff.
BTW it’s just over 10 lbs or 4687 grams
Dakazman

For some reason, the way I read through this thread I thought dakazman was bragging about his massive stools.

Offline Chuck Nukem

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Mar 2013
  • Location: Denton TX
  • Posts: 1,082
Re: Reducing Vehicle Weight
« Reply #29 on: Tuesday,August 13, 2019, 11:29:09 AM »
I weighed my S2 against a Twink on race scales for some real life comparison

S2 (with spare tire and fuel):   1420 lbs.
Twink (no spare tire, but fuel): 1750 lbs.

both cars are factory standard, both alloy wheels.

Weighing In,
Now this would be an interesting thread ! It would set goals or standards.
Dakazman

I have not weighed my S2 body, but my S1 shell is probably twice the wight of my twin cam shell. I am curious how much an S1 weighs. I know they are claimed to be the lightest...