gavin18787
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Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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Been having this discussion on another forum for a couple of days now.
Some people are saying that stripping out cars doesnt really gain you anything and just makes the car unbalanced. ie taking everything out the rear will then make the car front heavy and twitchy. Some are even taking it to the extreme of saying that moving the battery will even upset it.
I mean from a professional point of veiw you would want your car with nigh on perfect 50/50 distribution. But from a budget shed build would you really notice that much?
Discuss 
There is an example here but in typical top gear style its a bit bias as they changed the tyres
http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/how-fat-is-your-car?imageNo=0
Drives supercharged Tec with torque  
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antnee
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Registered: 30th Dec 07
Location: Cov Drives: Clio 197
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I noticed a difference with both my Ibiza's, the Mk4 becomes very light on the rear, but thats cos it ends up like 80/20, the yellow one felt much better with nothing in the back though.
I think in a FWD car, somewhere around 60/40 to 75/25 is best as you need the weight over the front wheels to get some grip.
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Bonney
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Registered: 14th Nov 04
Location: St Helens
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So basically what they are saying that a touring car (For example) that is stripped out will not handle as well as the road going version?
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Nic Barnes
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Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: nowhere near ginger people
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touring car set up is a quite a bit different to a road car tbh.
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gavin18787
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Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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quote:
Originally posted by Bonney
So basically what they are saying that a touring car (For example) that is stripped out will not handle as well as the road going version?
they are properly corner weighted etc though
Not the same suspension set up as the road car with alot less weight
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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antnee
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Registered: 30th Dec 07
Location: Cov Drives: Clio 197
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I say it's not just about stripping, weight distribution plays a big part, but when you remove/move weight you should also be looking to see if the springs are still at the correct poundage and also ride height
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RCoughtrie
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Registered: 31st Oct 04
Location: East Ayrshire Scotland
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got a link to other forum thread ?
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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Main reason in asking is I was considering stripping mine and turning it into a toy. But if its not going to gain me much in speed
(stripping a saxo will only save 50kg at most though)
and upset the handling I may not bother
Might just get some light wheels to reduce the unsprung weigh bash on some sticky tyres and be done with it
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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the brake bias affected at all with less weight in the back?!
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
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I noticed a difference in mine, never had handling issues as it's allways been good handling, you can avoid making the back end twitch anyway.
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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quote:
Originally posted by RCoughtrie
got a link to other forum thread ?
main 6 page one, need to be a member though
http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313746
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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DaveyLC
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Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
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Road cars are designed to have so a massive range of gross-weights I doubt it makes much of a difference to the geometery etc.
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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quote:
Originally posted by DannyB
I noticed a difference in mine, never had handling issues as it's allways been good handling, you can avoid making the back end twitch anyway.
Is there a noticeable difference in speed or does it just sound and feel faster as its more raw. Did it affect the handling at all? Mines nice and neutral at the moment and want to keep it that way 
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
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It did feel a bit quicker yeah, not massive though, handling is fine. Spot on. It does make the car feel raw though.
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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i wouldnt bother tbh, the only reason i was considering doing it to mine was to fit buckets, it wont make any difference on our low powered cars.
[Edited on 06-06-2010 by Steve]
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Nic Barnes
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Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: nowhere near ginger people
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tbh back end on mine was shite. weld in climbing frame has made it so much better for cornering now though.
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Graham88
Member
Registered: 16th Apr 07
Location: South East Kent Drives: E46 M3
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I stripped the back of my Fiesta out to go on track, I noticed a big difference, and that was only seats & spare wheel really and a few bits of carpet. Was alot more arse end happy but the car felt alot quicker and was alot more fun to drive.
I don't see how people can say it doesn't make a difference, it's the same power pulling something with less weight, of course it's going to be quicker
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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I spotted that TG article a while ago, it certainly does open the debate.
I would be curious to see what would happen in the dry if that test were repeated.
Regarding weight distribution, yes my Puma is a bit of a handful but not having driven it standard I've not much to compare it to. I also intend lowering and stiffening the suspension in conjunction with the weight saving. On standard suspension I would guess it would be not a nice drive.
[Edited on 07-06-2010 by Ian]
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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quote:
Remove low torqued bolts nuts and fixings in engine bay and replace for Aliminium ones
cut off the brackets and fixing studs in the back of the car
BMC CDA is the lightest intake iirc?
I also question whether this lot is going to contribute much to the cause.
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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quote:
move fuse boxes internal to the car same wit ecu ect and you can pull the center of grip back by getting more equal weight on the tyres all round
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
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Indeed, might aswell just fold the wing mirrors in aswell for good measure.
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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I'm tempted to register and link the Puma thread. There are even posts about removing soil from the wheel arches. Which is correct - I had about 6kg worth if I remember 
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
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Removing the obvious thing like carpets, deadening, seats, trim etc is good enough unless you wan't to turn into an tit relocating fuse boxes and such. The deadening weighed a tonne out of mine and it's just a tiny car.
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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I've still got loads of deadening to come out of mine. One of the many jobs.
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
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It's a fucking horrible job, I've still got to get some glue residue off the floor before it gets painted, although that will be done after the cage goes in. It's just one of them jobs you can't be arsed doing.
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