TST - ITR Mustang Acquired

[billf]

Ron,

I'd be very interested in the weight numbers you get, since mine was in pieces when we got it. It's repaired now, but it was stripped when it went to the shop. I hope you get the opportunity to get it weighed.

FYI, mine has ABS, but otherwise lacking any significant equipment...nothing special in the build at the factory.

Thanks in advance,

Bill

[Ron Earp]

I haven't picked it up yet. The anti theft module was activated by the owner's employee repeatedly trying to use the wrong key to start the car. They had to take it to the Ford folks but got there so late nobody looked at it before the holidays. So, we shall see what happens with that. Once I pick it up I'll definitely weigh it all up and see what we come up with.

[Knestis]

I don't think you're allowed to remove the anti-theft module in IT...

<runs, ducks for cover>

K

[Ron Earp]

I don't think you're allowed to remove the anti-theft module in IT...

<runs, ducks for cover>

K

That thing is a goner. When I take it out I'll send it to you.

My guess is 3160 lbs with a full tank of gas.

Chris, how much is yours weighing in at?

[RedMisted]

My guess is 3160 lbs with a full tank of gas.

Chris, how much is yours weighing in at?

My quote of 3,050 I saw somewhere online, at one of those new/used car review websites. The number is supposed to be "curb" weight.

My race car tips the scales at about 3,040. That includes driver and just fumes in the tank. You guessed earlier that 2900 is a realistic goal for our cars. I think you're right on, as I could:
1) get some lightweight wheels (should shave 25 lbs.)
2) run Hoosiers instead of heavier Toyos (12 lbs.)
3) remove sound deadening from trunk of car and tranny tunnel (maybe 7 lbs?)
4) acid dip the car (conservative guess of 50 lbs.)
5) I'm slightly overweight (could lose another 5 lbs.)
6) Chucking three fender liners (8 lbs.)
That leaves about 30 more pounds to take out. This would be all the redundant wiring hiding under the dash, cutting down some fasteners, replacing certain existing parts with lighter components, tossing a few trim pieces still inside the car, chucking the rocker panels (they do nothing but collect track grit anyway), etc.

I know. I know. I should already have much of the above out of the car. But that's what you get when you're like lazy old me.

[Ron Earp]

My race car tips the scales at about 3,040. That includes driver and just fumes in the tank. You guessed earlier that 2900 is a realistic goal for our cars.

How much do you weigh if you don't mind me asking? If you're only around 5 lbs overweight then I imagine you're in the 150-180lb range, which means a Mustang might be a hard car to get to a decent weight for a large driver. I'm right around 175 lbs and need to be at about 160lbs.

Some other ideas:

Have you removed all the HVAC you legally can?

Light seat?

Light steering wheel/hub adapter?

Cage was designed for as much lightness as possible with 1.5" x 0.095" tube? That will save quite a bit over the 1.75" tube, 13% cage weight specifically if all things are equal.

Both doors gutted?

Stock tank or cell?

Using essential gauges only, using light components? Remove all the stock gauges and hardware when you install your own gauges.

Ditch the parking brake?

All emissions stuff?

Exhaust designed with thin wall tubing?

Shop up a light battery? I know it has to fit the requirements but there is a lot of variation if you drive around to a lot of stores and weigh them.

Light weight lug nuts? I just ditched 1.2 lb using ally lugs in place of some heavy steelies I had.

I know all that stuff is small potatoes but sooner or later a lot of small potatoes adds up to a casserole. Added to the list of some big items you already have you could be knocking 150 lbs out of the car.

[RedMisted]

I weigh about 155, should be 150. I'm a road cyclist, have lost about 10 lbs. since August. Should lose the five lbs. easily before the first races up here in May/June.

Looking at your list, everything pretty much good, except that I've got the stock tank, a Sparco Evo seat, standard battery from AutoZone, stock gauges, door panels above the NASCAR bars, and the parking brake.

I'll take care of the big stuff first before worrying about things like the gauges. And then I'll eat the whole friggin' casserole! (Wait. I'll probably gain back some of the 10 lbs. if I do that.)

[dickita15]

I don't think you're allowed to remove the anti-theft module in IT...

<runs, ducks for cover>

K

9.1.3 e. Any ignition system which utilizes the original distributor for spark timing and distribution is permitted.

[RedMisted]

I haven't picked it up yet. The anti theft module was activated by the owner's employee repeatedly trying to use the wrong key to start the car. They had to take it to the Ford folks but got there so late nobody looked at it before the holidays. So, we shall see what happens with that. Once I pick it up I'll definitely weigh it all up and see what we come up with.

My guess is that the car will weight around 3050, without floor mats.

[Ron Earp]

Ron,

I'd be very interested in the weight numbers you get, since mine was in pieces when we got it. It's repaired now, but it was stripped when it went to the shop. I hope you get the opportunity to get it weighed.

Alright, car on the scales now.

As it sits, with exactly half a tank of fuel, and everything including the spare tire (this is a non-ABS car, I think), it is 3117 lbs on the Intercomp scales.

Corners are:

879 911

667 662

F/R is 57%/43%

Hope that is useful.

[JeffYoung]

So with a 180 lb driver that's 3300 lbs....2700 might be tough....gonna have to strip that thing down to bare metal.

Crosses are pretty good, and those are easy to correct anyway.

F/R is not so hot.

You might get it down to 55/45 with a fuel cell at stuff, but it won't change much.

Key to this car will be getting 2700 lb. race weight.

[Ron Earp]

So with a 180 lb driver that's 3300 lbs....2700 might be tough....gonna have to strip that thing down to bare metal.

I think it'll be real tough. That means the car will need to weigh 2525 lbs without driver. No chance of that. But, it'll be fun trying to get it as close as possible.

As far and the F/R balance I wouldn't worry about that too much at this time. The 260Z with AC came in at 56/44 according to R&T tests I have here. Mine sits right at 50/50 now. I imagine we can easily get the F/R balance to a more manageable level.

But to get that weight down, we're going to have to work and work hard. I know where some of it is - that Mach 460 sound system has amplifiers, sub, enclosure, and all packed under the rear deck and it is feeling heavy. Plus, it knocks out some trunk room there is so much crap stuffed under there.

Jeff called it right on my car - smells like strippers, ciggies, stale beer, and teen angst.

[RedMisted]

Good luck trying to change that F/R balance. After everything I've done with my car, my balance is 58/42. Yeah, it actually skewed more to the front as I built and stripped the car.

[quadzjr]

Good luck trying to change that F/R balance. After everything I've done with my car, my balance is 58/42. Yeah, it actually skewed more to the front as I built and stripped the car.

Which makes alot of sense.. same thing happened when I built the MR2.