I've looked at my car numerous times-86 bird, and at this point I'm running out of options to lighten this thing up. Right now with no gas or driver it weighs 3280, it's getting caged this winter, 2 poly racing seats up front and losing the rears. Then the 9" is going in out back, I'm adding all kinds of weight so I need some ideas of where to shave some also. Don't want to go extreme with fiberglass front or lexan windows, removing the dash, as it's still a street toy. I think we're kinda screwed in this department of shaving pounds.

 

yep, just a heavy car. Get a tube frame and a glass body. Should be plenty light then. LOL!

Mean 5.7 says his car is down to almost 3k even with full gas and him in it.

 

That's kinda what I figured, as far as an easily modified car for a dragster these 3rd gens are not the best platform to work with as far as clearance and design issues. For the rest of this year and next, I'm still going through with what I had planned for the car (just being a very nice lookin, clean, street terror that I can take to the track if wanted, after my tranny/convertor swap next week I'm hopin to have it down in the low low 13's and after the new rear end and gear possible high 12's then I'll be content, trying to talk my wife into racing it) then my next platform will be something with a full frame that I can gut completely for a strip only set-up.

 

If my memory (old age) is correct, I have a page on my web site regarding weight reduction. It may even be in the tech articles on this site also.

 

Hey Paul, neat site. Like you said I'm gonna lighten it as much as possible within reason, even though it's mostly track driven the times I'm on the road I want to enjoy them and do without certain items for sake of only .03 seconds is ridiculous. I am going to look at the bumper supports however and fab up some light weight steel skeleton so the nose won't pop in on me and make a giant wind plow at speed.

 

Cut the safety bars out from inside the doors. Pull up the carpet and remove all the insulation from under it. Get rid of power steering and install a manual box from an S10. If you have T-tops, find a set of Lexan ones. Get at least a fiberglass hood. Aftermarket lightweight wheels. Aluminum driveshaft. Get rid of all the power options (windows, door locks, mirror etc). Get rid of the AC/heater or just the AC. Tubular front crossmember from www.paracing.net

There's a lot more you can do to put the car on a diet but you have to decide how streetable do you want it.