The weight saving thread

[vaughn bros]

I saved a little weight on my front LP Beam. I removed the shocks and shock towers, shock bolts and snubber horns.
I added lighter friction shocks. I removed about 5 inches from the beam width (torsion leaves and tubing weight).
I removed the brake drums, backing plates, all brake hardware and hoses. I removed the steel wheels and replaced them with 6lb magnesium wheels.
Heres some pics.

[vaughn bros]

More pics...

[SPRasmussen]

What does that alu peice do ? Is it like on a old splitbug with rear suspention or ? 

[vaughn bros]

What does that alu peice do ? Is it like on a old splitbug with rear suspention or ? 

These are dry, adjustable tension, friction shocks. I have 22 ft lbs torque currently. The more tight, the more friction. If I tighten them to 40ft.lbs., then they become permanent in one position. I have access to the center tension bolt from underneath (do not have to remove tank).

[SPRasmussen]

That is pretty cool. how does they "fell" compaired to normal shocks ?

And where can you buy them ?

[vaughn bros]

That is pretty cool. how does they "fell" compaired to normal shocks ?

And where can you buy them ?

Thank you sir. Here is a link to Speedway Motors.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Mr-Roadster-Friction-Shocks,3799.html

They feel like normal shocks, no difference.

[Bruce]

Can I replace the steel gearbox casing nuts for alloy?

Not all of them.  I'd say you can use M7 alloy nuts for the nose cone.  Not a lot of stress there. 

The side cover nuts are different.  Their torque spec is higher than normal (22ftlbs), indicating it's a high stress location.

[Pas]

Can I replace the steel gearbox casing nuts for alloy?

Not all of them.  I'd say you can use M7 alloy nuts for the nose cone.  Not a lot of stress there. 

The side cover nuts are different.  Their torque spec is higher than normal (22ftlbs), indicating it's a high stress location.

Thanks Bruce exactly the kind of advice I am hoping for. I am not using a front mount on my gearbox anyway, so I would think the stress on the studs/nuts there will be less. I guess a good way to check what material I use in what location would be to have a look through a workshop manual for torque settings. I still need to gather info on what kind of torque you can apply to alloy nuts. 

[andy M.]

Does any one out there have good data on the weights of the various wide five disc brake set ups out there (csp, jamar etc) for link pin front end and there weight saving over stock front drums,

Andy

[Fasterbrit]

Just got a Bus CSP disc brake setup and inc the box it came in it weighed 27 kilos! Bug CSP kit is slightly smaller, but still has the heavy cast iron/steel calipers etc. Figure around 20-23 kgs for Bug setup.
My Wilwood setup is pretty damn light, haven't weighed it yet, but loads lighter than stock drums. Hard to find these days though...
Ah, here's a thought. I have a Jamar disc/hub setup that you could have very cheap. Quite light if I remember rightly. No calipers or brackets, but to a man of your callibre, no problemo! Thinking about it, it might be a Neal hub and disc combo... I got it off Bernie so long ago I can't remember. I think he had it on his 67 for a while...
A 67 will be balljoint, so probably no good to you. Jeez, I am rambling... I haven't even had a beer. Yet...

[SteveW]

Does any one out there have good data on the weights of the various wide five disc brake set ups out there (csp, jamar etc) for link pin front end and there weight saving over stock front drums,

Andy

I'm not sure of the weight but my front brake set-up (strange disk and caliper etc) is super light. Mine is chevy pattern granted, however CSP/RLR now make it in a wide 5 pattern and I can't imagine it would be massively heavier.

Steve

[andy M.]

Thanks Mat , I turned my back on ball joint front ends a while ago...

There's no doubting the quality of the csp disc brake stuff but they are damned heavy, If I could prove the conection I could probably take them to court over my bad back

I'm currently just doing a bit of speculating due to enforced down time, so no racing at all this year, hopefully next year my health will be better.

Steve, I'll have a look at the rlr stuff and see what gives,

Andy

[andy M.]

just had a quick look at the rlr site , only seem to do a wide 5 rear kit at the mo...

any one out there got a old stlye wilwood kit they want to sell??

andy

[SteveW]

They might be on the csp site, I'm sure I've seen the fronts!

[Phil West]

Does any one out there have good data on the weights of the various wide five disc brake set ups out there (csp, jamar etc) for link pin front end and there weight saving over stock front drums,

Andy

Hi Andy,

Neal wide 5 front ally hub/disc, including bearings and washer 5.58kg.  Wilwood caliper 850gm including pads.  No data for caliper bracket although that's ally.

Cheers
Phil

[andy M.]

Hi Phil,

do you know if the neal kit adds any width to the front track?

andy

[Phil West]

Hub depth from rear of inner hub seal to outside of outer hub bearing (excl. washer) is 80mm.  What's your equivalent for stock drums?  My thoughts are it's the same.

Cheers

[andy M.]

Cheers  Phil

I will go and have a measure as soon as I am allowed out of the house after our new arrival, no time soon if the missus has anything  to do with it

andy

[Phil West]

good luck! 

[Pas]

any one out there got a old stlye wilwood kit they want to sell??

x 2  

[Neil Davies]

Andy, I've got the CB kit for dropped spindles for my split - I'll weigh the caliper and hub and get back to you on that. Gut feeling is that the hub isn't too heavy, but the caliper is a chunky piece!

[Phil West]

Does any one out there have good data on the weights of the various wide five disc brake set ups out there (csp, jamar etc) for link pin front end and there weight saving over stock front drums,

Andy

Hi Andy,

Neal wide 5 front ally hub/disc, including bearings and washer 5.58kg.  Wilwood caliper 850gm including pads.  No data for caliper bracket although that's ally.

Cheers
Phil

Caliper mounting brackets 311gm.  So the total weight of the entire Neal kit including bearings is 6.7kg per side.  13.2kg for front brakes sounds like a lot!

[andy M.]

Does any one out there have good data on the weights of the various wide five disc brake set ups out there (csp, jamar etc) for link pin front end and there weight saving over stock front drums,

Andy

Hi Andy,

Neal wide 5 front ally hub/disc, including bearings and washer 5.58kg.  Wilwood caliper 850gm including pads.  No data for caliper bracket although that's ally.

Cheers
Phil

Caliper mounting brackets 311gm.  So the total weight of the entire Neal kit including bearings is 6.7kg per side.  13.2kg for front brakes sounds like a lot!

Ok, I just went to my garage and did a bit of weighing and measuring,

stock 58-64 front drum complete with 12mm screw in studs, bearings and hub seal came in at a healthy 6.1kg

front shoes (drilled, about 35g lighter each than stock) springs, adjusters, bearing washer and end cap and retainers springs and cups were 1.2kg

front backing plate with wheel cylinder 1.5kg

making a grand total of 8.80 kg per side.

Bear in mind that I didn't use my Nasa calibrated scales to weigh these with, just a good quality pair of kitchen scales instead but there appears to be at least 4kg saving available doing the Neal disc swap plus you would gain the reduced rotational mass advantage of disc brakes too,

Unfortunately it would appear that they would also add about 20mm to the track each side if Mr West is right with the 80mm reading thus requiring a beam narrowing, and I'm not sure if they will clear zero off set centerlines, I'm waiting on an email from a contact in the states on this

Andy

[Phil West]

Yeah Nasa do indeed calibrate my scales monthly.  Not!

Still the 0.5kg rotational saving is not bad - that's with the standard 14mm press in steel studs too.

My beam is 2" narrowed, with zero offset ercos (which fit fine over the wilwoods) and cb performance dropped spindles.  It's not that narrow with all that lot on, maybe there is an offset on the Neals.  Fairly sure there's a bit of an offset from those spindles.

The ercos have a 2 stepped inner, diameter 12.5" and 14.5", let me check this morning and see which bit goes over the calipers.  Then you'll be able to compare your centrelines inside diameter.  Failing that you could always bring the rim along to a meet and try it over my setup.  Cheers

[Bruce]

... with the standard 14mm press in steel studs ....

 Ti ?

[Phil West]

actually no (not yet?), it's £100 a corner to go that route (gulp)

[Phil West]

The ercos have a 2 stepped inner, diameter 12.5" and 14.5", let me check this morning and see which bit goes over the calipers.  Then you'll be able to compare your centrelines inside diameter.  Failing that you could always bring the rim along to a meet and try it over my setup.  Cheers
[/quote]

Checked and you will need a minimum of 12.5", the inset ercos are very tight clearance on those calipers.

[Pas]

Your thicker Al plate will be 15% less than the thinner steel one.  
IMO, you could have made it thinner.

Hey Bruce

I think you are right and I will have another made in 8 or maybe even 6mm plate. Most steel ones I have seen are 6 or 8mm so even this 10mm one will be substantially lighter.

An update on this, I've had a 6mm ali gearbox mid mount made and this is the result.

Mild steel mount [ Attachment: You are not allowed to view attachments ]


6mm ali mount [ Attachment: You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Just under 400g saved    

[SPRasmussen]

2 month on this one = 10kilo body weight drop 



Car is under 700kg with driver 

[Elnef]

2 month on this one = 10kilo body weight drop 



Car is under 700kg with driver