The 370Z Weight Reduction Thread

wstar · 05-04-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miguez

Hey Zeto,

I don't think there would be enough heat to evaporate a strong downpour, even when you see heating rising from those vents.

That being said, I believe a lot of water (perhaps "a lot" is a relative term) makes its way into the engine bay in any car, during rainy days, be it through the air intakes (and around the radiator), or from the bottom. This is a guess, though, as I have never opened my hood after getting home from driving through a storm to check.

I have

Yes, some water gets into a stock Z engine bay in rain regardless, but it's small amounts that manage to splash their way in past the seams near the wheel wells, the top edge of the hood, etc. The biggest holes in that regard are near the exhaust manifolds, but those will evap just about anything. Even in heavy rain, so little makes it in that it's inconsequential, esp given heat to evap it. You end up with some little splash/drop marks on the outer walls of the bay but that's about it.

But an open vent right over the engine area scares me a bit. In the storm we had last week, it would be like opening your hood and dumping 5 gallon buckets of water on your engine bay repeatedly. No way that's gonna evap off.

Zeto · 05-04-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

But an open vent right over the engine area scares me a bit. In the storm we had last week, it would be like opening your hood and dumping 5 gallon buckets of water on your engine bay repeatedly. No way that's gonna evap off.

What would be the worst case scenario? IMO, the benefits out weigh the risks.

wstar · 05-06-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeto

What would be the worst case scenario? IMO, the benefits out weigh the risks.

Worst case scenario would be me sitting stuck in traffic for several minutes at a stoplight, with sheets of heavy rain pouring down onto the car and the hood vent. Most of the electronics look pretty well insulated, so I suspect the only immediate fallout would be belt slippage, but it just doesn't sit well with me still. I wouldn't open my hood and dump a bucket of water on my running engine either, even though that too probably wouldn't really hurt anything.

imag · 05-04-2009, 05:28 PM

Engine bays have no real problem with water (as long as it doesn't snorkel in the intakes, obviously). When driving, air will be exiting through the vent anyway.

I'd be into venting, but wouldn't do it for the weight; I just don't see how you could lose much weight in aluminum. I'd think you'd be much better off with a good carbon hood, which they'll no doubt have out shortly.

tvfreakazoid · 05-05-2009, 04:37 AM

I don't think there will be a big difference between aluminum hood and a carbon hood. It can't be more than a couple of pounds or so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by imag

Engine bays have no real problem with water (as long as it doesn't snorkel in the intakes, obviously). When driving, air will be exiting through the vent anyway.

I'd be into venting, but wouldn't do it for the weight; I just don't see how you could lose much weight in aluminum. I'd think you'd be much better off with a good carbon hood, which they'll no doubt have out shortly.

M.Bonanni · 05-05-2009, 10:07 AM

Most "carbon" hoods aren't really carbon. They are fiberglass with a carbon overlay. A real dry carbon hood will shave off a few pounds, but will retail for thousands of dollars. Your typical fiberglass/carbon hoods will weigh the same as stock most likely. Thats the way they were on the 350Z at least. I can't imagine it would be any different on the 370Z.

tvfreakazoid · 05-06-2009, 02:43 PM

Ohhhh I didn't know that. I thought it was all carbon fiber. Yea I can imagine being really expensive if it was real dry carbon hood.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Most "carbon" hoods aren't really carbon. They are fiberglass with a carbon overlay. A real dry carbon hood will shave off a few pounds, but will retail for thousands of dollars. Your typical fiberglass/carbon hoods will weigh the same as stock most likely. Thats the way they were on the 350Z at least. I can't imagine it would be any different on the 370Z.

RCZ · 05-11-2009, 06:32 PM

The only thing I;d be afraid of is getting those MAF sensors soaked. A short there could be really really bad.

As far as the carbon vs stock hood thing... I kinda disagree, i think it depends entirely on the car. For example, the hood on the STI is super light and carbon ones don't do anything. However, the hood on a Supra, or a Subaru 2.5 RS are very very heavy. And I mean heavy. So a lighter carbon hood would do the trick. Frankly, I like Seibon's stuff...good compromise between lightness and price. The hood on the Z could benefit...I think we could lose a few pounds off the front end there....

imag · 05-14-2009, 11:32 PM

Might want to add a lightweight flywheel into the mix:

Nismo Flywheel and Clutch kit now available

Overall weight reduction isn't the reason for going to a light flywheel, but at 20 lbs. savings, it's not a bad side effect...

Zeto · 05-15-2009, 11:32 AM

Is this the lightest flywheel out in the market?

imag · 05-24-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeto

Is this the lightest flywheel out in the market?

OT, but I wouldn't think you'd want to go any lighter.

510z · 05-22-2009, 02:26 AM

How much weight will the antivirus software save me?

Quote:

SPAM POST

ZforMe · 05-22-2009, 07:47 AM

10 to 15 megabytes.

FricFrac · 06-03-2009, 05:58 PM

Nice thread - not sure how I missed it before.

Re: hp/lb wasn't the old school formula for every 100lbs you lost you gained the equivalent of 10ish HP? Time to hit the tread mill boys

I gained 5hp in two years of going to the gym in every car I drive - sweet! Maybe I should try driving by remote control for another 17.5 HP gain...

For the fluids (washer fluid) wouldn't the easiest measurement be to empty out the tank then measure what you fill it back up with to figure the volume out. Dunno what the specific gravity of washer fluid is but its probably pretty close to water so we'll say 1kg per liter....

Anyone use Lithium Maganese technology for batteries? Might be time to whip up an ultralight battery pack - what kind of capacity would be a decent target to shoot for? Cranking amps isn't going to be an issue here.... Peak voltage is going to be 16.8V and nominal is 14.8V - does anyone know if this needs to be regulated down or is there a regulator already in place after the battery?

Any weight specs on the Stillen exhaust or intake components?

travisjb · 06-03-2009, 07:13 PM

I didn't weight the stillen exhaust but can tell you the muffler was HEAVY... I had another shop build a muffler for my z as well - eventual sold it - but it was about half the weight of the stillen muffler i'd guess... stillen was clearly focused on HPs, not LBs

05-05-2009, 10:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Most "carbon" hoods aren't really carbon. They are fiberglass with a carbon overlay. A real dry carbon hood will shave off a few pounds, but will retail for thousands of dollars. Your typical fiberglass/carbon hoods will weigh the same as stock most likely. Thats the way they were on the 350Z at least. I can't imagine it would be any different on the 370Z. Kirito likes this. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

05-22-2009, 07:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
ZforMe Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 238 Drives: 370Z Sport Auto PG Rep Power: 17	10 to 15 megabytes. __________________ 13.369 @ 102.73 Bone Stock. BERK HFC's installed 5/14/09 @ 1490miles, 13.212 @ 106.15. Cobb Post MAF Hoses installed 3/20/10 @ 5,043miles, future: FI exhaust with 18" res and s/s cans.

06-03-2009, 07:13 PM	#15 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 189	I didn't weight the stillen exhaust but can tell you the muffler was HEAVY... I had another shop build a muffler for my z as well - eventual sold it - but it was about half the weight of the stillen muffler i'd guess... stillen was clearly focused on HPs, not LBs __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

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05-04-2009, 05:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 17	Engine bays have no real problem with water (as long as it doesn't snorkel in the intakes, obviously). When driving, air will be exiting through the vent anyway. I'd be into venting, but wouldn't do it for the weight; I just don't see how you could lose much weight in aluminum. I'd think you'd be much better off with a good carbon hood, which they'll no doubt have out shortly.

05-11-2009, 06:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	The only thing I;d be afraid of is getting those MAF sensors soaked. A short there could be really really bad. As far as the carbon vs stock hood thing... I kinda disagree, i think it depends entirely on the car. For example, the hood on the STI is super light and carbon ones don't do anything. However, the hood on a Supra, or a Subaru 2.5 RS are very very heavy. And I mean heavy. So a lighter carbon hood would do the trick. Frankly, I like Seibon's stuff...good compromise between lightness and price. The hood on the Z could benefit...I think we could lose a few pounds off the front end there....

05-14-2009, 11:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 17	Might want to add a lightweight flywheel into the mix: Nismo Flywheel and Clutch kit now available Overall weight reduction isn't the reason for going to a light flywheel, but at 20 lbs. savings, it's not a bad side effect...

05-15-2009, 11:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
Zeto Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North NJ Age: 41 Posts: 766 Drives: 09 Pearl White 370Z Rep Power: 268	Is this the lightest flywheel out in the market?

06-03-2009, 05:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 229	Nice thread - not sure how I missed it before. Re: hp/lb wasn't the old school formula for every 100lbs you lost you gained the equivalent of 10ish HP? Time to hit the tread mill boys I gained 5hp in two years of going to the gym in every car I drive - sweet! Maybe I should try driving by remote control for another 17.5 HP gain... For the fluids (washer fluid) wouldn't the easiest measurement be to empty out the tank then measure what you fill it back up with to figure the volume out. Dunno what the specific gravity of washer fluid is but its probably pretty close to water so we'll say 1kg per liter.... Anyone use Lithium Maganese technology for batteries? Might be time to whip up an ultralight battery pack - what kind of capacity would be a decent target to shoot for? Cranking amps isn't going to be an issue here.... Peak voltage is going to be 16.8V and nominal is 14.8V - does anyone know if this needs to be regulated down or is there a regulator already in place after the battery? Any weight specs on the Stillen exhaust or intake components?