I did the lightweight battery installation today (see Lightweight Battery). My actual weight savings, including terminal adapters and all mounting hardware, was 36 lb. Total cost, including battery, terminal adapters, and mounting hardware, was about $100. So, for $100, you can reduce your Cayman's weight by about 1.2%, with a commensurate gain in acceleration, braking, and cornering. You can't beat this mod for cost-effectiveness!!
The battery idea sound like a real winner! I think I will try it.
But every time I look at this fun thread, I wonder at what point have we just made the Porsche version of the Ariel Atom? LOL!
If you install a Motorsports Vapor Oil Separator (VOS), you have to do something about the air injection pump that is in the way. Either the pump must be hacked into with a saw or grinder to provide clearance for the Motorsports VOS, and then the hole patched; or else the pump can be removed. The pump's only purpose is to inject additional air into the intake ports during the first few minutes of operation to help the secondary catalysts in the exhaust manifold warm up faster. If one chooses to remove the pump, you'll save 2.5 lbs. No CEL will come on if you have the latest flash from Softronics. I don't know if you'll get a CEL or not with the stock flash.
If you install a Motorsports Vapor Oil Separator (VOS), you have to do something about the air injection pump that is in the way. Either the pump must be hacked into with a saw or grinder to provide clearance for the Motorsports VOS, and then the hole patched; or else the pump can be removed. The pump's only purpose is to inject additional air into the intake ports during the first few minutes of operation to help the secondary catalysts in the exhaust manifold warm up faster. If one chooses to remove the pump, you'll save 2.5 lbs. No CEL will come on if you have the latest flash from Softronics. I don't know if you'll get a CEL or not with the stock flash.
Those are so much smaller than the old 996 ones and probably weight half as much Smog guys won't like it but... they can't see it's gone either
Removing sprung weight, one pound, is like removing 4 pounds of unsprung weight. Buy magnesium wheels and carbon brakes. Use lightweight racing tires. Enjoying better braking and handling.
Uhhhhh.... isn't that backwards?? Unsprung weight is stuff like wheels and brakes (not riding on the springs). Unsprung weight reduction has the extra benefit, not sprung weight.
btw. if I drive my car every day, every other week, is that enough to keep a lightweight battery charged?
I've been trying out a lightweight battery as my almost daily driver for a couple of weeks now. It's summertime now, but even so the engine cranking is noticeably less powerful than what we're used to. But I'm sticking with it to see what happens...
EDIT: November 13, 2008. As an experiment, I tried leaving the lightweight battery installed in the car to see what would happen, instead of the recommended approach of swapping it in and out for track or AX days. The result was that the battery died a slow death over a period of about 10 weeks. During this time I drove the car normally - plenty of short trips, some long trips, some times where the car wasn't driven for a week, etc. I did charge the battery a few times - maybe once every 2-3 weeks. As the battery began to die some side effects cropped up. The clock would reset on every start, and sometimes the fuel gauge would read incorrectly.
The weight savings is fantastic, so I'll pick up another battery and swap it in and out for track and AX days. It only takes a few minutes.
Anyone care to comment about my idea to remove the underbody panels?
There must be a LOT of weight there.
I don't have a lift, so that's a hard one for me to try. But I agree that there's a lot of weight in the underbody panels, and removing that weight would be great for autocross!
How about replacing ALL of your nuts and bolts with Titanium nuts and bolts. The nice folks over at YOYODYNE would be glad to give you a discount on that many nuts and bolts. Now there would be some weight savings. Of course you would have the added benefit of a lighter wallet too.
Fort, I just checked your original post re weight reduction as the best mod to improve performance. That may well be correct.
However, in my experience (50+years) the best way to improve autocross results is more seat time, do all the fun runs available and all the events you can.
Ride with some fast guys/gals whenever possible and have some of them ride with you. Most will be glad to help, at least until you start beating them.
Also read some autocross books and attend some schools when available. Like most sports, the more you do it the better you get.
All of which you probably know. The main point is to have fun!
That's really good advice - thanks!
Alan Jung, who is incredibly fast, has been kind enough to ride with me and let me ride with him. It was very helpful, and it made me painfully aware of how far I still have to go as a driver!
Not sure if this has been suggested already, but rather than removing all these little parts, why not just remove the entire engine, cut a hole in the bottom of the car and Flintstones it?
Fort,
I have really enjoyed this thread. Thanks. I have been laughing my **** off.
I did not see removing ALL the carpet from the rear compartment. Its got 1 inch of heavy foam stuck to it. I removed it all from my car last year. It had to be 20 pounds+.
Fort,
I have really enjoyed this thread. Thanks. I have been laughing my **** off.
I did not see removing ALL the carpet from the rear compartment. Its got 1 inch of heavy foam stuck to it. I removed it all from my car last year. It had to be 20 pounds+.
Thanks, glenn!
I haven't really tackled the interior, yet. That would've bumped me up a class in the Zone 7 AX series. But now the season is over... Thanks for the suggestion.
I've been trying out a lightweight battery as my almost daily driver for a couple of weeks now. It's summertime now, but even so the engine cranking is noticeably less powerful than what we're used to. But I'm sticking with it to see what happens...
When I was drag racing the old 996TT a few years ago I tried all sorts of different ones but leaving the car undriven for a couple of days or so and the 'ol charger had to come out. The Braille does seem better than those Odyssey ones though for sure.
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Smog guys won't like it but... they can't see it's gone either
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