Weight Reduction

[Speedy3]

Well, I removed some parts and weighed them. I guess, I was looking for some quick performance, but here are the totals:

Hood: 39 lbs
Rear seat back: 35.5 lbs
Rear seat bottom: 12.5 lbs
Jack, jack tool, lug wrench, spare tire, foam (holds tools), foam (circle for spare), bolts for rear seat back, and rear deck cover: 22 lbs
Spare tire: 32.5 lbs

So, removing the back half of the lower interior equates to about 102.5 lbs. Hmmm, I guess Mazda made verything as light as possible because that doesn't seem like much weight. It does feel a bit quicker though (boom07) (left the hood on of course). Anyways, this is just for informative purposes.

[Abaddon]

lol, sweet

[Brian MP5T]

I you want real perfomance.

Remove the A/C and Power Steering.. :)

That will not only free up weight, but HP

[zoom-zoomhatch]

Why is this in the marketplace?

[tsunami]

cause now he wants to sell all the parts he removed... lol

moving to correct forum.

[Capt Crunch]

I you want real perfomance.

Remove the A/C and Power Steering.. :)

That will not only free up weight, but HP

Generally you want maximum power when you're not steering, so the power steering pump isn't taking any power from the motor. You can also turn the AC off with the push of a button and remove the parasitic loss from that as well. Why remove it unless you want to save 25 lbs?

[eddienyny]

Another way to lose over 100lbs is to kick your g/f out of the car.

[LENNY127]

rule of thumb 100 lbs = 1/10th in the quarter mile , at least at our performance level. So anything less than 100lbs is not worth doing ..in my opinion traction is what everyone should focus on at trap speeds of 98-101 mph this car should run mid 13's no problem....another 100hp will get you 108 or so trap speeds but with the same setup this car will never really get into 13's on street trim.

[Speedy3]

Butt test is definitely more sensitive than trap time!

[SPEED305]

I you want real perfomance.

Remove the A/C and Power Steering.. :)

That will not only free up weight, but HP

isnt the hydraulic power steering on the MS3 powered electrically? (thought)

[Rotus8]

isnt the hydraulic power steering on the MS3 powered electrically? (thought)
No. The standard 3 has an electric pump, the MS3 is conventional belt driven, no electronics.

[Brian MP5T]

Generally you want maximum power when you're not steering, so the power steering pump isn't taking any power from the motor. You can also turn the AC off with the push of a button and remove the parasitic loss from that as well. Why remove it unless you want to save 25 lbs?

Yeah, but you forgot about the 150 Lbs of Sprung Mass Smartypants.

Rotating Pulleys take power, regardless, there is still massive friction in the action of pumping fluid around and there will always be significant loss to the rotational mass of the free spinning pulley, bearings, belts and assemblies on the A/C.

They are all basically acting as more little friction prone flywheels.

Any more rebuts?


P.S. There is no such thing as a worthless improvement. Every Ounce, Every 1/4 of a Ft Lb will add up. The N/A members here understand. Spending thousands of dollars for 10 Mods that add up to 4 Hp each. Sounds like a waste, but those little mods all add up to real performance.

[adamkiwi]

Another way to lose over 100lbs is to kick your g/f out of the car.

HAHAHAAAAAAAAA. LMAO

[adamkiwi]

when I am idling in neutral and barely tap on the (steering) wheel, i see the ECM kick up the revs instantly - about 300 or 400 rpm. for a second and then drop back down. -the exhast note (gurgle) cuts in and then out.

[Chief7925]

P.S. There is no such thing as a worthless improvement. Every Ounce, Every 1/4 of a Ft Lb will add up. The N/A members here understand. Spending thousands of dollars for 10 Mods that add up to 4 Hp each. Sounds like a waste, but those little mods all add up to real performance.
__________________


Sometimes being n/a really makes you wanna turbo charge.....after all my mods i raced by buddies srt-4 again and was 6 cars behind. I'm slowly gaining but this is gonna take a while. He told me once i eventually catch up to him he's gonna go stage 1 and so on and so forth. Sometimes he can be a bitch : *(

[controlo]

Yeah, but you forgot about the 150 Lbs of Sprung Mass Smartypants.

Rotating Pulleys take power, regardless, there is still massive friction in the action of pumping fluid around and there will always be significant loss to the rotational mass of the free spinning pulley, bearings, belts and assemblies on the A/C.

They are all basically acting as more little friction prone flywheels.

Any more rebuts?


P.S. There is no such thing as a worthless improvement. Every Ounce, Every 1/4 of a Ft Lb will add up. The N/A members here understand. Spending thousands of dollars for 10 Mods that add up to 4 Hp each. Sounds like a waste, but those little mods all add up to real performance.


exactly! everything adds up. take out the spare, jack, tools, seats, power steering, A/C. plus all the weight shaved from replacing the exhaust, test pipe, downpipe, manifold, intake, carbon fiber hood, lightweight battery, wheels. all of that together will drop your quarter mile significantly, even if the aftermarket parts offer no performance gain in terms of horsepower.

it's too bad i don't have money to replace much of that...

[Capt Crunch]

Yeah, but you forgot about the 150 Lbs of Sprung Mass Smartypants.

Rotating Pulleys take power, regardless, there is still massive friction in the action of pumping fluid around and there will always be significant loss to the rotational mass of the free spinning pulley, bearings, belts and assemblies on the A/C.

They are all basically acting as more little friction prone flywheels.

Any more rebuts?


P.S. There is no such thing as a worthless improvement. Every Ounce, Every 1/4 of a Ft Lb will add up. The N/A members here understand. Spending thousands of dollars for 10 Mods that add up to 4 Hp each. Sounds like a waste, but those little mods all add up to real performance.

I doubt there is 150 lbs of sprung mass in the powersteering and AC systems. I am not sure about the MS3, but on my Subaru the AC had a clutch system where when the AC was deactivated, the engine was only spinning the outer disk of the pully, which was very light, <1/2 a pound.

As for the power steering, I have no idea how much drag there is when the wheel is straight. I notice that at a stop, if I turn the wheel the rpms jump. To me that seems like the load on the steering is proportional to the load taken from the engine.

I still think taking out the AC and power steering is a stupid modification, unless you're making a full track car. Why stop there? Why not rip out your interior, ditch the radio, lose the passenger seat, remove the rear hatch, and replace your windows with saran wrap? On a street car, removing the comforts that make a street car a street car seems counterproductive.

Instead of ditching the AC and removing the power steering pump, you could blow $150 on an ebay intake and get the same, if not more, performance AND you would still be able to parallel park and not die of heat exposure in traffic. Insist on free? Hack your airbox, and gut your downpipe.

[Brian MP5T]

I still think taking out the AC and power steering is a stupid modification, unless you're making a full track car. Why stop there? Why not rip out your interior, ditch the radio, lose the passenger seat, remove the rear hatch, and replace your windows with saran wrap? On a street car, removing the comforts that make a street car a street car seems counterproductive.


No way, It sounds like you are not the type to understand.

I didn't stop there. My car currently sits at 2345 Lbs. It is a street driven race car.

Do whatever you like, If you are near Ottawa, I'll let you drive it, you will want one.

I wasn't holding a gun to anybodys head forcing them to do this. I have weighed the car and parts that come off. I know the 150 Lbs with the countless 50 Lbs things that have been removed, add up to the weight of almost two people...

So that to me is like taking two stock identical cars and putting them on a race track.

One has two people in it plus you
the the has only you.

When I put it like this, I know which car you would take..

Whatever man. It's just for discussion sake.

[Capt Crunch]

No way, It sounds like you are not the type to understand.

I didn't stop there. My car currently sits at 2345 Lbs. It is a street driven race car.

Do whatever you like, If you are near Ottawa, I'll let you drive it, you will want one.

I wasn't holding a gun to anybodys head forcing them to do this. I have weighed the car and parts that come off. I know the 150 Lbs with the countless 50 Lbs things that have been removed, add up to the weight of almost two people...

So that to me is like taking two stock identical cars and putting them on a race track.

One has two people in it plus you
the the has only you.

When I put it like this, I know which car you would take..

Whatever man. It's just for discussion sake.

Easy, killer. I'm well aware what weight will do to a car, I could not get around a 190 hp Lotus Elise at Summit point even though I had 320 hp in my STI.

So you want a street driven race car, that's fine, but then why did you work with a MP5? Why not a stripped Miata with a FM turbo kit, which is better in every way for all-out-performance?

I guess I should point out these are honest questions, I don't mean to be confrontational. When I want to drive balls to the wall I take my car to the track or an auto-x. I wouldn't trade my AC for Elise-like chuckability on the street because I drive hard maybe 2-3% of the time.

[gru]

Easy, killer. I'm well aware what weight will do to a car, I could not get around a 190 hp Lotus Elise at Summit point even though I had 320 hp in my STI.

So you want a street driven race car, that's fine, but then why did you work with a MP5? Why not a stripped Miata with a FM turbo kit, which is better in every way for all-out-performance?

I guess I should point out these are honest questions, I don't mean to be confrontational. When I want to drive balls to the wall I take my car to the track or an auto-x. I wouldn't trade my AC for Elise-like chuckability on the street because I drive hard maybe 2-3% of the time.

I'm with you here. Really it comes down to is, to each his own!

[fourthmeal]

And that "No A/C" shit doesn't fly down here in Vegas. :D

[LENNY127]

I got helium in my tires and talk about an improvement!!!!

[Speedy3]

Here is what it looks like with the lower back interior removed...Saved 102.5 lbs.

[fourthmeal]

See, because I'm an audio guy, I see that as a prime opportunity to lay down some sound deadener. Like this:

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs15/f/2007/056/7/a/System_construction2_by_Fourthmeal.jpg

[gru]

See, because I'm an audio guy, I see that as a prime opportunity to lay down some sound deadener. Like this:

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs15/f/2007/056/7/a/System_construction2_by_Fourthmeal.jpg

How about some custom fiberglass enclosures and a few 12's?! ;)

[Capt Crunch]

Here is what it looks like with the lower back interior removed...Saved 102.5 lbs.

In exactly the wrong place for weight distribution. :( No idea if altered balance negates the lost weight though.

[Brian MP5T]

In exactly the wrong place for weight distribution. :( No idea if altered balance negates the lost weight though.


Easily fixed with a battery Relocation..

Why are we still here on this?

[fourthmeal]

How about some custom fiberglass enclosures and a few 12's?! ;)

How about something a bit more stealthy...

http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs13/f/2007/091/9/a/system_completion9_by_Fourthmeal.jpg