Considering that she has a Curb weight of around 3500lbs...whats the best way to strip the Mustang GT of excess weight with a view to improving handling???
Considering that she has a Curb weight of around 3500lbs...whats the best way to strip the Mustang GT of excess weight with a view to improving handling???
Thanks!
Rear seat delete is a good start. Aluminum racing buckets would shave quite a few pounds too. Relocating the battery to the trunk will help redistribute weight.
I'd stay away from the front sway bar delete unless you only drive in a straight line
Lighter Wheels and Tires.
Go with a smaller stereo system.
1 Piece Drive Shaft (this is a big one)
Remove the spare tire and Jack (you got roadside assistance from Ford right?)
I think anythign firther and you are reducing the streetability fo your ride... and thats a decision you have to make
Then you could start removing the console and carpet and sound deadening material. Remove the Fog lights, remove the rear spoiler. Take out the head liner, gut the dash and use racign gages.
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
Lighter Wheels and Tires.
Go with a smaller stereo system.
1 Piece Drive Shaft (this is a big one)
Remove the spare tire and Jack (you got roadside assistance from Ford right?)
I think anythign firther and you are reducing the streetability fo your ride... and thats a decision you have to make
Then you could start removing the console and carpet and sound deadening material. Remove the Fog lights, remove the rear spoiler. Take out the head liner, gut the dash and use racign gages.
Man I forgot all about the driveshaft and I have one
Lighter Wheels and Tires.
Go with a smaller stereo system.
1 Piece Drive Shaft (this is a big one)
Remove the spare tire and Jack (you got roadside assistance from Ford right?)
I think anythign firther and you are reducing the streetability fo your ride... and thats a decision you have to make
Then you could start removing the console and carpet and sound deadening material. Remove the Fog lights, remove the rear spoiler. Take out the head liner, gut the dash and use racign gages.
Agree - until you begin removing ALL creature features. Heck I want gobs of power, but not at the expense of no subs, creature features, etc.
However - I will remove the sub and amp for a few 1/4 mile runs.
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'06 GT---Mods---Tunable Inductions Intake, Fully Polished Pypes Violator Mufflers, MAG Mirror Inserts, Sequential Tail Lights, CDC Hood Struts, Powder Coated Valve Covers, Window Tints, Pioneer Premier DEH-P880PRS Head Unit, 8" Kicker Door Subs (SSMB8)
Front: Infinity mids/tweets 6812cf; Rear: Polk db570 mids/tweets------ Awaiting Install ---Eibach Pro Kit, DSpecs
Hey thats great, I didn't think that dropping any more than 70lbs would be an option....the only weight I would be interested in dropping would be unnecessary weight, such as, back seats, stereo etc. I wouldn't dare mess with the susp.
Hey thats great, I didn't think that dropping any more than 70lbs would be an option....the only weight I would be interested in dropping would be unnecessary weight, such as, back seats, stereo etc. I wouldn't dare mess with the susp.
Though I have heard good things about the tubular K member with motor mounts. That and an aluminum d/s would save nearly 45 pounds.
Just reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend once...
He was trying to remove weight from his car but was easily 50lbs overweight himself. I told him to join a gym that in the long run it would be cheaper (health etc etc).
Rear seat delete is a good start. Aluminum racing buckets would shave quite a few pounds too. Relocating the battery to the trunk will help redistribute weight.
I'd stay away from the front sway bar delete unless you only drive in a straight line
You're kidding, right???
The rear seats weigh a whole 1 pound...lol TONS of guys have the BMR radiator support with swaybar delete on daily drivers and they aren't crashing. Unless you're on a road course, the delete won't effect you much at all.
Okay, here is the way to shave...
First and foremost remove any stuff inthe car you don't need - spare tires, tools, etc, etc.
Lighter rims and stay away from the BIG brake kits. If you have the cash, get the Bogart Welded RT's. The 1-piece DS is a must, rotational mass weight reduction is by far the biggest bang for the buck but don't be fooled by how much lighter aluminum is over steel - it is a myth. I have a steel 1-piece DS now that weighs a whole 4 lbs more than my Powerhouse Aluminum DS did and was almost half the price.
The driver seat weighs almost 90 lbs and the passenger is almost 75 lbs. Some decent race seats cut a lot weight there. The BMR radiator support with sway bar delete is another great place to shave about 45 lbs plus will help you get that launch you're looking for on skinnies if you use them. Tubular K-member is the next spot on the shopping cart and then it's time to start looking at some QA1 drag springs and struts to help in the launch department as well.
The battery relocation really doesn't give you much. You don't relocate your batterry for weight, you relocate it to fit in an ice box if you have a s/c. Keep away from the big body kits and remember to buy lightweight aftermarket engine goodies if you choose to upgrade your radiator, etc.
Best weight shaving mod is the driver..lol If you're fat, go on diet...
stlwagon - just messing with ya. I didn't know about the rear seats until I actually took them out and realized hey weigh nothing...lol
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05 Sonic Blue Roush GT
Daily Driver KB Blown 298 built SB with Livernois heads, 4 speed AOD - 6.68@105....10.52@129 - Built by ST Motorsports
stlwagon - just messing with ya. I didn't know about the rear seats until I actually took them out and realized hey weigh nothing...lol
I had no idea... So what's the attraction for the rear seat delete? Looks only? And you don't think the radiator support/swaybar delete does that much to cornering? I talked to a couple of guys who said they didn't feel as confident cornering.
What are your thoughts on the tubular K member and aluminum d/s?
The rear delete is purely cosmetic or to make room for something like an amp or something. Weight wise - it gives you nothing.
The front swaybar delete is probably mostly in their heads. Sure you can't take a turn at 90...lol but for the most part it is unnoticed on the street at all. Like I said, if you are an autocross racer, you need it but then again, you need some other stuff as well.
A lightweight DS is the first and foremost thing to do. There is no substitute for rotational mass reduction. Even if you only shave 20 lbs - it's actually much greater cause it's rotational mass weight.
The K-members are pretty decent but not worth it until you get in the serious race mode IMO. They are nice but unless your set-up is such that you are looking for everything you can to launch out of the hole, they aren't really going to give you any different 'feel' on the street.
My first recommendation for the average joe would be a lightweight DS first, lighter rims, brakes, and tires second, sway bar delete third, and lighter seats fourth in order of importance.
Mark
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05 Sonic Blue Roush GT
Daily Driver KB Blown 298 built SB with Livernois heads, 4 speed AOD - 6.68@105....10.52@129 - Built by ST Motorsports
The rear delete is purely cosmetic or to make room for something like an amp or something. Weight wise - it gives you nothing.
The front swaybar delete is probably mostly in their heads. Sure you can't take a turn at 90...lol but for the most part it is unnoticed on the street at all. Like I said, if you are an autocross racer, you need it but then again, you need some other stuff as well.
A lightweight DS is the first and foremost thing to do. There is no substitute for rotational mass reduction. Even if you only shave 20 lbs - it's actually much greater cause it's rotational mass weight.
The K-members are pretty decent but not worth it until you get in the serious race mode IMO. They are nice but unless your set-up is such that you are looking for everything you can to launch out of the hole, they aren't really going to give you any different 'feel' on the street.
My first recommendation for the average joe would be a lightweight DS first, lighter rims, brakes, and tires second, sway bar delete third, and lighter seats fourth in order of importance.
Mark
Are you running the PH d/s? I took my car up to PA in Sep and had Mike install one and dyno tune it.
but dont do it unless your stang is a straight track racer...i have to give it to ford...having owned 3 generations of stangs and driven so many more, this s197 has the best front and rear weight ratio yet...and for a street poney like mine that makes a big diff and not just in rain or snow...so i'm a little nervous about messin that up...if you remove some weight from one area i'd say remove it from the other areas in equal amounts to keep that 51/49 thing they got goin...so i'd look at the wheels....that lighter driveshaft...and the exhaust system
Best Way To Strip The Gt Of Weight 
