Practical Weight Reduction Ideas for Daily Driver

[TemecFist]

All out, ITB, Mugen type engine?

Lmao. I wish. Just a mild k series

 

[M-Sport fan]

Here, I can tell you what your real world expectations will be. I've done everything more than "practical" to lighten this car. You name it, I've done it. When I had the car corner balanced, it came out to 61% front, 49% rear with a total weight of 2860lbs. That's with a roll cage and me in the car. So without a driver and the roll cage, your looking at 2500+ lbs. A highly doubt someone can strip this car down to be under 2400lbs.....especially trying to keep it "practical". 200hp in a 2500lb car is not very impressive. To put it in perspective, the car I'm building now, is 265hp all motor, 1800lbs (with a full roll cage) and running 265 wide tires (square).
The Fiesta IS a great, fun canyon/mountain car tho.

I've ever only viewed this car as a slightly better open track car than it is a drag race car, but MANY MANY KUDOS to those trying to optimize theirs for either of those 'disciplines', and doing so (even semi-) successfully.

They DO make the basis for a tough killer stage rally car though, where those said low(er) profile/low cg 'go-to' open track choices would be destroyed half way down the very first gravel stage road.

 

[TemecFist]

Basically replicating Eric Kutil's Honda, with a few changes. That's the goal.

 

[TemecFist]

I've ever only viewed this car as a slightly better open track car than it is a drag race car, but MANY MANY KUDOS to those trying to optimize theirs for either of those 'disciplines', and doing so (even semi-) successfully.

They DO make the basis for a killer stage rally car though, where those said low profile 'go-to' open track choices would be destroyed half way down the very first gravel stage road.

Exactly! I was given some good advice a few weeks back, and what I was told was this. "Accept the car for what it is, and what it isnt". That stung a little because I love this car. So I've accepted that it's a fun quick street car, and that it's not competitive on higher levels......so I've began to adjust. Lol

 

[Jabbit]

Exactly! I was given some good advice a few weeks back, and what I was told was this. "Accept the car for what it is, and what it isnt". That stung a little because I love this car. So I've accepted that it's a fun quick street car, and that it's not competitive on higher levels......so I've began to adjust. Lol

Good advice. My build has an ultimate goal of high fun factor. Not on my track days are times, no regulating body's, just bomb around a track and have fun safely. Maybe in a few years I'll want something faster? Who knows.

 

[ronmcdon]

Exactly! I was given some good advice a few weeks back, and what I was told was this. "Accept the car for what it is, and what it isnt". That stung a little because I love this car. So I've accepted that it's a fun quick street car, and that it's not competitive on higher levels......so I've began to adjust. Lol

yes and maybe do what I did and get a camero z1le & keep the fiesta. have best of both worlds then.

 

[TemecFist]

yes and maybe do what I did and get a camero z1le & keep the fiesta. have best of both worlds then.

Hahahaha. I think that would be the ultimate goal!!!

 

[ronmcdon]

In terms of weight loss have thought of relocating the battery to the rear hatch. I think this is not too high cost a modification. have that done on my 240sx with a battery box similar to this one.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...SBnFpnNur-8dsybIJkS_YirhyyaQO3MQaAhSqEALw_wcB

you could probably shave 10-20 lbs with a lighter battery although not sure if the lithium batteries are practical.

 

[ronmcdon]

Hahahaha. I think that would be the ultimate goal!!!

they get discounted a lot unlike the gt500 and gt350. will bring it out to mountain run or track day one day in chuckwalla and maybe i can persuade you to buy one for yourself

 

[TemecFist]

they get discounted a lot unlike the gt500 and gt350. will bring it out to mountain run or track day one day in chuckwalla and maybe i can persuade you to buy one for yourself

I told you they have a highlighter green one in Temecula. I swear it's been calling my name. Lol

 

[TemecFist]

In terms of weight loss have thought of relocating the battery to the rear hatch. I think this is not too high cost a modification. have that done on my 240sx with a battery box similar to this one.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...SBnFpnNur-8dsybIJkS_YirhyyaQO3MQaAhSqEALw_wcB

you could probably shave 10-20 lbs with a lighter battery although not sure if the lithium batteries are practical.

You could definitely lose 30lbs off the front by going to a lighter battery and a CF hood......but that's when practicality and point of diminishing returns come into play.

 

[TemecFist]

they get discounted a lot unlike the gt500 and gt350. will bring it out to mountain run or track day one day in chuckwalla and maybe i can persuade you to buy one for yourself

I think 2021 is not going to be a good year for performance cars in California. Gov Nonsense passed a bill that bans some kind of material that goes into performance brake pads (zl1 1le, gt 500/350 etc, etc). So basically those cars wont be allowed to be sold in Cali until they figure out a new brake pad compound. Yay Cali!!!!!!

 

[ronmcdon]

I told you they have a highlighter green one in Temecula. I swear it's been calling my name. Lol

You could definitely lose 30lbs off the front by going to a lighter battery and a CF hood......but that's when practicality and point of diminishing returns come into play.

you won't regret it. they probably are giving deep discounts for that. it's a great color but you just have to see it up close in person. failing that a dark grey (have nightfall metallic myself) really blends well with the matte hood, canards and wing.

yeah good point with losing practicality. what would be risk of relocating the battery to take weight off the front end? have had no issues with my 240 so far with the battery relocation, in terms of reliability issues. cf hood would just scare me if the fitment is terrible.

 

[Jabbit]

In terms of weight loss have thought of relocating the battery to the rear hatch. I think this is not too high cost a modification. have that done on my 240sx with a battery box similar to this one.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...SBnFpnNur-8dsybIJkS_YirhyyaQO3MQaAhSqEALw_wcB

you could probably shave 10-20 lbs with a lighter battery although not sure if the lithium batteries are practical.

Wouldn't that just shift weight to the back? And it would probably be a net gain based on the cable you'd need to run to the front of the car.

 

[TemecFist]

you won't regret it. they probably are giving deep discounts for that. it's a great color but you just have to see it up close in person. failing that a dark grey (have nightfall metallic myself) really blends well with the matte hood, canards and wing.

yeah good point with losing practicality. what would be risk of relocating the battery to take weight off the front end? have had no issues with my 240 so far with the battery relocation, in terms of reliability issues. cf hood would just scare me if the fitment is terrible.

I dont think there is any risk in moving your battery to the rear, except for maybe losing your spare tire compartment. That's the only thing I could think of.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Wouldn't that just shift weight to the back? And it would probably be a net gain based on the cable you'd need to run to the front of the car.

It would take a huge gauge (read; HEAVY) cable run in order to not have any current drop at all from an already way under factory (CCA, RC, Ah, etc.) spec motorsport battery.
Whether or not that would be a wash, or actually a weight gain, I have no idea, and it would depend on just how light the smaller battery is to begin with.

 

[TemecFist]

Wouldn't that just shift weight to the back? And it would probably be a net gain based on the cable you'd need to run to the front of the car.

It prob wouldnt be a net gain, but you prob wouldnt lose any either, but, the weight is in a better place on the car tho.

 

[TemecFist]

I think the best or most "practical" way to go, is to put a lightweight battery in the factory location, and a CF hood....you could easily drop 30+ lbs off the front just by doing that.

 

[M-Sport fan]

A heavier, or at least a full factory weight/power battery could be used in that hatch mounting location as 'ballast' to either help corner weighting, or to alter the front to rear weight distribution.

But I have no idea of what is an 'ideal' handling/track weight distribution for these cars with FWD, and a solid beam rear axle.

 

[TemecFist]

Heres what mine came out to.