Has anyone gutted and fiberglassed a T-Bird to minimum curb weight. I was wanting to build a bigger motor, but decided it was easier to lighten the car to get the same effects with less cost involved.
Hairy Glass has quite a few T Bird items and I have no idea how much weight they should shave from the body. Does anyone have this?
I have never done that, but i was thinking of trying to fab up my own fiberglass front clip for my coug.....with the BB it should be quik...and i must say your bird launches really nicely!!!!!!!!!!!
I've lightend my black cougar up but not with any fiberglass parts.
I have a freind that does alot of carbonfiber. We plan on making a
CF hood for my car. May make other parts for shiznits and grins if the
hood works out OK.
CF is definitely outta my price range. That stuff is gonna cost an arm and leg just for the materials.......but it will be light. I was wanting to get all the Hairy Glass Stuff and see if I could get the bird down around 25-2600 lbs w/ driver. My car has been wrecked and can never be used on the street since the doors do not close well, it drives weird and eats tires. It is a great race car but I could sell the sheet metal and lighten it up. Doors, hood, fenders, front bumper and backing and trunk lid will have to go. The seats, glass, door panels, console....all will be gone and I am shooting for the first N/A 5.0 powered bird in the 10's. It will be fun especially since it will be all motor.
I plan on gutting my interior. Everything except the dash. http://usbodysource.com/ has both a hood and decklid for our cars. I do not know about any doors. But I also don't plan on going that extreme on my T-bird as that is what my 64 Falcon is for.
FYI, Hairy says their stuff is race only.
whew! good luck. got you work cut out for you.
chances are, somebody had allready done so.
Doh, just reread your post ... race only.
+1
My pen 15tail napkin SWAG:
2600 might be possible. Figure an 88 weighs 3300lb?
20lb - light wheels/tires
20lb - gut the doors
20lb - manual brakes and a/c delete
30lb - lightweight battery
50lb - everything in the trunk
150lb - everything in the passenger compartment
100lb - coil-overs, control arms, and k-member
? - bumpers, impact absorbers, lights, a/s bars
Adding a cage and other safety equipment?
Adding SFCs or other performance reinforcement?