different angle

**savage.** · 15th April 2009, 22:48

Lookin at getin a bit more out of my vectra, remaps and boxes seem to be the only suggestions. But what about lightened body panels.

Your thoughts plz

Regards

**bgm46** · 15th April 2009, 22:50

cant beat the feeling of a tuned car mate, nuff said

**Ste** · 16th April 2009, 08:54

The gains would be small, as the panels you can actually replace easily would be only the bolt on ones, and the weight loss wouldn't really change the characteristics of the car enough to probably even notice.

Firstly, do you carry any junk in the boot you don't use / need? Spare wheels weigh a fair amount, and a can of puncture repair weighs much less. (for example)

Changing the weight of the car isn't cost effective after you have removed all the unnecessary items in the boot etc.

**savage.** · 17th April 2009, 00:17

Thanks Ste, I try to travel as lite as posable, but with the tribe not alway so easy. Hadn't thought about the spair n jack. Will chuck them out soon as.
Many thanks

**Penfold101** · 17th April 2009, 00:19

Don't forget to go for a dump before you get in the car too, that'll help.....

**Teamtom** · 17th April 2009, 00:32

never thought of weight loss really.

Wonder if anyone makes a fiberglass bonnet and boot..... could be interesting but then putting big fat alloys on would be contridicting matters, anyone for steels?

**Penfold101** · 17th April 2009, 00:34

I'm not sure they really come into it much to be honest, as the wheels aren't being carried as such by the engine - they're unsprung mass...

Yes, they will have some effect on the performance as they are attached and have to be pulled along by the engine, but it's not same as them being loaded in the boot, for example...

Or I could be talking rubbish, I can't remember...

**Teamtom** · 17th April 2009, 00:43

Originally Posted by Penfold101

I'm not sure they really come into it much to be honest, as the wheels aren't being carried as such by the engine - they're unsprung mass...

Yes, they will have some effect on the performance as they are attached and have to be pulled along by the engine, but it's not same as them being loaded in the boot, for example...

Or I could be talking rubbish, I can't remember...

you are talking sense. Wheels are unsprung weight, so in all they dont make a hell of a lot of difference. everything fixed to the chassis/body is really what you'd want to limit, being the Sprung weight. ie - lighter seats, lighter body panels, Strip carpet, ditch rear seats, radio etc etc list goes on

**Ste** · 17th April 2009, 08:33

er no.

The wheels clearly are included in total vehicle weight, whether sprung or unsprung mass it doesn't matter - then engine still has to accelerate it and that takes energy.

**boba** · 17th April 2009, 15:18

Originally Posted by Ste

The wheels clearly are included in total vehicle weight, whether sprung or unsprung mass it doesn't matter - then engine still has to accelerate it and that takes energy.

Correct! but it's even worse than that because the wheels have to be sped up in rotation as well as in a straight line so the power required to accelerate a heavy wheel/tyre is greater than the same weight on the body.

FWIW the unsprung mass issue is a factor when talking about suspension and handling issues.