I'm interested in knowing what parts on a Camaro really weigh a lot more than they need to. I don't care about a horsepower boost by replacing a part, I'm more interested in just getting the car lighter.

For example, I know a carbon fiber or aluminum driveshaft would reduce the weight by quite a few pounds I imagine, but what else? A lightweight flywheel would also make the car lighter, but then I wouldn't be able to coast as long because it would decelerate more quickly.

I don't want to take the car apart and make it uncomfortable or like a race car. The stereo/speakers, door panels, seats, and back seat gotta stay. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

fiberglass hood, remove the spare and jack (you prolly already did though) maybe some different wheels?

Wouldnt it be awesome if someone made aftermarket doors that werent so damn heavy?

 

Hood... yes... I didn't think of that. The stock hood is made of steel, perhaps there is a carbon fiber hood that looks stock.

Thanks for pointing out the doors, I didn't even really think of them, I bet they are quite a few hundred pounds of weight. I have a friend who is making lamborghini doors for his 2000 Volkswagon Beetle (since there is no kit that will shoot the doors out past the large front wheel hump). He's making the entire doors out of bondo, using the stock doors as a mold of course, so they will be lighter weight. Maybe if they don't end up all crappy, I'll have him help me make some bondo doors .

I wonder what else is incredibly heavy on the car?

 

Bondo doors does that sound very safe

 

Rear-seat delete, 30lbs.
Tubular K-Member, something like 30lbs off the front end.
Lexan windows (far lighter than real glass and its bullet proof! ...)
Spare & Jack
....Plenty-o-stuff... Could always take out your A/C also, thats a lot of weight too!

 

Aluminum driveshaft is more cost-effective than a carbon fiber one. I wouldn't spend the extra $$$ on one...not enough difference to justify the $$$.

Lightweight parts are expensive...our girls are big. Just the way it is.

 

About how much are Lexan windows? And what is a tubular K member? Is that what supports the engine? (sorry, I have no idea)

Is there a website other than RKsport (that is actually worth going to) that sells parts like these?

 

lol, hopefully i read that wrong.. did i read that RK sport was worth going to???

http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/site.htm

taking the AC out saves a few pounds, and wheels are a biggie also

yes the K member is what holds the engine in

and behind a lot of the panels in the car there is a lot of insulation that can be removed if you dont mind road noise

 

RKsport is the only site I could think of , it is actually pretty terrible. It's really sad, but SLP has the worst site by far. I wouldn't want to order any exhaust from them for fear of receiving the wrong part since there is no picture on many items.

This is the site I really like, but they don't really cater to people wanting to make their cars lightweight or who just want to know what material something is made of or its weight. To be honest, it isn't friendly to people who don't already know a little about what things are (I have no idea if all the crate engines they sell are V-8s and I have no clue if their dash insert things are replacements or if they just glue on top of the stock ones)
http://www.fbodymotorsports.com/

I was looking through some websites and was unable to find a site that sells aluminum driveshafts muchless fiberglass hoods that look stock. Would anyone be able to help me with that? (I haven't checked your link yet atl2001, so bear with me).

This is really off topic, and probably out of my price range and abilities but... is it possible to put a small video camera in the hatchback/center tail light to aid with backing up?

 

You cant drive a 4th gen in reverse?

 

Parallel parking in a tight space? Nope.

 

There is a heavy steel beam that is made to keep the motor from moveing back incase of a frontal collision along with all the foam crap under the front bumper cover. The same foam can be found under the rear bumper cover. You can get an after market steering wheel and delete the driver/passenger airbags. Also there are heavy impact beams in both doors that can be cut out. You can pull the factory carpet and get all the foam padding out of there. The same foam padding can be found over the gas tank area in the hatch. There is ALOT of it and the pounds do add up. Once you have removed all of it, you can spray Dynomat sound dampaning matterial in place of the foam to keep some of the road noise down. An aluminum radiator might be an option as well.

As far as the Lexan windows try this: http://store.percyshp.com/93chevcamfro.html

The K member can be found here: http://www.bmrfabrication.com/faqs.htm

Hope this helps you out some!!