M20 vs M42 and how to lighten a 325i nose

[Varinn]

I'm trying to think of ways to lighten the nose of my car. I dearly miss the responsivness of my 91 318is. I have managed to find weight specs of the M20, but nothing about the m42 so I don't know how much I would have to drop. Obviously the I4 is shorter so its lower weight is tucked back quite a bit, but my car did have A/C. My thoughts are that dumping underhood items like my A/C (compressor, condensor, lines, etc) will shave roughly 50lbs from the nose of my car and bring it closer to the stock front axle weight of my 318 with A/C. Are there any other items that can be tossed to save weight without sacrificing much?

Rough estimates
A/C - 50lbs from nose
ABS - 5 or 10lbs (84 doesnt have ABS)
Cruise - 5 or 10 lbs (dont want/need)
Headers - 5lbs (less than stock manifolds)
Stock valance - 15lbs (swapping stock metal unit to plastic 87is airdam)
Total = 80-100lbs

I'm putting in an e36 rack which I know won't change the front weight but will help with getting a better feel.

Dont be the idiot who says "install a 4 cylinder", I understand I may not be able to match weights, I just want it closer.

[Holland]

Losing AC and power steering components will help lighten the nose a good bit. Euro bumpers are actually also a good bit lighter than diving boards too.

[xwill112x]

CF hood, euro bumpers, gut that engine bay, get rid of all sound deadening in it, Light wheels. Should get ya close with all you're other mods listed.

[VinniE30]

Don't forget washer reservoir and stuff.
You could get a CF hood too, that would help more than any of these things except AC delete.

[Varinn]

Euro bumpers are a definite possibility, but I think a CF hood would likely be out of my price range sadly. I also need to keep the car relatively streetable so washer delete isn't overly practical. It's a daily driver/weekend autocross car. I do have a set of 15x8 RD's that I use as my summer wheels, and they're a great deal more responsive than the weaves I had on the 318. The car is fucking loud as it is, I doubt I'll ever be able to make it quiet so maybe I should just go and ditch all the deadener.

Anyone have any links to something with the weight of an m42

[Eecen]

Might be an idea to look at your suspension, corner weights etc before going on a weight reduction spree

[VinniE30]

Anyone have any links to something with the weight of an m42

Here's my engine weights thread:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=233682

M42 weight is in my first reply to that thread.(note: includes trans)
The difference in weight between m20 with trans and m42 with trans is about 70 lbs.

[Sagaris]

Im guessing that ellipsoids are lighter than sealed beams due to their nearly all-plastic design compared to all the metal and glass of the sealed beams. It might only save a couple pounds but it is a modification with other obvious benefits as well.
You may consider re-locating the ABS pump to the battery tray behind the strut tower.

If you ever run Megasquirt, you will remove the weight of the AFM and airbox and run a lighter weight filter.

Removing the fog lights.

Or if you are building a car for the track and really want to shift the weight back. Build some custom engine mount arms, modify the firewall, and move the engine back in the bay a few inches.

[VinniE30]

The oil cooler too. Not that much weight but it's located very far forward. Probably close to 10lbs with the lines.
Also, clutch/engine fan delete. If cooling becomes a problem you can add an electric fan (behind the radiator) which will be an improvement in cooling over the clutch fan and still a weight reduction over the clutch fan.

[Varinn]

Forgot to mention that, my car didn't come with an oil cooler and I don't intend to install one during my swap to the m20b25 (its an eta now). Already have no ABS to worry about, and not running sealed beams but instead a very expensive H1/H1 Hella setup that I'd like to keep :P Non projectors

[Bryan///]

Im guessing that ellipsoids are lighter than sealed beams due to their nearly all-plastic design compared to all the metal and glass of the sealed beams. It might only save a couple pounds but it is a modification with other obvious benefits as well.
You may consider re-locating the ABS pump to the battery tray behind the strut tower.

If you ever run Megasquirt, you will remove the weight of the AFM and airbox and run a lighter weight filter.

Removing the fog lights.

Or if you are building a car for the track and really want to shift the weight back. Build some custom engine mount arms, modify the firewall, and move the engine back in the bay a few inches.

how could you move the engine farther to the rear with the stock driveshaft? you would need more work than just modifying the engine mounts.

[Hey_You]

You could always run less coolant/oil ;P Have you considered a diet? I ditched my A/C, and my washer bottle, no complaints. If my windshield is dirty, I can stop at a gas station, boom done

[Northern]

Im guessing that ellipsoids are lighter than sealed beams due to their nearly all-plastic design compared to all the metal and glass of the sealed beams.

No way in hell are the ellipsoids lighter than the sealed beams. The ellipsoids have so much more to them.

But I suppose if you used the plastic frame with the sealed beams it would drop a pound or so at the nose of the car.

As far as any of the fluid reservoirs go, you could relocate them further back in the engine bay to try to shift the weight back. I think the IX washer tank mounts in the battery tray. Or just make your own.

Stock valance - 15lbs (swapping stock metal unit to plastic 87is airdam)

Don't forget there is still a small valence behind the plastic 87 is airdam, so their may not be any weight savings there.

[2002maniac]

Gutting the bumper core saves about 10lbs.

[Emre]

I've heard of guys running E34 525i engine mounts. Supposedly, it moves the engine back towards the firewall a little. Might not make a huge difference, but every bit helps.