Itemized Weight Reduction

[djjerme]

..also helps to start with the lightest chassis E30. Suppose you started with an '84 316 that you just happened to find already caged and stripped on Craigslist over the weekend.

Stock form already 2345.
Now, stupid light.
Target - sub 2100.

[2mAn]

You mean 318...

[djjerme]

No. I mean 316. Look it up. Gray market car.

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/bmw/3-series_e30/3-series_e30-1_1_sedan/1984.html

..and actually it's lighter then I quoted. Starting 2100-ish, which would explain when one of my buddies was able to lift a corner off the ground while removing a lug nut..

[Smelser]

Full cage, channel steel to tie sub frames together, channel tube inside the bumper covers and fuel cell conversion with about 3" of fuel (maybe 1.5 gallons) painted and stickered is 2400. 7" steel racing rims with tubes. channel steel replaced the front frame horns.

[totheredline]

Im very interested to see how much my car will weigh. Carbureted m30 swap backed by a getrag 240, thinned wiring harness, no rear seat or belts, all insulation and sound deadening removed, manual window conversion, no carpet, No ac ect. 2200lb 220hp hopefully

[Bearmw]

Smelzer I love the pic with the back wheel off the ground. That thing is a tank for what it weighs.

[MannyTranny]

How much weight would it take off to remove the power steering/swap out the rack for an E36 steering rack? What about a manual window conversion?

[Hooffenstein HD]

How much weight would it take off to remove the power steering/swap out the rack for an E36 steering rack? What about a manual window conversion?

I weighed my power steering set up and it was pretty close to 5kg. Pump, lines, belt, reservoir and fluid. That was from a 323i/M20B23.

If you delete AC and PS you can also delete the accessories pulley off the crank which would have to weigh at least 1lb.

[blazinxpk]

1989 325i
2 door

weight reduction mods:
-drivers side race seat
-trunk tar removal
-full power steering removal
-full AC removal (with the exception of whatever is in the cabin)
-cruise control removal (with the exception of whatever is in the cabin)

weight with 3/8 tank of gas and no driver on a truck scale +/-10lbs:
2640lbs

[djjerme]

As stated before, you definitely need to be aware of what chassis you start with. There is huge differences in base weight through the years. The 84-early 85 are by far the lightest US spec cars, while the plastic bumper cars were way heavier by the end of production.

If you are wanting to go light, your best bet is finding a diving board car and then put it on a diet.

My own PRO3 car started as an early 85, and has always had trouble meeting the minimum weight requirement in the class (2650), and that is with ALL the stock sound deadening on the floors in the passenger compartment and trunk.. Unless I add over 100# of steel, I won't pass at the end of a race.

[2mAn]

Yea mine (84 MY) has a full interior, 12" lukebox, no A/C, no power steering, and an aluminum 24v motor and weighs 2450 with a full tank.

[J.Rizo]

..also helps to start with the lightest chassis E30. Suppose you started with an '84 316 that you just happened to find already caged and stripped on Craigslist over the weekend.

Stock form already 2345.
Now, stupid light.
Target - sub 2100.

yeah you're definitely right.

but for me its not about having the lightest e30 possible, its about how light I can get MY e30 specifically. otherwise I wouldn't have gotten a vert, or an e30 in general for that matter.
it all comes back to just having fun, not trying to win any trophys or anything like that.

[J.Rizo]

I have a question... why?

edit: also this: http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8331

tracking it because my buddy got me addicted the day he invited me to an open track at willow. I was hooked instantly.

gutting it because a) weight reduction for the days at the track obviously, and b) a fully gutted and painted interior looks nicer to me than a reupholstered oem interior. "not every show car is a race car, but every race car is a show car".

I know some people might think it's silly to track your daily (especially when your daily is a vert) but theres nice weather every day in SoCal and willow springs is an hour away... so when you think about it, a track ready DD vert is actually perfect. at least for me anyway.

[J.Rizo]

My own PRO3 car started as an early 85, and has always had trouble meeting the minimum weight requirement in the class (2650), and that is with ALL the stock sound deadening on the floors in the passenger compartment and trunk.. Unless I add over 100# of steel, I won't pass at the end of a race.

thats the great thing about willow. the open track days are basically "do you have a helmet? is your car leaking oil? okay you're good".

now i'm not saying i'm gonna half ass all the safety aspects of a track car, but when you're just showing up for open track days, you don't have to worry about all kind of rules and regulations. if I get any more hooked though, I can definitely see myself building some sort of competitive track car in the future.

[TobyB]

you definitely need to be aware of what chassis you start with

Truth.

My 2/87 eta, sitting next to an 84, last weekeend, is #200 heavier. Kevin's #120 under weight, I'm nearly #100 over, and from looking at them, there is no difference whatsoever. Well, except for my beer belly...

t