Weight reduction for street and/or track - Hyundai Performance Forums

Kevdog · 03-11-2003, 03:56 PM

I'm thinking about modding my 1999 Tiburon and taking it out to the local amateur tracks in Phoenix to race. I was wondering how much weight you can get off a stock Tibby and still be street legal? I know it's around 2700 lbs stock.

I'd probably still use it as a daily driver too (so have to keep the AC in)... but am thinking of back seats, spare tire (will take out for race days), and replacing the front seats with lighter racing seats. About how much weight would that take off? Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks

Mad-Machine · 03-11-2003, 10:23 PM

Well, if you wanted to get really crazy.. there is a lot in the car you could pull and never notice except for more noise when you drive. My 99 tib is stuffed FULL of sound suppressing stuff.. foam in the headliner, matting under the dash, the wiring harness is enveloped in stick on foam sheeting...

aemht · 03-12-2003, 01:16 PM

stuff i would do without spending money to lighten it
extra tire out
backseat out
take out a/c
take out poweringsteering
take out all of your carpart
and race it with just a little bit of gas in your car
lot of gas equals weight
and whatever mods you have done to your car then you go a little bit more faster

beppomarx · 03-12-2003, 02:38 PM

for street and/or track i wouldnt suggest taking out the power seering... maybe drag but is it worth it???

Kemper · 03-12-2003, 03:07 PM

You can get a feel for how your car behaves without power steering by loosing the belt and sticking a long screwdriver or metal object through the power steering pump's pulley "spoke." I did this because even a loosened belt will still run the pump and if you just pull the belt off the power steering pump, it will flap around and cause problems! For my daily driver, loosing power steering wasn't worth it but I think I could get used to it.

NightShark003 · 03-12-2003, 11:18 PM

i dont think the tib weighs as much as 2700.. tibs are pretty light.. they should be around 2550..

i kno this my sound gay.. but when you say take out your a/c.. do you mean just disconnecting the wire out of your dash from the a/c?

[Edited by NightShark003 on Mar 12, 2003 7:19 PM]

Alacritan · 03-13-2003, 12:37 AM

Curb weight is about 2700, says on the door jam. They aren't that light. Not as heavy as the new Tib at 3100, but still not too light.

Mad-Machine · 03-13-2003, 07:53 AM

Another thing or two you could do... take out the passenger seat when you are racing (it is only held in with four bolts) and see about replacing your stock and heavy driver's seat with a lightweight racing bucket.

Kevdog · 03-13-2003, 01:59 PM

When they talk about taking out the AC, they're talking about removing the compressor, fans, all of it. Also disconnecting it from the engine as well.

I can't take out the AC if it's going to be my daily driver still (not with it getting to 110F in the summers here 8D ).

I wish I knew the weights, but here's my thoughts so far:
Back seat
replace front seats with racing seats (maybe take out passenger seat... hadn't thought of that)
spare tire (when racing)

Sounds like about 150-200 lbs?

I'll keep the power steering (or I'll look like Popeye after a few days at the track :P )
Gotta keep the AC
Don't think I'm ready to remove all the carpet and sound dampining just yet

And if I then add on an AEM air intake and KORE catback.... I should be able to do fairly well. 2500 lbs with 140ish whp.

Then save my pennies for a turbo :evil:
250hp at 2500lbs would be great :devious:

Mad-Machine · 03-13-2003, 05:18 PM

Another old racing trick.. remove your floor mats. Not the carpeting, but the overmats. Not only do they add some weight.. but often they get in the way of Full wide open throttle as your foot catches on them or they keep the pedal from reaching the metal.

It also just occured to me.. but I know you want to keep this a daily driver.. the radio and speakers probably add about thirty or more pounds to the mass you are already carrying. Another thought is to find some nice lightweight wheels to replace the stockers.. you can get lower profiles and wider tyres and maybe even lose some weight where it really matter... Rotational weight eats up a LOT of Horsepower.