1996 Golf Mk3 GTI 8V - reducing weight

[VR6_Wherry]

Thanks guys. So, I'll start with a diet for me right after Christmas! GTI_Wherry, when you stripped yours was there anything that you removed that was heavier than you expected?

Cheers,


Simon

The carpet and underlay was heavier than first thought but that was more to do with it being soaked in water! Theres nothing individual thats heavy it's more a case of when it's all together you think "Okay thats quite a lot!"

It wont be until you have the lot out for example the rear seats and all the boot and carpets. That when put together is actually quite heavy.

If you want it to be lighter but still with the comfortness i'd suggest just removing the rear and leave the front in.

[Paul86S2]

you've stripped 130kgs from a mk3?  I wouldn't have thought seats, door cards, flooring and headlining would amount to that much.

Add in aircon, lighter exhaust, manual window mechanisms, airbags, fog lights, speakers, wiring etc etc and it all adds up.

The 130kgs is what came out minus what went back in to replace some of the stuff that came out (ie bucket seats, harnesses, strut braces etc)

Paul

[VW BUSH]

you've stripped 130kgs from a mk3?  I wouldn't have thought seats, door cards, flooring and headlining would amount to that much.

Add in aircon, lighter exhaust, manual window mechanisms, airbags, fog lights, speakers, wiring etc etc and it all adds up.

The 130kgs is what came out minus what went back in to replace some of the stuff that came out (ie bucket seats, harnesses, strut braces etc)

Paul

Did you remove the Bilge pump and Perkins Diesel engine? 

[simon44]

So far I have removed the following:

Spare wheel - 14kg
Wheel jack kit - 2.4kg
Parcelshelf - 2.3kg
Boot carpet - might keep/havent weighed yet!

I'm looking to keep the interior trim to keep it comfortable for daily use. There are three areas I think I can save more weight:

1. Changing the front seats for lighter weight seats - the originals look very heavy
2. Changing the wheels to lighter wheels
3. Stainless steel exhaust system
4. Replace rear windows with polycarbonate - may be one step too far?!

I can afford to do 1. or 2. at the moment but not 3. or 4.

I'll keep you posted on progress!

[Paul86S2]

Front seats in mine were 20kgs each including the frames.

Stainless steel Magnex cat back exhaust saved 7 kgs over the original.

Paul

[mac7]

Simon, you'd be better off not stripping your car out but buying some decent springs, shocks, wheels and tyres. They'll improve your enjoyment of the car far more than shaving 0.02 seconds of your 0-60 time - and make life easier when you get a puncture.

[simon44]

Many thanks Mac7 - any advice on a decent road going suspension set up? Wheels and tyres are in hand!

S86S2, thanks for the info on weights - how is the magnex for daily use (ie noise) and has it added anything to performance?

Many thanks


Simon

[Paul86S2]

S86S2, thanks for the info on weights - how is the magnex for daily use (ie noise) and has it added anything to performance?

Many thanks

Simon

Magnex is fine for daily use, it upped the noise levels by a couple of decibels to about 82, even with the de-cat it only registers 84 to 85.

It was a bit boomy for the first few hundred miles but settled down, it sounds noisy in my car but there is nothing sound deadening in mine. Performance wise no real differance that you could notice but I liked the weight differance.

Paul

[simon44]

I weighed one of my car's standard 15" wheel and tyre and together they weigh 17.5kg. Does anyone have a weight figure for either the a 15" wheel or tyre? I've got my eye on some lighter weight wheels - 7kg - but the tyres might be heavier than I first thought.

Cheers,


Simon

[Paul86S2]

My standard longbeach alloys with 205 50 15 tyres weigh 16 kgs. My Standard vr6 wheels with 205 50 15 tyres weigh 16 kgs. Some Corrado wheels I have which are 6 inches wide with 205 50 15 tyres weigh 15 kgs, and some Antera 16 inch wheels which are 7.5 inches wide with 205 45 16 tarmac rally tyres weigh 18 kgs.
I don't know the weights without tyres.
I have some Toyo 195 50 15 loose tyres in the shed which I will weigh tomorrow.

Paul