I just took out my sub box which contains two JL Audio 10W3 subwoofers and weigh them. If my scale is correct, the box with the subs are a total of 50lbs. They seem a bit heavier than 50lbs, the scale that I used was a bathroom scale, which tend to be a bit off. Anyway, I took the box out, to "lighten" the load a bit. Will it make any difference in the term of acceleration? I do have 17" Tantrums on, which add to the weight as well. At least, the 17" Tantrums are lighter than my old 18s. Anyhow, I took the box out already and I'll see tomorrow if any difference there will be.

 

It may be a bit quicker if you get a good timer like at a track or what not. But overall the 50 lbs might not bring you down to being all that much faster in the long run. Instead do some jogging lose 50 lbs and then you get to keep the subs. Just kidding.

SuDZ

 

lol...the only good thing is I can't blame myself for the extra weight, I only weigh 120lbs. Yes, I'm a featherweight.


On a side note, I need a new hood. So, I might just get a carbon fiber hood, that should ligthen the car a bit. Plus, it looks pretty cool.

 

The box may make a slight difference, but like sudz said only if you have a good timer someplace like a track. If you are planning on racing a lot, your best bet to lighten the car is to get he stock 15 inch steel wheels. hey may not look good, but they are lighter than any aftermarket wheel.

 

I went to nismo.org to use their horsepower and 1/4 mile time calculator(s) for you. I assumed a horsepower of 175 and then did two calcs using 3200 and 3150lbs. These are just somewhat random numbers that I made up so you are free to use your own numbers. Here's what I got:

At 3200 lbs, 1/4 time = 16.3127 secs
At 3150 lbs, 1/4 time = 16.2274 secs

So therefore, shedding 50 lbs yields a quarter mile time reduction of almost a tenth (~.085s) of a second (theoretically anyway).

Hope this helped. :)



-Josh

 

Thanks for the numbers. I ran a 15.5 at 89mph the last time I went to the track. That time I had stock rims, removed spare, jack, and sub box. I don't know what I would have run with a full interior and 17s. I will drive tomorrow and see if it "feel" any different.

 

I just took out a single 12'' Q-Logic box out of my trunk today, partly because I needed to inspect it and also try out how differenly the car felt.

I can tell you this...my handling feels a lot lighter and nimble...could be my imagination though. Anyway, I felt a nicer acceleration too...but it was probably due to not driving my car for a full day.

oh well, hope that gives you a small, helpful idea.

 

In my old car I did this once and noticed the same thing. But my box and stuff in that was about 100 punds or so. Big difference. And it was atotally different type of car too but I think you will notice it no matter what car type.

SuDZ

 

Every 100lbs is like .1 seconds on the 1/4, so 50 would be .05. That's hardly a difference. These are some of the figures I've aquired over time, I'm sure they aren't incredibly accurate.

 

Well, today I drove my car without the heavy sub box in the trunk. The car felt a bit lighter and seem to have a bit better accerlation. It might just be my imagination though. Every little bit counts IMO. Time to order that carbon fiber hood.

 

Shoulda got the 3.25" pulley, boyeeeeee!!!

Mike, I'd do an inexpensive intercooler before I got an expensive CF hood. You can pick up an intercooler core ,not a shiney FMIC, but a cost effective OEM IC at a junk yard and on E-Bay for under $100, the welding, tubing and misc parts, etc. should be no more than ~$200. IMHO, I'd say the gains would be much more than that of a CF hood. Ive been wanting to make a trip to some junk yards anyways.

I also ordered the parts for the custom SC CAI's. The opening on the SC air intake is 3.5". I found 3.5" mandrel bent mild steel in a "U" bend that we can cut in half at the center of the "U" so we can do 2 cars, it cost ~$60. I also got enough 3.5" marine wet exhaust hose to do 2 cars, it cost ~$22. I orderd a large custom size K&N filter for my application that cost $42, it flows enough air for a 3.5L motor at 6500rpm's with 12psi of boost(future plans ) The filter you would need would cost around the same but could be a little smaller.

Call me tonight if you can.

 

I thought about that too but if I heard correctly, the stock hood weighs 26 lbs and the carbon fiber is 50% of stock - which would be a 13 lb savings. If you have $500 to spend just to save 13 lbs, more power to you. I decided to pass on that one. Good luck.

 

i would just leave the box in .05 is not a boig difference

 

the better acceleration you felt might be just off the line because you got better traction? the front to rear weight bias might have evened out a little bit making your car harder to launch compared to without? i dont know.. just a possiblity

 

I take my 10" JBL's out and in again all the time. I don't personaly notice a difference but the clock might!

 

Nah...I don't I'll get the carbon fiber hood. The box will go back in.

 

if you're going to run your car and notice a difference using weight reduction... try putting a set of stock 15's on your car. One night I was using my 17" chomes and i went out to industry (racing spot here in NY). I was the slowest. I was pi$$ed that night for losing 4 out of 6 races to people I used to beat long time ago. They had more mods that night but so did I. But I was also the only moron racing with chrome 17's. The next morning I switched back to stock 15's, removed the system (almost 30-40lbs), spare tire (another 20lbs), and jack. That night I killed everything up there. Even i999maximagirl's 5spd, and a lot of others.