Many moons ago, the big movement in sports car touring was redistributing weight.

One of my former rides literally had the battery in the trunk. Yes...I dimly remember that era. Most of you weren't born.

There were forged trailing arms that were lighter than stamped steel. And, polyurethane bushings with lighter (high strength) sway bars to replace heavier, weaker steel that used old-fashioned rubber bushings.

Today...Heck....these aftermarket designer shocks that are being sold for $$$ are probably heavier than the stock units? I'd be curious.

We load our cars up with sun roofs (high center of gravity and trunk mats) and wonder why they are not as crisp a handler and some old strut-supported Civic?


I don't see as large an emphasis on this today. Here and there, someone will talk about lightweight pullies or carbon hoods. But, I don't see an aggressive movement to either shifting weight to the back, or reducing weight that cannot be moved.

Here are some ideas:
really lightweight FTSB's
lightweight or relocated batteries
lightweight struts or shocks
Mag wheels that are actually lighter (not just mod looking)
Stripper models without some of the electric stuff....and with lightweight glass.
etc.

I am guessing it would take too much for Nissan to build a limited number of these stripped down cars?

What else are people doing to relocated or remove weight?

Thanks

Vic

 

Hey Vic...not trying to flame, just curious as to why you purchased a GLE if you cared about weight???

you could've gotten a GXE which is the lightest model with the same soft suspension of your GLE

 

Are you talking about the 5th Gens or the 6th?

If 5th, just get a used GXE (already pretty basic) and put it on a diet.

If 6th, good luck ever. Nissan is clearly changing its focus on the Max. Go get an Altima instead and strip it.

 

Here's a list of stuff to do.

http://lighter.maxdes.net/

I've definitely considered relocating my battery to the trunk. In addition to the shift of weight it always bothers me to see that battery directly in the path of incoming air to my WAI setup.

I'd also like to learn more about light weight batteries. I've done several searches but can't seem to find any info on a light weight battery that can be used on a daily driver.

 

Day 1 I had this car. Indeed, my primary consideration for swapping rims was weight -which resulted in choosing the SSR Integrals @ 17 lbs versus the OEM rims at 23 lbs, 14.9 oz, also resulted in the soon-to-be-installed Wilwood brake kit which removes 8 lbs per wheel -and it's all unsprung weight at that, and which is making me seriously ponder a liteweight battery soon.

Countering those efforts, I added an RSB, but I figure I'm still 30 lbs to the good with 44 lbs saved and 14 lbs added from the RSW.

 

You do realize that all that effort (for overall weight) can be easily offset simply by approx 4.5 gallons of gasoline. (I am not making a difference between unsprung weight and gross weight).

 

That's why I never have more than 2.5 gallons in the tank. The wife ain't happy about it but it's worth it.


















just kidding of course. Unfortunately the car doesn't go without gas.

 

140 lbs......


Hey, how come no one's mentioned laying off the Krispy Kremes??

 

Didn't know it was a problem!!

 

Yes...I am saddled with the GLE rather than the SE I originally put the hold on. My wife interefered.

Course....at some point, I can start "slipping" some mods in when she least notices it.

However, the battery MUST stay up front!! That...she will notice when she throws her stuff in the trunk!

thanks

Vic

 

The funny thing is, even though it does nothign for reducing weight, the addition of fuel in the rear of the car actually DOES help the distribution of weight in the car!

 

do any of u know off the top of your head the actual 'group size' for the Max's battery? I can find out what are some liteweight battery options if one of u can give me that group size number...

Galo the 160 lbs liteweight driver

 

Yeah, if he cared so much about weight distribution, why'd he get a damn Maxima anyways. Don't G35's have near 50/50? Or a 3-series. If you wanna strip down a car for weight, you bought the wrong type of car to begin with.

 

Vic,

I'd say maximas are fairly lightweight to begin with for their size and class. Compare a 3200-3300 lb 5th gen to other cars in it's class. Most of them tip the scales at a round 3500 lb's with less horsepower. The 4th gen was ultra-lightweight with some members claiming curb weights at the track of less than 2900 lbs.

Perhaps the emphasis has shifted since days of yore, since it is often easier to add power nowadays rather than to lose the weight. (The McDonalds mentality ) As for 50/50 weight distribution, it is a losing proposition in a front engine, front wheel drive car. The very nature of the beast endows it with a very nose heavy design with the engine, transmission, and drivewheels all in one place. As you shift the weight distribution rearwards, you lose vital weight over the front wheels that maintain traction under hard straight-line acceleration.

If your concern is handling, then yes, 50/50 is good however too neutral of a set-up is a bit hard to control in a front wheel drive. And thus not for the average driver. Most aftermarket parts and wheels are made of high quality billet or forged aluminum or other similar metals-- much lighter than their OEM cast iron counterparts. Sadly, we will never handle better than a civic. They are lighter weight, shorter wheelbase, lower center of gravity, double wishbone independent suspension, etc..

As for the battery relocation. Just get a black box from summit racing and throw it in the trunk. Your wife will never know or care
what its for. If it helps any, throw a nissan sticker on there.

 

The black box is a good idea. But...loose the Nissan sticker-too much weight!!

Thanks

Vic