The Elephant In The Room: unloading the load from a B-body.

[fullmetaljacket]

Here's 3024 lbs worth of many years of hard and tedious work and counting.
Keep in mind of the 8 or so gallons in the tank at weigh in. Basically almost a half tank.
At a quarter tank, it gifted me with 2990 lbs or so a while back.

With me in the seat at 185 Lbs, roughly 3200 Lbs at the line is not too bad for a FULL METAL JACKETED CAR.
I'm really aiming for lower numbers which may come from further ounce count pushes and perhaps some rare factory parts in the works.
As of now, without any adjustments on the Torsions, the car is at 48.8 front to 50.1 rear ballast. Not too bad. I think aluminum four way drums and a A/FX stainless K member would trim the car down to an anorexic 2965 lbs without me in it. I'm gonna keep pushing the envelope responsibly. Stay tuned.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Way back in the bowels of this thread. The dreaded, infamous stainless K member in its infant attire. No paint, no wheel stands, no pain. Supposedly 17 Lbs. It would be great to have one underneath.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

A man's dome is his castle.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

I can see 6 or eight of these saving a WHOPPING 1.20 ounces. LOL.

I will add it all up at the conclusion for a "I Told You So" victory dance.

 

[Jeff Peterson]

Melrose Missile with magnesium k frame

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Melrose Missile with magnesium k frameView attachment 1977826

That there looks like a straight axle setup with barely a K member left in place. Yes, I've heard that the Mag K's were notorious from being fragile and were until recently, folklore legend. Like Unicorns and Werewolves, they do exist and were indeed light as hell. Which magazine is that? Mopar Muscle?

 

[Jeff Peterson]

That photo is what the car looked like at the time of the arcticle, and yes, september '03

 

[fullmetaljacket]

That photo is what the car looked like at the time of the arcticle, and yes, september '03

Thanks JP. I like collecting all memorabilia on those A/FX and F/X cars.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Received the batch of Grade 5 6AL4V 1/2-20 and 9/16-18 castle nuts today. These guys are light indeed. I'll throw them on the scale just before replacing the OEM's and compare.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

I just weighed all (6) Titanium 1/2"-20 castle nuts and came up with 1.50 ounces. The original OEM's haven't been removed yet, but I will make sure to scale them of course. I predict an ounce and a half or more shaved off.

I know, I know. We all think this is crazy, but if an ounce is found and evicted from 1600 places, you're showing a 100 Lbs the door and giving it the boot.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Sometime within the next month or so when time allows, I'm going to address a small leak coming from my gas tank's gasket at the inspection and fuel sending unit lid up top. (sending unit not working properly anyway)

For this, I have to completely drain and remove the whole assembly, fuel pump and all. I will then know exactly how much fuel was in there at my last weigh in. I now suspect it was more than 8 gallons in the tank being that I just added 5 more gallons the other day and the tank seems to be full thus, the leaking from the top lid gasket.

This would mean that this bad boy is somewhere at 2920's lbs without any fuel at all. With at least 4 or 5 gallons in it, it would weigh in at 2950 more or less. That's encouraging. To be continued.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Two sockets and a titanium sheet walk into a bar.

What can two sockets 1-1/8" and a 7/8" (cheap expendable ones mind you) a flat stock piece of titanium and a good bench press create?
It's cold outside, but white hot in here with ideas. Stay tuned.

 

[dvw]

A cupped washer.
Doug

 

[fullmetaljacket]

A cupped washer.
Doug

Doug. You're too good. I can't pull the wool over your eyes.
Coming soon, the cupped upper front shock washer ................. in Titanium.

 

[Phantomx]

Holy cow, no stone unturned.
Travis..

 

[Cojohnso1]

I once had a driver point out to me that my master cylinder was cast steel, thus carrying an extra 6 lbs. He was standing there with his 300lb belly showing. I just nodded without pointing out some fitness gym time would help his track times.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

I once had a driver point out to me that my master cylinder was cast steel, thus carrying an extra 6 lbs. He was standing there with his 300lb belly showing. I just nodded without pointing out some fitness gym time would help his track times.

LOL.
That kind of bodily weight if not addressed for whatever reason is counter productive whereas shifting it rearward by a few inches or more, would help in his launches. Just look at the funny car seating arrangements. Every ounce or pound is accounted for.

 

[Cojohnso1]

LOL.
That kind of bodily weight if not addressed for whatever reason, shifted rearward by a few inches or more would help in his launches. Just look at the funny car seating arrangements. Every ounce or pound is accounted for.

Fuel cars are better centered thus driver weight is not as critical. (Unless it effects overall weight too much.) But Pro Stock and down the classes? I would rather put 100 extra # of weight (likely in trunk area) than in the driver's seat.

JMO

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Fuel cars are better centered thus driver weight is not as critical. (Unless it effects overall weight too much.) But Pro Stock and down the classes? I would rather put 100 extra # of weight (likely in trunk area) than in the driver's seat.

JMO

True that.

 

[dvw]

Fuel cars are better centered thus driver weight is not as critical. (Unless it effects overall weight too much.) But Pro Stock and down the classes? I would rather put 100 extra # of weight (likely in trunk area) than in the driver's seat.

JMO

Depends on the car. If anything it gets center weight down low orr right on the nose. With no ballast and 5 gallons of fuel it's 1510 rear, 1830 front. That's with my 200 (includes my suit, helmet, gloves, shoes). Many times it'll hang the tires in the air past the 60 ft clocks. If the wheelie bar is moved up, then it really gets dicey.
Doug