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Lightweight fasteners?

Badvert65

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If someone was going to replace regular steel fasteners with lightweight stuff (aluminum/titanium), where you would put the lighter fasteners? Keeping in mind that aluminum/titanium are not as strong as steel in the same specific size.
 
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Low stress areas. Holding on trim and valve covers for Aluminum. Titanium has a lot of strength so it can be used in most non critical areas. We use to drill stock grade 5 bolts in the small lathe on motorbikes to cut weight.
 
Lots of easier ways to save more weight. Tubing steering shaft,strut rods, grille support. Trimmed K frame. Aluminum driveshaft, brake hubs radiator, calipers, fuel tank. The list is endless.
Doug
 
Aluminum and Ti fasteners are a PITA. I would be looking for larger components to replace. Fenderwell splash shields made out of fiberglass for instance. Lexan in place of 1/4 glass is another good weight saver. Then there is the reproduction stock appearing master cylinder that saves 4 lbs.
 
Aluminum and Ti fasteners are a PITA. I would be looking for larger components to replace. Fenderwell splash shields made out of fiberglass for instance. Lexan in place of 1/4 glass is another good weight saver. Then there is the reproduction stock appearing master cylinder that saves 4 lbs.
This is going to get long.
 
Back in the day I removed lots of OEM parts. I also removed many duplicate fasteners. I use a number of aluminum fasteners in what I considered low stress areas. The OEM engineers had a significant concern for long term street driving application. For my drag racing car long term was not a concern for MANY locations.
Edit: I also rifle drilled some fasteners in locations that I didn't think aluminum was the correct choice. Time consuming, but it does the job.
 
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If someone was going to replace regular steel fasteners with lightweight stuff (aluminum/titanium), where you would put the lighter fasteners? Keeping in mind that aluminum/titanium are not as strong as steel in the same specific size.
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Here's my Felix the cat bag of tricks. Every ounce counts baby. Only a few plastic fasteners have made their way into the car at very low stress locations, but mostly titanium and aluminum through out.
 
Nobody knows light weight, like FMJ.
Doug
 
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My race car is an old super stock car (72 Road Runner). They put aluminum bolts and nuts every where in that car. The fenders, window regulators, air grabber, bumper brackets, you name it. The bolts used on the K-frame, suspension and brakes are not aluminum. Seems like a lot of work, not sure how much they really lightened it. They acid dipped the whole front end also, not sure what that was worth in weight either.
 
Use only for non-stressed applications and mainly on the front of the vehicle to help weight bias.
You guys are lucking out because I just arrived in Detroit and brought with me my all inclusive tally A-list of everything I have shaved, replaced, deleted and depleted out of the car. Stay tuned for a real world look at fasteners. I know you guys will have a laugh, but those who laugh last are....... laughing last. LOL.
 
Use only for non-stressed applications and mainly on the front of the vehicle to help weight bias.
You guys are lucking out because I just arrived in Detroit and brought with me my all inclusive tally A-list of everything I have shaved, replaced, deleted and depleted out of the car. Stay tuned for a real world look at fasteners. I know you guys will have a laugh, but those who laugh last are....... laughing last. LOL.
 
You guys are lucking out because I just arrived in Detroit and brought with me my all inclusive tally A-list of everything I have shaved, replaced, deleted and depleted out of the car. Stay tuned for a real world look at fasteners. I know you guys will have a laugh, but those who laugh last are....... laughing last. LOL.
Ok Guys and Gals. I figured after all the turmoil in the last few years we all need a good laugh. Mind you, if I were to write about everything that is on or off this car, it would take me another three years. Also mind you, I have looked over every nook and cranny on this car and have left no bolt unturned, thereby creating a one of one of a kind of car. DVW on here knows my madness all too well, so after all has been said and done I shaved 18-1/2 pounds off the thing with the fasteners alone. That there is Voodoo.
 
18-1/2 pounds not bad. How much have you got the car down to at this point?

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I was keeping it under wraps during its bad boy nights in the civilian theater of operations, but as they say, the cat's got to come out of the bag at some time. 2990 Lbs WITHOUT me in it.
All metal/s, no fiberglass, carbon fiber, hence the Fullmetaljacket identification code. I want to achieve 2800 Lbs with all metal parts to reflect the fiberglass '65 AFX scale numbers. This practice can be applied to any other car with careful eyes as far where, why and how.
For example, GTX John here has achieved some amazing numbers with is '70 GTX. Lost pounds using a group of hand selected OEM parts and bolts. He probably has a fiberglass bumper, but nothing more than that. Different supply houses differed in the weight of their parts by design or metal density, so only a mad scientist could dive down that rabbit hole. GTX John has come down to 3100 Lbs or so.
 
I was keeping it under wraps during its bad boy nights in the civilian theater of operations, but as they say, the cat's got to come out of the bag at some time. 2990 Lbs WITHOUT me in it.
All metal/s, no fiberglass, carbon fiber, hence the Fullmetaljacket identification code. I want to achieve 2800 Lbs with all metal parts to reflect the fiberglass '65 AFX scale numbers. This practice can be applied to any other car with careful eyes as far where, why and how.
For example, GTX John here has achieved some amazing numbers with is '70 GTX. Lost pounds using a group of hand selected OEM parts and bolts. He probably has a fiberglass bumper, but nothing more than that. Different supply houses differed in the weight of their parts by design or metal density, so only a mad scientist could dive down that rabbit hole. GTX John has come down to 3100 Lbs or so.
One fact that we MOPARites have to remember and also embrace with open minds is the fact that Chrysler in its hey day were the sneakiest of the sneakiest.
 
I’m just under 3100 empty. I’m a carbon fiber cheater (hood, scoop, bumper brackets). However it has; truck Dana, fire system, all steel body, bumpers, and stock floor pan/frame rails, Mega block, full interior minus the back seat. Now if I had some FMJ stuff.
Doug
 
I’m just under 3100 empty. I’m a carbon fiber cheater (hood, scoop, bumper brackets). However it has; truck Dana, fire system, all steel body, bumpers, and stock floor pan/frame rails, Mega block, full interior minus the back seat. Now if I had some FMJ stuff.
Doug
Man, I could just imagine if DVW's car had a car Dana (a few pounds lighter) Stock block (possibly 60+ pounds lighter, but not nearly as durable and strong) no fire suppression system (priceless since DVW is safer with it onboard) and aluminum bumpers, that thing would dip down to the low 3000's. Either way, 3100 LBs is darn good for that car. The one advantage right from the start is that the Plymouths are a tad smaller in overall body shell length compared to their Dodge siblings.
I smell 8's this season for DVW. Now if I could only latch onto his back bumper with my car, I could then boast that I went 8's as well. LOL.
 
I envy all you light weights. Mine is 3760 with me in it. MEGA block Hemi, All steel, all glass windows, full interior, 25.5 cage, with full tank, both bottles, fire suppression system and cool suit cooler filled with ice and water.
 
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