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

[dvw]

Just as intended, stealth.
Doug

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Here's the side profile mug shot showing the rear wheel alteration forward 2". Yes, the Three Card Monte worked at the show after all these years. This was back in 2000 when things were still hot and active.

 

[Badvert65]

Wow, that is so subtle and sneakily done. I never noticed the axle reposition. Was the fender opening moved? Nothing looks even remotely altered. Beautifully done (of course).

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Wow, that is so subtle and sneakily done. I never noticed the axle reposition. Was the fender opening moved? Nothing looks even remotely altered. Beautifully done (of course).

This was of course with a pair of rollers used during painting. With the actual race wheels and tires, it's unnoticeable. Wheel well at the very bottom needed very slight clearing shave to clear the 28" by 10.5 Hoosiers. Engine setback is 4" up front. The front wheels are in stock position. Pretty much almost a 2% setup like the original four cars, but more stealthy, especially in the dark.

 

[LemonWedge]

Okay, so I've scrolled back through most of this thread in hopes of finding some time spent on a topic I had missed, to no avail. I believe there’s a component that has not been addressed. I’ve seen a quick exposure of how Lee has approached this component, but I still think it warrants at least a short cameo discussion…. Carpet.

Pretty sure FMJ’s approach is: What isn’t physically there weighs nothing. I get it; it definitely works. But it leaves the interior with a decidedly spartan look that fits in certain machines. Looks wrong in others. Within the context of this thread, can we discuss a factory musclecar appearance while adding a minimum of heft?

What’s the standard for a lightweight material? Pros and cons of that material? Theres got to be some tricks to save weight while maintaining a factory interior look and feel.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Okay, so I've scrolled back through most of this thread in hopes of finding some time spent on a topic I had missed, to no avail. I believe there’s a component that has not been addressed. I’ve seen a quick exposure of how Lee has approached this component, but I still think it warrants at least a short cameo discussion…. Carpet.

Pretty sure FMJ’s approach is: What isn’t physically there weighs nothing. I get it; it definitely works. But it leaves the interior with a decidedly spartan look that fits in certain machines. Looks wrong in others. Within the context of this thread, can we discuss a factory musclecar appearance while adding a minimum of heft?

What’s the standard for a lightweight material? Pros and cons of that material? Theres got to be some tricks to save weight while maintaining a factory interior look and feel.

I can say the following based on my notes. The factory had a couple of standard floor coverings back in those days. It was either a factory carpet with jute backing, rubber sole inserts and perhaps a light film/insulation covering underneath that or it was the dreaded poverty Taxi-Police issue rubber mat coverings.

The A990's came with factory carpets, but with no jute paddings, backings or other films of protection, road sound filtering and comforts. They were just the bare carpets. Fairly light, but seemed to always lift up and create waves over time.
Now mind you, the rubber mats with texture to them always laid nice and flat, Why? They weighed (Not by much, but enough)more than the factory carpets. How do I know this? because my car had these mats (two parts) and when I weighed them after removal, I was dissatisfied.
My remedy years later? The most aggressive/texture bed liner that I could spray on. The can of the stuff weighed just a tad under what the carpet weighed and a good amount under what the rubber mat weighed. Various brands will give you various numbers.

Now, is the sprayed bed liner too spartan to rival a bachelors refrigerator, Yes! but it handles the mail.
Personally, I like very much the rubber mats for a stripped down factory look. I would guess that aftermarket molded mats are lighter than the factory issue because the factory wanted some longevity to them especially under heavy usage such as in Taxi/Government vehicles and for that reason, they were thick and weighed the part. Choose your poison.

 

[Hemirunner]

Here's the side profile mug shot showing the rear wheel alteration forward 2". Yes, the three card Monte worked at the show after all these years. This was back in 2000 when things were still hot and active.

View attachment 1954859

What’s the car weigh today?

 

[fullmetaljacket]

What’s the car weigh today?

2990 Lbs more or less at last call.
All Metal, hence the name handle of Full Metal Jacket. It's nom de plume is "Mr Hyde"
I've got to weigh it again after adding and subtracting some stuff over the last few years. I could comfortably say that it is floating at the 3000- Lb mark.
It takes more than just a village to bring a car down this far with metal only. With all due respect, No fiberglass, Carbon fiber or others.

 

[rmchrgr]

Carpet.

Ozite.

Problem with ozite is it doesn't look anything like the original loop-style carpet. It comes in flat rolls and there's no driver's side foot pad or trim. If you don't care about the look then that's probably what you want. I believe it's easy to install and it stretches. Might even be able to get it at Home Depot.

If you feel like spending a bunch of money you can get the Perlon Felt material that's used in Porsches. It's super lightweight and way nicer than ozite but again, it's very expensive. I wasn't able to find it in bulk either.

I don't like a bare metal interior so I use factory style 80/20 loop with the jute backing. Besides the factory original apperance, it also insulates some amount of noise and heat from under the floor. I have a full 3" exhaust with Ultra Flow muffs. tucked up to the floor, it's a noticebale cacaphony. Could the 80/20 loop be lighter, yes but I'd rather not have my teeth rattle out every time I get in the car. I am willing to sacrifice some weight savings for some level of comfort. No, I'm not putting A/C in the car but I don't want feel like I'm something rattling around in a coffee can either.

FMJ has Lizard Skin on his floors. That stuff has some insulating properties, I believe it was originally used for high-end stereo installs. Maybe put that stuff down first and intstall the ozite over it, kind of the best of both worlds. Probably something I should have done myself but I didn't think about it until I had re-assembled too much of the car.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

DVW here probably has the lightest carpeting layout in his masterpiece. I'm sure that he wasn't trying to add any unnecessary weight into his car.
I think the lightest would be an adhesive vinyl wrap that is printed to look like loop style carpet, but contours to all the irregularities, cliffs and crevices of the floor. Super trick. I might try it myself.

 

[Dodge 330]

What a show this past weekend. I'm lost for words with the machinery unearthed from their comfy grottos, sans mine.

I'll keep it short in that I was completely blown away when these two specimens made their way to the stage on Saturday during a seminar involving old school Chrysler racers and builders.

Exhibit # 1 shows two brake bar harnesses which are found underneath the dash. Both Aluminum and Magnesium counterparts in this case, but steel versions are the norm, so of course y'all know where I went with that. And here I thought I had everyone beat by a mile with my own version.
After that seminar, what I walked away with wasn't just amazed envy, but the notion that any myths or legends heard of in the past could quite possibly be true. One just has to patiently dig deep or be patient for the items to come to you.

Anyone ever hear of Titanium torsion bars? More on this coming.

View attachment 1953821

Wow, those are incredible.