33 Gtr - Weight Cutting

[tk80]

i know there have been heaps of weight saving threads but i have searched and can't find 33 gtr specific weights/details.

car weighed in at 1575kg with 3/4 tank of gas which is about 200kg heavier than a couple of 32 gtrs i'm hoping to one day compete with (they have similar power). i know i'll never get it to weigh the same as a 32 but i'd like to bridge the cap.

current interior

fully stripped with extensive 6-point weld in cage

sound deadening removed

sparco race seat and harness

passenger seat with std mount and harness for passenger days

guts of behind-dash removed except heater box

std door cards replaced with carbon fibre flat sheets

centre console still installed

rpm steering wheel replaces std wheel

power windows still installed

panels

all panels std

all windows still glass

engine

aircon replaced with dry sump pump

dry sump and upgraded fuel system in boot with braided lines

a few things i'm thinking of removing/changing. any ideas on weight?

interior second skins?

passenger seat + mount + harness?

std bood lid + spoiler?

front and rear reo bars?

custom titanium front and side pipes - save 35kg over full length stainless?

rear window wiper...think i've read 3kg.

i think all of the above would be worth about 70 - 80kg but still a long way to go.

then when i win the lotto i can go to lexan windows and carbon doors.

happy to take your advice...

[Moodles2]

I know a R33 GTR owner that took off a bar underneath the car that goes from the passenger to drive side, claimed it weighed a fair bit and didn't affect handling (well that he noticed anyway)

[bigmikespec]

You need as much weight out of the front as possible. They are such front heavy cops!

[Sir Lord Van Von Vader'ham]

I assume this is a track only car, so...

A 1200x1800 sheet of polycarbonate (Lexan) cost me $168. Enough there to do the rear quarters and rear window, and its fairly easy to do yourself. I saved around 10kg

For the doors, i'd be taking out the power windows and gutting them (side intrusion too if you have a cage) 30-35kg there

Get rid of the heater system and put in a heated windscreen. Another 10kg

Take out the Fuel tank and replace with a cell (less weight + less fuel weight) up to 20kg total.

Defiantly do the bonnet/ boot in fibreglass or carbon. (hmmm, isn't the GTR bonnet alloy?)

If you've got money to blow and your regs allow it, maybe single turbo setup???

Go on a diet. easy weight saving if you are a big guy.

[tk80]

hadn't thought about the heated windscreen. Also hadn't put too much thought into the fuel tank...sounds like most of the weight is saved in running less fuel and no surge tank.

i'll go and read the rules for mra and irace but the lexan windows and carbon doors are going to be the big weight savers.

[Risking]

I assume this is a track only car, so...

A 1200x1800 sheet of polycarbonate (Lexan) cost me $168. Enough there to do the rear quarters and rear

window, and its fairly easy to do yourself. I saved around 10kg

For the doors, i'd be taking out the power windows and gutting them (side intrusion too if you have a cage) 30-35kg there

Get rid of the heater system and put in a heated

windscreen. Another 10kg

Take out the Fuel tank and replace with a cell (less weight + less fuel weight) up to 20kg total.

Defiantly do the bonnet/ boot in fibreglass or carbon. (hmmm, isn't the GTR bonnet alloy?)

If you've got money to blow and your regs allow it, maybe

single turbo setup???

Go on a diet. easy weight saving if you are a big guy.

You won't take 10kg's out of the heater system.

3kg tops.

35kg from the doors is optomistic, you'll pull 20 from them in the R33 as the intrusion bar is no where near as extensive an an r32.

A fuel cell won't be any lighter than the factory plastic r33 tank. Let alone the negative effect a cell will have on the chassis balance when it's hanging behind the axle (as opposed to the centered infront of axle r33 tank.

As for fuel running on E85 I believe this car is very thirsty and he'd get annoyed re fueling every session.

Bootlid and wing 100%

Single turbo conversions are not nessisarily lighter. The manifolds are usually heavier than two smaller ones, the dump pipes are usually longer and the same weight as twin ones.

The turbos are normally larger and by the time you factor in a wastegate and piping that equals two smaller turbos anyway.

Exhaust systems 100%

[zebra]

MRA and iRace = run what ya brung

[femno]

The electric door mirrors weigh 2kg each!

GT ones weigh 200grams.

[Sir Lord Van Von Vader'ham]

You won't take 10kg's out of the heater system.

3kg tops.

35kg from the doors is optomistic, you'll pull 20 from them in the R33 as the intrusion bar is no where near as extensive an an r32.

A fuel cell won't be any lighter than the factory plastic r33 tank. Let alone the negative effect a cell will have on the chassis balance when it's hanging behind the axle (as opposed to the centered infront of axle r33 tank.

As for fuel running on E85 I believe this car is very thirsty and he'd get annoyed re fueling every session.

Bootlid and wing 100%

Single turbo conversions are not nessisarily lighter. The manifolds are usually heavier than two smaller ones, the dump pipes are usually longer and the same weight as twin ones.

The turbos are normally larger and by the time you factor in a wastegate and piping that equals two smaller turbos anyway.

Exhaust systems 100%

yeah sorry, was baseing it more on what i got out of my 31. everythings made of lead

+1 for the mirrors too.

[JGB33]

Get onto these guys in england make great polycarbonate and lexan windows for lots of nissans,33 kit is about $575+delivery for 2 sides ,2 quarters and rear in either 3,4 or 5mm very good fit and quality.

http://www.plastics4performance.com/Lexan--Makrolon--Perspex-race-and-rally-windows-and-window-kits/NISSAN---Lexan--Makrolon-polycarbonate-windows/c-1-288-420/

[CameronBNR32]

Get onto these guys in england make great polycarbonate and lexan windows for lots of nissans,33 kit is about $575+delivery for 2 sides ,2 quarters and rear in either 3,4 or 5mm very good fit and quality.

http://www.plastics4...ws/c-1-288-420/

I had looked into getting their kit, you wouldn't have any pics of the windows that you got from them?

I was thinking of getting the 4mm clear set with borders.

[CameronBNR32]

With the boot, I got 6kgs out of mine, but most of the weight is in the wing.

I cut out the inner webbing and hinge mounts, removed the hinges and struts, and the lock and latch, now the boot is held on via 4 pins.

[R32 Stuart]

Don't know about MRA rules - will have a look and be back, as far as heater goes, personally I would remove everything connected or looks like, (except oil cooler - unless you have good size front mount) as far as engine access and under dash (unbelievable). Instead of spending $600 plus on a screen - I found $30 camping (12v) hair dryer works great. Weighs I reckon less than half a can of rum, including metre of alloy ducting and switch.

Good luck on carbon doors, but carbon boot and wing assembly feels about 1/2 the weight of standard.

And for another couple of kilo's - if it is not registered, some plastic and light changes would be an option, with GTR guards - I leave plastic inner guard, as track debre trashes guards in no time on front. The next possibly, sill/side exhaust exit (keep it behind the door opening) but if you blow an engine or turbo you get your own oil first.

Don't forget to replace front wheel bearings regularly for track work

Cheers

[tk80]

best/cheapest place to buy carbon boot and wing? have seen the boots in a few places but not the full adjustable wing.

and what do you mean good luck with the carbon doors? hard to find or expensive? or not worth it for the weight saving?

[Neil]

Two other ways of shedding some weight would be

1/ Swap out the factory tail shaft and get a one piece unit made = -3 to -6 kilos lighter. This is both good and a little bad,,,the good is no more centre bearing,,,the bad is you would have to add a tail shaft loop at the front = + 1 to +2 kilos heavier.

2/ Are you running the factory flywheel,,,if not there are some great weight lose if you were to change to a much lighter race one. I'll weigh both my flywheels when I swap them and post the difference.

What ever you do with the door windows,,,make sure you can wind them up,,,E/Creek can get pretty bloody wet at times.

Cheers

Neil.

[DJRIFT]

Two other ways of shedding some weight would be

1/ Swap out the factory tail shaft and get a one piece unit made = -3 to -6 kilos lighter. This is both good and a little bad,,,the good is no more centre bearing,,,the bad is you would have to add a tail shaft loop at the front = + 1 to +2 kilos heavier.

2/ Are you running the factory flywheel,,,if not there are some great weight lose if you were to change to a much lighter race one. I'll weigh both my flywheels when I swap them and post the difference.

What ever you do with the door windows,,,make sure you can wind them up,,,E/Creek can get pretty bloody wet at times.

Cheers

Neil.

we got a third of the wight out of the flywheel and clutch assembly by going to a single plate all in one clutch flywheel. was surprised it wasnt more but the difference for engine response is also noticeable. saved about 6kg.

[CameronBNR32]

I havn't had much luck find any suppliers of 33 carbon/frp parts in AUS and NZ, heaps of 32 and 34 doors but no 33, there are alot of place in Japan that do, but carbon parts are still expensive over there.

A company called Rasty in Japan makes good quality FRP doors and lexan window kits, I'm thinking of getting a set of the FRP doors in, but the lexan windows are abit too pricey for me.

Doors: http://www.rasty.tv/pro/door.html

Lexan Kits: http://www.rasty.tv/pro/wind.html

I also noticed these carbon GT mirrors on sale while trolling on yahoo auctions ther other night http://page17.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/v215778593 ~$250-275 not sure if thats a good price or not, but they would look cool

[djr81]

Why are you s focussed on he least important of the things on the list of weight redction?

The first order of priority is to reduce unsprung weight. So rims, tyres, brake rotors, callipers, suspension arms, anti roll bars, springs, shocks etc etc. Just dont use aluminium wheel nuts because they are shit.

The next on the list is rotating/reciprocating parts. Eg alloy cam gears instead of stockies, pulleys (material and ratios), flywheels, tail shafts etc etc.

Only then do you get to the dead weight. The first and easiest thing is the battery. Dry cell it & you have 10kg. Then do all the other bollocks on the lists. Easiest thing to do if piss off all the bracketry in the car & cable tie everything. Oh and the stock front bumpers weigh a tonne too.

[bigmikespec]

Problem with the R33 GTR is the weight in front especially in the suspension arms and that massive cast upright boat anchor. Light weight chromolly is the go for it all, and the subframe.

[djr81]

Well rubbish weight distribution is a problem for just about every GTR ever built, not just the 33's.

You can only try & move stuff rearward really.