If you really want to reduce the weight:
Replace the frame with an aluminum chassis designed for greater stiffness.
Drill lots of holes in the birdcage.
Replace the body panels with carbon fiber replacements.
Get a Keith Black aluminum block and heads.
Install all aluminum / titanium suspension parts and prop shaft.
Get an aluminum cased manual tranny.
You could probably get the weight down to 2,500. Of course it will cost
big bucks.
----------
> From: Phil Martin <pmartin@isgtec.com>
> To: Bricklin <bricklin@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Bricklin weight
> Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 4:50 PM
>
> For as light as the Bricklin is, I can imagin that a nearly 500hp engine
> in it would produce near flight characteristics. On a drag strip I'm sure
> it would be fun to ride.
> =================
>
> Note: This isn't a flame against Mike - I just wish my car really was
light!
> Well, it's light now, but it's got no drivetrain, interior, body, frame,
or
> wheels ;) That raises an interesting existential question: when you're
car
> is completely apart, what piece is "the car"? When I yanked the motor,
the
> wheels, chassis, and body was "the car" - when I took off the body, the
> rolling chassis was "the car" - when I stripped the suspension off the
> frame, the frame was "the car"... But I scrapped the frame - so what's
"the
> car" now? ;)
>
> Light? Light compared to what? ;) Lighter than a 70's passenger car, or
a
> 90's SUV, comparable to piggish sports cars like the newer Supras and C4
> Vettes, but certainly not light compared to most sports cars. Ask John
> Blair about his Morgan if you want to talk about light cars... ;)
>
> These are off the top of my head, but I think that most of them are in
the
> right neighborhood:
>
> Datsun 240Z: 2600 lbs.
> Rx-7: 2400-2800 (depending on year)
> Miata: 2300
> Boxter: 2900
> 944: 3000
> Early 911: 2400
> Current 911: 3100
> Lotus Esprit: 3000
> Lotus Elise: 1400
>
> Bricklin: 3400
>
> I don't know - that Bricklin looks like quite a pig to me. I'm doing
what I
> can to cut weight (aluminum suspension components, ditching those
> super-heavy bumpers, replacing the big V8 with a little rotary and that
> cast-iron FMX tranny with a 75lb Mazda unit), with particular attention
to
> decreasing unsprung weight and polar moment, and trying to fix the weight
> distribution.
>
> By the time that's done and I've got a cage & other frame reinforcement
> done, and proper heat and noise insulation in the cockpit, I'll be lucky
if
> it's not over 3200lbs again.
>
>
> --
> Phil Martin pmartin@surgnav.com
> "I'm a Charger, charging through the night,
> Like an orange bolt of lightning passing everything in sight"
>
>
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