Jackman 0 Posted October 2, 2010 Is this worth doing? When i was up Colins i seen the door skins and bits removed in a car up there, now I've got Polycarb windows i see now need for the skins and wana lose some more KG's! I'm sure I read somewhere about lightening a standard boot aswell rather than buy a fibreglass one, is this possible or am i better off buy a fibreglass boot and putting my polycarb into that? Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fenton 1,528 Posted October 2, 2010 To build a light car no component no matter what it is can go un modified. There is weight to be saved from practically everything. The motto of Carl who I drag race the Minis with, "never knowingly use standard parts". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brumster 135 1 Cars Posted October 2, 2010 The boot is pretty easy to do. I chop out the majority of the inner panel, although I do leave a small strip in the middle just to brace it a little from top to bottom, where the striker/lock is. If you replace the glass for poly, coupled with chopping it all out, you can then use just one of the gas rams to hold it up, so further weight saving. Doors - again, the bulk of the inner panel can be removed but I like to keep a few inches of the edge to keep some strength in the door and not turn it into a flimsy piece of tin. There's probably a bit to be had from the inner quarter panels at the rear by "holing" them, but otherwise I don't bother trimming much else off the inner panels of mine. Boot lid is an easy one worth doing though, IMHO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swordfish210 20 Posted October 2, 2010 Here are my doors: And here's my bootlid: The doors are really flimsy but they're pretty light, the bootlid is also light enough to be held up by a single boot strut. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jackman 0 Posted October 2, 2010 Cheers guys! Thanks for the pictures, thats what i had in mind ! I will get on it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
backroadpug 12 Posted October 2, 2010 (edited) Bit anal but I also lightened the rear bumper and tie wrapped it on rather than bolted. Probably made up the weight of the reg plate.lol http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/b...5/rallye234.jpg Edited October 2, 2010 by backroadpug Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liquid_106 97 1 Cars Posted October 3, 2010 Bit anal but I also lightened the rear bumper and tie wrapped it on rather than bolted. Probably made up the weight of the reg plate.lol http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/b...5/rallye234.jpg Nice, but not anal enough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameron 16 Posted October 3, 2010 Here are my doors: Been meaning to do that to mine for ages.. any idea how much they weigh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swordfish210 20 Posted October 3, 2010 Been meaning to do that to mine for ages.. any idea how much they weigh? Didn't weight them but i would guess at less than feck all, they are seriously light. I just need to get some black glass and make some door cards for them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jackman 0 Posted October 3, 2010 Is it literally just a case of attacking them with a angle grinder and tidying up sharp edges accordingly? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tri_longer 25 Posted October 4, 2010 Definitely worth the effort, i bought a pair of doors of Baz that had teh internals removed and poly windows and the difference is very noticeable. Worth looking at swapping the wing mirrors as they weigh in quite heavy as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skinner2k3 3 Posted October 4, 2010 (edited) I did what Swordfish has done to my passenger door and wished I had left just a inch or so more metal in as cutting there took out the spot welds and resulted in a seriously flimsy door, which I didnt like. I have since replaced the door and when I do it again will not get quite so carried away. Another thing I learnt is that it isnt easy to make a tidy job of the corners with an angle grinder so might be worth drilling them first and cutting to them. Edited October 4, 2010 by skinner2k3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameron 16 Posted October 4, 2010 Depends how good you are with an angle grinder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swordfish210 20 Posted October 4, 2010 Worth looking at swapping the wing mirrors as they weigh in quite heavy as well. Second that, here is my long term mirror solution: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tri_longer 25 Posted October 4, 2010 Second that, here is my long term mirror solution: Exactly what i'll be doing, thanks for the pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dj_mini 7 Posted October 4, 2010 The real weight in the door is where the hinges bolt to but if you do this the doors do tend to flap about at 100mph+ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swordfish210 20 Posted October 4, 2010 Exactly what i'll be doing, thanks for the pics. If i still had the moulds i could have made you some of the carbon plates i used but i think they got binned when i moved garages Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jackman 0 Posted October 8, 2010 Is there a trick to getting the bonded parts off the inside of the boot? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jackman 0 Posted October 8, 2010 Cheers mate! I'll pinch one from work! I'm left with this atm! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
