i have been thinking about making my s2k as light as possible. i know all the normal routes one might go, but i was thinking if anyone knows anything about lighter subframes, lighter propeller shaft, lighter axles, lighter doors, etc. i want to lose a decent amount of weight, while keeping the interior and such related items intact. any ideas or even specifications on lighter parts would be appreciated. thanks in advance.

 

Eat less, exersize more....

 

Buy an Elise.
Or a supercharger.

If you want to keep the interior intact, it's either going to cost a crapload of money (full carbon fiber body panels for $10k) or be very, very painful.

Used Elises are ~$34k.

If the interior is to stay intact:
Remove:
1. Spare tire and tool kit
2. Stock exhaust for cat back
3. Remove cat (only legal for track use) and replace with test pipe
4. Lightweight wheels (and stock is pretty light to begin with)

That's about it. I don't think anything else is really a weight saver while keeping the car "looking stock" inside.

People who do a full race setup only get down to 2400 lbs, I think.
They also remove:
Passenger seat, interior panels, A/C (sometimes), and radio.

Like I said, it'd be easier to go with an Elise or supercharge your S for a similar power to weight ratio.

 

remove spare, tire tools, trunk trim, etc. remove a/c, washer reservoir, run a test pipe instead of the cat, run the car when on the track with as minimal gas as possible.

 

well, i have removed the spare, tools, heavy sub box and amp. i would take out the trim in the trunk, but how much weight would that really take out? i would like to keep the creature comforts like a/c and such. i have seen some lightweight subframes but anyone of the companies that i call has no information. i don't know how they can expect to sell them if the can't give any specifications. i am just thinking of things to do to the car until spring time when i will be replacing the final drive gear and if all works out well a supercharger too

 

If u want real gains from weight, get rid of rotating mass. Light weight flywheel, lightweight wheels, every pound of rotational mass is equal to 10 points of non rotational mass. So lose 20 pounds on all four wheels combined and that

 

well it depends on what your budget is... if you have the $$$ for lightweight subframe parts, then I'd go that route... The stuff I mentioned would be free I never use a/c in my s2000 anyway, I'm considering ripping it out

 

hope this helps,
a few no expense things:
- remove spare tire and tools (-30)
- remove air conditioning
- gut interior (carpet, plastic, leather, doors, etc.) (-20)
- gut trunk interior (carpet, plastic) (-5)
- remove passanger seat (-38)
- remove wipers, and washer resevoir
- strip all sound deadening (-20)
- remove air bags
- remove dash (-15)
- run with the smallest amount of fuel (around 100 lb for a tank)
- remove bumper bars

and stuff that costs money:
- replace intake with aftermarket CAI (-10)
- replace driver seat with race bucket (-20)
- replace battery with lightweight battery (-10)
- replace exhaust with single Ti exhaust (-40)
- replace header with aftermarket header (-10)
- replace softtop and motors with hardtop (-30)
- replace stock wheels with lighter wheels, note the moment of inertia
- replace body panels with carbon fiber (think the CWest race car)
- replace brakes with light weight Wilwood 4pot designed by Docomind (-30)

found this in another forum, but I removed some to be more realistic.

 

i have also done intake, header, and exhaust. i really would like to get the lighter subframe but as noted before not one company has any specs yet. i would like to do that along with prop shaft, axles, hubs and reinforced diff (at the same time) i have a clutch and flywheel sitting around waiting to be installed also. whatever way i decide to go i thank all who responded for your input.

 

http://www.pstds.com/critical_link_drive_shafts.htm

This company does CF driveshafts, you'll have to know the measurements of our shaft though...