Weight reduction on the Alero's

[DOHC_tuner]

Okay I've been contemplating for so time now on how to reduce weight on the N-body Oldsmobile.

I have yet to put much work into it as I've been busy with the engine build. I hope to get some rather interesting input to help us Alero modders since we have some rather heavy cars.

This is especially big for us N/A guys who are trying to squeeze out big numbers at the track.

These are just a few ideas I have gathered to help dramactically reduce weight on the Alero. Please feel free to add.

1. Remove A/C and heat systems. (A/C bypass pulley)

2. A fiberglass hood (carbon-fiber would be preferred yet not feasible)

3. Fendors are not very heavy but maybe fiberglass fenders via andys unless the weight offsets.

4. Remove the stock carpet and install an ebay carpet. The stock carpet is generally heavier with the black coating on the underside. (or simply choose to not install a carpet.... preference is key in the subject)

5. Lighter wheels.

6. Remove as much interior items as possible.

7. Our trunks are dreadfully heavy....and ideas on that?

8. Lighter seats. (install racing harness and remove factory seat belt assembly.)

9. I have plans in purchasing a lighter intake manifold as well. So those of us with the Quad 4 intake manifold should consider this an option due to its extreme weight.

10. MSD coil conversion and refrain from using the IDI cover.

[99-alero]

lol im sorry but this sounds like a ricer post, heavy carpet? come on a true fast street car should be able to have a full interior and AC, spare tire etc

[CactusWill]

They aren't light but I wouldn't say they're that heavy either. I think the title on mine said 3020 lbs with a 4 dr auto. And the 35-37 mpgs my eco could get on the freeway was pretty damn good for an auto, you can't get that kind of mileage in a sedan with excessive weight.


I wouldn't say theres alot you can do without turning the car into a track car, you might take out 100 lbs by simple things like taking out the spare tire, jack, and misc other things, anything more than that and its no longer a car for everyday use.

[Daytona]

A couple of usable suggestions:

1) Remove your speakers - the 2 in the door and 2 in the trunk actually add some noticeable weight. Not enough to noticeably change performance by themselves, but added in with your other weight savings it'll help.

2) Not sure what sound dampening materials there are in our cars, but my buddies at Cartek shaved 100 pounds off their 10-second test mule Firebird by removing all of the dampening materials from inside their car, yet the interior still looks stock.

3) This might not necessarily be a weight saver, but inflate the rear tires to 40 pounds. They are not drive wheels so no issues there. Plus, the increased inflation reduces the contact area on the tires = less rolling friction. If you can find thinner taller tires that fit onto the wheels, just as good. But the easiest thing is just overinflating the rears.

4) Lower profile front tires do 2 things: reduce weight (over stock tires) and increase the effective gear ratio of your drve axle. You can get DOT and regular slicks that'll work here and they're guaranteed to be lighter than stock DOT's.

[cherrington17]

get a lightweight driver. easy way to loose 100+ lbs depending on your size.

having alerogirl drive ion's car... the driverseat loses 200lbs easy.

[BlackJack]

is this going to be track only, limited daily driver, or full-on daily driver?

if you can handle the noise, Daytona is right, you can shave a significant amount of weight by removing sound-dampening material (looks like squares of black tar) under the carpet, in the doors, trunk, etc.

If you're going to delete accessories, chuck the power steering assembly and the rack. Go with a Flaming River lightened rack-and-pinion. I'm about to research if any of the models they have will fit or can be adapted.

Any accessories you delete, get rid of it all, ie: A/C, ditch the radiator exchanger, all lines, core, compressor, condensor, interior pieces, etc.

Get a thicker all-aluminum radiator core that's half-width of your stocker.

If you're going track only, ditch the bumper supports and cross-beams, front and rear. DO NOT DO THIS ON A STREET DRIVEN CAR.

Electric water pump (reduces rotational drag on engine) and get adapter plates made for where the pump used to go.

That being said, you can get it down to where the crank only drives the alternator. Very low rotational drag overall.

[[ion] C2]

get a lightweight driver. easy way to loose 100+ lbs depending on your size.

having alerogirl drive ion's car... the driverseat loses 200lbs easy.
this is true, you can make your car gain 0.2 sec in the 1/4 mile easy, as long as they drive it the same way.
lol im sorry but this sounds like a ricer post, heavy carpet? come on a true fast street car should be able to have a full interior and AC, spare tire etc
If that's what you dictate is a "true" street car, fine. Removing the carpet is for true "race" cars maximizing their power to weight ratio. I would never do it but a lot of the old muscle cars running really low times are doing all the weight reduction they can get... I didn't know they were ricers.

[Bad99Olds]

take the fat chick out of the back seat

[BlackJack]

take the fat chick out of the back seat


Yes definitely. Inflatable sheep are much lighter, and you don't have to tell them to stop calling you repeatedly.

[Bad99Olds]

Yes definitely. Inflatable sheep are much lighter, and you don't have to tell them to stop calling you repeatedly.

And they dont nag, or get preggers. WIn win.

[BlackJack]

And they dont nag, or get preggers. WIn win.

Did I ever tell you I like your style? Damn, the world couldn't handle the two of us in one state ROFLMAO

[Bad99Olds]

Did I ever tell you I like your style? Damn, the world couldn't handle the two of us in one state ROFLMAO

haha oh it would be an experience. We need to go bar hopping before we both get too old and die. now THAT would be an experience.

[worknprog.99]

bad99olds^^ is there ever a thread that you dont start crapping on?

[Bad99Olds]

You can also pull the back seat, that SOB is heavy. Stripping the trunk down to bare metal, so carpet, insulation, etc. Spare tire and jack obviously.

[[ion] C2]

The back seat weighs less than 2 pounds I'd guess on a coupe. lol.

[Bad99Olds]

C2;489340']The back seat weighs less than 2 pounds I'd guess on a coupe. lol.

Oh disregard. I thought he had a sedan for some reason.

[bkathsalero]

Take the motor out, its a lot of un needed weight, then cut holes in the floor pan to stick your feet threw while still removing weight, then its just like running and you have a light car! GENIOUS!!

[DOHC_tuner]

Thanks for the positive input. As for the other guys with negative input, you are just hurting the community. Im posting this as an aid to help those of us who are actually increasing the performance of our vehicles and are looking for bigger numbers.

Thus is why I rarely spend time on this forum since most of the Alero owners (excluding BlackJack, ion, daytona, oldmans, to name a few) are not providing positive and helpful information to prompt forward thinking.

I could only desire the length of knowledge given from this forum was in the vicinity of vast information provided for j-bodys on jbody.org. Never the less I still refuse to give up on the Alero and swap my build hybrid LD9 into a cavalier.

[Caboose73]

If you have a coupe theres a thread on grandam gt about fiber glass doors and lexan windows ill try to find it,that will be a big reduction in weight but im not sure if its street legal.

[bkathsalero]

shit man sorry thought you could take a joke.. sounds like somebodys got a case of the mondays on a friday!

And my post was alot nicer then what i was thinking. To me IMO what your doing is what some 16yr old kids did back when i was in high school. Like "OH JUST PULLED MY HOOD OF, LETS RACE AGAIN". The truth is the common rule is 100lbs for -1/10 sec. So I ask why not make the power rather than fake it. if your lucky enough to take 300lbs out of the car thats .3sec for a completely stripped car. dosn't mean shit in my book. I once too stripped my whole car. hence why I now have a g.a. interior. It looks like shit and is loud. SOOO to stop going on a speal it seems like a complete waste of time. give it a shot of nitrous or something.

[BlackJack]

the famous 5-cylinder, 14 sec run I made was at a official track weight (with driver) of 3649 lbs. That's me, toolboxes, jack, spare tire, extra helmets in the back, etc. Car has power EVERYTHING. windows, locks, tilt, cruise, a/c, power steering, power seats, and weight was actually added pretty far over stock. What is this desire of yours to shave weight rather than make power?

I know she'll run sub 12 now, with all 6 firing, and tossing the loose goodies out.

[[ion] C2]

I know she'll run sub 12 now, with all 6 firing, and tossing the loose goodies out.
Go run it. When you get back?

[DOHC_tuner]

Obviously this appeals to those of us without forced induction. My desire to "shave weight" is practical.

I am not looking to reduce my weight "rather than make power". I am simply trying to help that power drive less weight.

Again to clarify, I can easy slap a turbo granted the funds were available. Or merely add a shot of NOS as a quick option. Yet I am trying to build a full "ALL MOTOR" project.

So tell me who has the quickest time all motor in a N-body? I can assure you weight reduction was listed on the build. Then once I hit that mark I will then utilize the nitrous everyone is fond of.

Only issue with my build is I began the project to see boost. Then personal matters changed in my life and I had to get the car back on the road quick. But now that I have my GTZ I can continue the efforts of all motor or boost. But I am extremely curious to see what higher compression pistons, bigger cams (HG2), and a good tune will do.

Just a thought if I decide to finish this project or just stop all together and refrain from spending money on the Alero as many have advised me.

So guys simple question.....is it worthless to build an All Motor Naturally Aspirated engine in a N-body due to weight?

[Caboose73]

So guys simple question.....is it worthless to build an All Motor Naturally Aspirated engine in a N-body due to weight?

I think it would be a cool wow factor like i ran xx.xx all motor but if you want a fast n-body you deff need some sort of boost or a large shot of nitrous.

[[ion] C2]

N/A = Not Acceptable

Or merely add a shot of NOS as a quick option.
NAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHS :lol:

[Bad99Olds]

it depens on how extreme you want to go like bj said, you can always start sectioning out pieces of metal thats not critical to the overall structural integrity of the car. As for the issue of the trunk being heavy, consider some kind of a custom job, or just remove it on track days.

[Vic28]

lol remove the trunk and create a pocket that would slow you down?? Whats his time in the track anywayz?

[Bad99Olds]

lol remove the trunk and create a pocket that would slow you down?? Whats his time in the track anywayz?

No idea. And I have no idea about the aleros aerodynamics, but I did not consider that.

[Redog]

C2;489413']N/A = Not Acceptable


Let us know when you ge that turbo tuned right ;)

There's nothing wrong with n/a and it is true a fast street car can have a full interior and still be fast.

My goal with the engine rebuild is in the 13's which personally I think is very doable. The car runs 14.53 and (14.69 on youtube) with full interior, no jack or spare, and 3/8 tank of gas ;)

[BlackJack]

As for the issue of the trunk being heavy, consider some kind of a custom job
custom job = remove trunk lid, fill trunk with styrofoam, shave to look like trunk, coat with light film of bondo LOL
C2;489398']Go run it. When you get back?
Not till late october, and even then I have a few things to do before she's ready to run the track again, like the 3250 stall TC, and a few surprises with the fuel system. Parts cost money and money takes time, on my budget.

[Valley olds]

I have read smaller diameter wheels (15s) are not only lighter, but provide less reciprocating mass than a bigger wheel. While for handling, a slight increase in diameter will help, for the quarter mile, smaller diameter wheels are better.

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

I have read smaller diameter wheels (15s) are not only lighter, but provide less reciprocating mass than a bigger wheel. While for handling, a slight increase in diameter will help, for the quarter mile, smaller diameter wheels are better.
this is correct. smaller sidewalls are better for handling, but smaller wheels are better for acceleration.

[meadus101]

And they dont nag, or get preggers. WIn win.

or hit you with a car.

Right Alerodrime?

[[ion] C2]

Let us know when you ge that turbo tuned right ;)
Oh I will. I'll be tuning tomorrow and likely racing this week. :coolio:

[TheMeaningOfLife]

swiss cheese all you inner interior metal panels then cover them with your interior peices. lol. Wouldnt reconend it but my buddy did it on his teg and there aint no one laughing at the amount of pwnage that thing distributes.

[99-alero]

If that's what you dictate is a "true" street car, fine. Removing the carpet is for true "race" cars maximizing their power to weight ratio. I would never do it but a lot of the old muscle cars running really low times are doing all the weight reduction they can get... I didn't know they were ricers.[/QUOTE]

did i mention muscle cars being ricers? NO! its an alero not a track car or a muscle car , but removing ur carpet etc etc on a daily driven car isnt goin to make a huge difference, im more impressed by a car with every option and all the goodies runnin fast like bj's then a some car that u cant even use the AC on

[Valley olds]

99-Alero: did i mention muscle cars being ricers? NO! its an alero not a track car or a muscle car , but removing ur carpet etc etc on a daily driven car isnt goin to make a huge difference, im more impressed by a car with every option and all the goodies runnin fast like bj's then a some car that u cant even use the AC on

Whether it be a big time muscle car or a tuner (which you called a ricer), 100 lbs of weight reduction is .10 seconds on the quarter mile. So the fact that its an Alero, and not a corvette, is no excuse to avoid weight reduction if you want to get good track times.

[jrim]

Is there a weight difference btwn the 2 door and 4 door aleros?

[Caboose73]

Is there a weight difference btwn the 2 door and 4 door aleros?

ya the sedans are like 40-50lbs heavier

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

difference between tuner and ricer: ricers tend to have more invested in looks, and not as much in performance. Even if you do the same to an American car....you can call it a show car, but if you brag about it being fast because you have a spoiler and some decals, you're a ricer. Weight reduction is merely one aspect of tuning.

[99-alero]

ok well 90% of people who gut there interior have mostly stock cars ie "ricers", so u guys go gut ur interior while i pass with my ac on

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

^ if you're taking out just a few things to go to the track, but put them back in when you get home, that's not being a ricer. That's part of tuning.

[[ion] C2]

that's part of racing/modifying

tuning = modifying computer

:ninja:

[Banks860]

when i blew my old motor and put in my new one i ripped out all of my ac. i can fell a diffrince in the car. i've even taken out the back seats anything in the trunk the door panles, to go out and play aroun. try takin off your hood, if you dont get stopped by cops, but its fun but i do put them back on when im done messin around.

[[ion] C2]

yeah kill your aerodynamics

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

C2;489881']that's part of racing/modifying

tuning = modifying computer

:ninja:
not you're getting nitpicky. I meant as a general term. :)

[Fenderxcore]

clear your corners...:scpimp:

[Afugy]

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m4/duvetdancer/facepalm.jpg

[PappaSmurf]

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/Smurffacepalm.jpg

[Fenderxcore]

Lol it was a joke don't worry

[whiterider00]

i believe they were face palming due to the fact that the thread is 2/3 of a year old.

[Fenderxcore]

Yeah I know that...I was looking at all my stock parts that i've removed in my garage the other day including the orange corner pieces and noticed I've taken a lot of weight out...The orange corner pieces were the lightest of the bunch so I looked up a weight reduction thread and thought it would be funny to post that...I could just have said to remove the cig lighter as well

Sorry for playin Jesus I guess