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TR6 Adding lightness to a TR6

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tdskip

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Disclaimer - I'm bored and looking for interesting TR6 related things to think about.

So with that said - how would <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">you</span></span> go about adding lightness to a TR6?
 
I started with 39 lb off by removing the rubber bumpers and brackets (76), and another 6-8 with the Rick Patton fan conversion. I thought about leaving the spare tire at home, but insecurity crept in, as well as not knowing if the change in balance would adversely affect handling. Also, no radio or speakers, with their big magnets.
Lost 20lb off me, but not sure how permanent that will turn out to be.

Tom
 
Let's see.....I've removed the rubber bumper boobies and front license plate holder which was about 40 lbs. Rick Patton's Fan Eliminator was worth 6 lbs. The Wizard aluminum radiator was good for another 5 lbs. If you go to a Gear Reduction Starter you'll save 11 lbs. Alloy wheels save a lot of weight but I never actually weighed them but I bet at least 5 lbs per wheel. If you have overdrive, converting to a Toyota 5 speed saves about 30 lbs. The Nissan diff actually adds about 13 lbs to the car. Then there's all that Fat Mat sound deadening stuff I've put in the car which probably off sets all the weigh reduction things I've done :wall:
 
Skip,

Not sure if you are running with the stock rims, if you are you could switch out to alloy rims and you will find a few pounds there as well.

Cheers,
Tush
 
tdskip:
BobbyD has given you a good list. In addition to his and other suggestions you could change rear brake drums to alum, or better still go to the disc conversion, rear coil over shocks conversion, alum flywheel, the front brake system could be replaced with lighter rotors and calipers, get a SS header to replace the stock cast iron, a single SS big dia. exhaust system, take the convertible top and trash it (fair weather driving only), replace the windshield with that little racing thing, replace the stock motor with a 200 plus HP GM or Ford 4 cylinder alum block/head motor, strip the paint and run primer only, and last get rid of the wife and you don't need the passenger seat. There, done.

Some serious suggestions in there somewhere. It really depends on how light you want to be and how much you want to spend.
 
Just give it a few years and the natural rusting of the body will shed a lot of weight. :laugh: The longer you wait, the lighter the body will get as it starts to look like swiss cheese. :sick:
 
Hmm, seems no one mentioned the heater (and the water it holds).

To answer your question above, removing rotating mass gives the biggest benefit per pound removed, especially if it's in front of the gearbox. Just an aluminum flywheel makes an amazing difference in 1st & 2nd gear.
 
DNK said:
How the heck do you "add" lightness.
Click to expand...

Helium balloons in all the voids should do it.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Disclaimer - I'm bored and looking for interesting TR6 related things to think about.[/QUOTE]

Why don't you call Dale? I'm sure that he'll give you a few things to think about.
 
prb51 said:
Remove all of the tools/spares from the boot. I'd lose a good 25 pounds by that alone.
Click to expand...
Or in Tinster's case, about 250 lbs!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]How the heck do you "add" lightness.[/QUOTE]
That's quoting Colin Chapman, I believe, of Lotus fame. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? Get it?? Adding lightness.
Would inflating the tires be adding lightness?
 
It seemed to work for Lotus; way back when, right up to the current day.
 
John_Mc said:
...How the heck do you "add" lightness.
That's quoting Colin Chapman, I believe, of Lotus fame. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

That's always been attributed to Colin Chapman. There's another story about Colin that always comes up concerning 'adding lightness'. After he built a car, he would start taking pieces off until the car collapsed on the ground. Then he would put back the last piece he removed. :thumbsup:
 
You could also use:
Aluminium (sorry - aluminum) door skins?
Alloy engine plates front and rear?
Take off every bracket that isn't actually holding something on?
Smaller battery and put it in the rear for better balance?
Remove the bumpers completely - light and it looks cool!
Forged alloy pistons have got to be lighter?
Alloy valve spring caps?
Titanium valve spring keepers?
Teeney weeney fuel tank?
Shave another .001" off the head?
Don't fit gaskets - they don't work anyway?
Use distilled water in the radiator - less heavy metals?

Sorry, as it got harder to think of something useful it got easier to think about something silly.

Beers!
Mark
70 Damson PI
 
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