Roxanne - budget milano/75 track car

[sidewaysalfa]

Now Jes is gonna make me look at my Alfetta USA bumpers. . .

Hmmm, A little drilling here and there . . . . They do each weigh about 50 lbs.

[AR4me]

Paul,
Come on over - the neighbors have gotten used to the (loud) noise of the drilling and angle grinder (late) at night , or have they better hurry before the complaints come in. Anyway, I'm ready to cut up some more bumpers
Jes

[AR4me]

More cutting and wire brush applied. It is now completely hollow. I gutted it from the center part out to the corners - more foam and plastic - see pics. I also extended the cut back of the top. At this point there is little left to cut while maintaining a stock look once mounted. It is down to 21.5 lbs. The remaining weight is in the thick plastic and the two areas where the three studs for mounting are located. I don't want to cut too much there in order to not compromise the mounting.

I was thinking about cutting out the center piece of the bumper, e.g. 2-3" high all the way between the two headlight washers and then put in a mesh - guess the radiator would get more air, but I don't think it would matter much in terms of temp. If I knew it would save 5 lbs, I might go for it, but in reality it could be less than 1 lbs, but then, where the heck is the weight...???
Jes

[geh458]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AR4me ......... but then, where the heck is the weight...??? Jes

[junglejustice]

JES! Do the mesh-thing....! Do It!

The plastic is heavy. Period.

Also the main weight on the entire setup is still in the shocks and mounts - steel parts probably still on the car - that you are not weighing...

[AR4me]

Quote:

then all those donuts your eating while your working aren't helping the weight issue.

[AR4me]

Ok, operation gut-the-front-bumper is complete. I cut 3 vent holes in the front bumper - see pics. It is now 20.5 lbs, and that is as good as it will get. I will add mesh (from the back) covering the 3 vents. I will also add mesh where the fog lights and turn signal lights used to be - much like what we did on the 3.7.
Jes

[75evo]

AR4me,

Will exhaust work bump you out of your current class? If you can replace the stock cat with a free flowing unit, no center muffler and a single magnaflow muffler in the back. To keep the noise down, ask the shop to make the tail pipe 2" ID only. That's gonna be a 20 lbs savings with improved performance.

And the cost shouldn't be more than let see... $80 for the cat, $80 for the muffler, $50 for the pipe and flanges and $200 for labor.

Oh yeah, did you cut a bigger hole for the airbox? Don't forget to get a broken headlight and use it to funnel air into the new hole you cut in the bottom half of the stock airbox.

[AR4me]

I plan to take both headlights out at the track for weigth and cold air - just thee bolts, 2 min. Thanks for the suggestion on the cold air.

Hmm, not sure I can change the exhaust - need to check the points.

I added the mesh to the front bumper...

Jes

[Grant]

Are those pop rivets you used to hold the mesh in? Where did you buy the mesh and what kind is it? Are you putting brake ducting in one of the new openings?

[AR4me]

No - just screws. The mesh is from Home Depot - this is a budget car - just need to keep rocks from my new radiator... Stock brakes (with Porterfield pads) should be plenty for this car - can you say light weight So, no ducting - don't think it is needed.
Jes

[75evo]

Jes,

From what I hear, taking the brake dust shields off also helps brake cooling.

[AR4me]

Yeah, might take those off.

Put the superleggera milano front bumper back on - see pics. Now on to bigger and better things No, not the rear bumper - yet First, Dedion bushings plus mounts and bushings in the back.

Jes

[AR4me]

So, lack of updates does not mean the work has stalled. I'm trying to get at least a couple of hours in every day. I've been under the car unbolting stuff in preparation for rebuilding the shift linkage with the Monkey Shifter kit from Performatek, replace Dedion bushing, all transaxle mounts, rear suspension poly bushings, rebuild drive-shaft including re-balancing, lots of stuff. Also noted that the rear engine mount (bell housing mount) is shot - located a new one despite NLA from Alfa. Most is "regular" maintenance items. Anyway, while under there I noticed this layer/coating on the underside starring at me saying "Guess how heavy I am?" So, hmm, time to get the chiesel back out (after the maintenance items)?

Wonder how much weight there is??? Perhaps 30 lbs, I guess you could hope for 50 lbs... I may just take a stab at it and see how easy it comes off...

Jes

[geh458]

Jes,

If you start taking off to much stuff, you going to move up a class because of the weight loss. What about the roll cage? You haven't mentioned it for a while?