Originally Posted by StewC625

I just helped a friend strip a 2 year old EVO for track use. I don't remember the specifics on before and after curb weight but we freaking GUTTED this car of everything non-essential. Here's a "more or less" list of everything we took out:

- all seats
- all carpet (the carpet is surprisingly heavy, by the way)
- all headliner and insulation
- all interior door panels
- window motors (replaced with manual crank mechanisms)
- power locks
- entire ac system - compressor off the engine, condenser at the front, hoses, coil in the AC box, etc.
- console
- entire stereo including amps, head unit, speakers, etc.
- airbags (surprisingly easy to remove, actually - helps to have a shop manual, but job 1 is to just disconnect the main wiring cable from the control unit behind the dash (easy to find - everything is bright yellow by law), then after that's done, the bag units are "safed" and you can safely remove their covers, remove retaining clips, lift them out and disconnect them - and airbag wiring and control unit
- trunk liner, spare, jack, hardware, etc.
- glovebox
- miscellaneous guards, heat shields, liners, insulation and a lot of little **** and fasterners, clips, etc. that wasn't necessary.

We weighed the entire lot of **** that came off the car - it totalled up to about 450 lbs of gear. Not as much as you think.

When we were done the entire car was completely stripped out to basically a rolling shell with operating doors and windows.

Additional savings will come from:
- replacement wheels and tires with lower-weight, racing-only rolling stock
- replace cast-iron brake rotors with ceramic rotors
- replace stock radiator with a higher-effiencicy, lighter weight unit.
- replace battery with racing unit
- replace exhaust "cat back" with lighter-weight, free-er flowing design. The tracks he runs at require catalysts on cars that came equipped with them, and mufflers.

Now that the car is "essence of EVO" though, he has already added back weight in terms of either racing parts that are heavier/stouter than stock items:

- Full roll cage inside (about 120 lbs of mild steel tubing and welds)
- Sparco racing seat "system" (about 65 lbs)
- Sparco racing belt set (about 15 lbs)
- Welded-in-place frame gusseting and rear strut bars (about 30 lbs of metal)
- Racing fuel cell
- firebottle system including piping to the engine bay and trunk/fuel cell
- Dry sump oiling system and high-output oil pump and tank
- High-output racing fuel system
- High-output racing ignition system

Like someone above said, what surprised us both is how little the straight-line performance was affected - the amount is easily covered up in driver inconsistency.

That said, the HANDLING is greatly improved - less weight to shift, roll around, transfer, etc. This car handled like a dream already, and with all this weight stripped out, it feels positively light on its feet. My perception of EVOs has always been that they feel heavy and blunt - they accomplish great handling through massive tires, big contact patches, stiffer than hell suspension and structure. But after the weight loss, and the seat was installed, the car feels very "light on its feet" and tossable - like a dance partner rather than a linebacker. Like the difference between an Elise and a Corvette. I just drove it again yesterday on a private track (this guy is a member of the racing "country club" south of Chicago) and now that the cage, fire system, and additional frame bracing is in, the car is hyper stiff, and handles beautifully, and hasn't lost that "tossable" feeling.

Great fun.

I'd love to turn one of these into a race car sometime (an RX-8 that is).

You won't find 800 lbs to strip away, but it does make a differrence.

Originally Posted by Brettus

old battery was 16 kgs new one 9 kgs . so 7kg saving (15.2lbs)
I originally was just going to use it for track days because the CCAs were about 1/2 what the old one was (430cca vs 7**cca) .
It is winter here now and although my car is always garaged it gets close to freezing in there . I have had absolutely no issues with starting and it turns over just as fast . Mind you my car always starts instantly anyway .

Originally Posted by AkinaGod

Wow, I didn't realize batteries weighed that much. Thanks.

Originally Posted by AkinaGod

So does your mom but you don't hear too many of us bitching about it. Don't post unless your going to say or do something useful towards the thread.

Originally Posted by AkinaGod

When I get better at driving track I will be switching to CF rims but only on the track. I agree. I was thinking about the aluminum replacements but I don't have the money for that. Seeing what I can do at home and with minimal professional help first. I would like to keep (At least in the front two seats) a driving car interior. I want to replace a few parts there and remove a few things like some extras in the dash I won't use. A/C will be gone. If I can get to the air bags without blowing off my face I will. Never did that before and one guy said it is a bit difficult. But ill take a look thanks for the input.

Originally Posted by MichaelBrown

I own a 2006 Mazda MX-5. Our cars are based off of yours. So much, that a common cheap mod that us NC (code for the 06+ mx-5's) owners is to buy Sway bars from you RX-8 guys and have a much stiffer ride.

I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.

Originally Posted by MichaelBrown

I own a 2006 Mazda MX-5. Our cars are based off of yours. So much, that a common cheap mod that us NC (code for the 06+ mx-5's) owners is to buy Sway bars from you RX-8 guys and have a much stiffer ride.

I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.

Originally Posted by nycgps

You know what you should do ? try to drive better.

and lose a few lbs on urself.

With a name like AkinaGod, You've been watching too much InitialD

Originally Posted by RedefineRX8

turning your headlights off on the touge = +45 whp too btw.

Originally Posted by 4me2

Originally Posted by kersh4w

damn, those enkei rpf1s weigh less than 10 pounds each.

what do the stock rims weigh, like 22-23lbs? and to make it even better, afaik, each 1lb of rotational mass eliminated is similar to removing 4 pounds of dead weight in the car. so thats removing more 130lbs off the car. holy crap. http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...-1051bRX8.html

only downside is the $279x4 price tag. and the fact that they look ugly.

Originally Posted by Bradleydrivn

What size are you looking at? I don't know of any forged or casted wheels that weigh less than 10 lbs. I know the 18x9.5 of the rpf1's weigh 17.2 (wheel database sticky) but have also been weighed at 17.2. Unless you're going to pick up some 12x6 carbon fiber wheels...if they make these...I don't think there is a real 10 lb wheel option. You talking kg on accident?

Originally Posted by CodingParadox

This thread is incredibly awesome. You have a boy racer who 1. doesn't know anything about driving, 2. has no money, and 3. wants to strip his rx-8 down by 800 lbs, but without replacing any panels. So, straight off the bat, the kid obviously doesn't have a clue. I couldn't stop laughing when he posted "Wow, I didn't realize batteries weighed that much. Thanks." and knew I needed to keep reading.

That's all fine and dandy, it's always fun to see these kids and watch them squirm and complain in IM-speak (omg u!!) when people point out the unrealistic expectations. But they mostly then complain that everyone is out to get them and don't know what they're talking about and then "quit the boards". This one's stuck around for over 3 months now, spouting a special brand of ignorance on the thread. I'm almost genuinely interested in seeing how this turns out. I'm waiting for the threads when he starts stripping things like the MAF and wondering why his car won't start. This is great. :D