The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

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 Post subject: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 4:09 am 
Hi all, just after a bit of advice on how to go about lightening my Dolly up a bit. I have a few basic ideas EG. cut away bonnet & boot re-enforcing ribs , but looking for more ideas. Car is road driven/registered so must appear relatively road worthy , does the odd track day etc. The car has "put on a few kilo's " with bigger brakes & diff etc.
Any advice greatly appreciated.


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:36 am 
This has been discussed a few times but I don't think any of us have got very scientific about it.
The best weight to lose is the free weight, as in removing things at zero cost. The limit there is how you want the car, mostly the interior, to look.
Interior trim wise, seats are heavy. Remove the rear seat if you don't need it. Sound deadening and carpets are also heavy. I chipped all of the bitumen off the floors too, which is a few kilos but a pretty horrid job, probably not worth it. Don't worry about the dashboard, the ply is light so not worth messing with.
Bumpers and bumper irons are heavy but I think you've already got rid.
It is always a sensitive area but the drivers weight is probably the best free weight to lose.
As far as drilling panels goes, I think it is a false economy, a lot of effort, questionable gain and always the risk that something could be weakened.
As far as paying for weight loss goes, it is as far as you want to take it, but always a law of diminishing returns.
Best weight to lose is unsprung weight, so, alloy hubs, light alloys (Sprint are about the lightest in reality). Also, different tyres can fluctuate about a kilo each side too.
Perspex windows - save about 15 kgs by my reckoning. Remove the rear window mechanism if you can too.
Lightweight alloy engine back plate, available through ANG about £50
Fibreglass bonnet and bootlid - well worth it
Fibreglass front wings and front valance from the Club, worthwhile, especially as they get rid of the other problem - rust
Lightweight battery - can save 5kgs, depending on how you use and store the car, but beware that relocating to the boot is probably an advantage in weight balance, but not overall weight because of the extra cabling, box etc.
Lightweight starter motor and alternator - a lot of money for a couple of kilos IMHO
You can make door cards in a lighter material, like Correx, but that is effort, and will drastically change the look and feel of the interior.
Lightweight exhaust system, one box, side exhaust......
Fit a non Overdrive box!
Lightened flywheel
Swap the engine!
Swap the seats for some lightweight period buckets, like Corbeau Classics.

I shamelessly still haven't weighed my finished car yet so am probably not an expert.


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:11 pm 
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Someone is making carbon fibre bonnets and boots here in the UK. That'll make a big difference.


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:16 pm 
I like to see numbers, our full steel and full glass racing cars are 860Kg about 1895 pound
Full steel and glass are Fia regulations.
The minimum weight for a 2l car is by the Fia regulations 845Kg so still 15Kg to go.

I had Lexan in the car except the front window, what have to be laminated, and the car was 845Kg !! but we where forced to put the glass back in :evil: :evil:

Hans


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:19 pm 
Quote:
I like to see numbers, our full steel and full glass racing cars are 860Kg about 1895 pound
Full steel and glass are Fia regulations.
The minimum weight for a 2l car is by the Fia regulations 845Kg so still 15Kg to go.

I had Lexan in the car except the front window, what have to be laminated, and the car was 845Kg !! but we where forced to put the glass back in :evil: :evil:

Hans
Strange, I'd say that glass is less safe than lexan.... Especially in an accident :?


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:48 pm 
That is trough, but these dudes from Triumph never had that homologated, so the Escorts mark 1 get away with that but we don't :evil: :evil:

Btw I see Enschede, that is just 60Km away where I live, your Dutch??
And I see 2 bikes, even a big single :D

These are mine

THE BIKES IN OUR STABLE
'91 Green top ST1100
'93 Red usaST1100 (ex#stoc 221-'05) stays in Walla Walla Washington State, used during my summer holidays, mostly about 6000miles in 3 weeks
'95 MouST1100 Red abs (ex#stoc 1100-'08) Turbo project
'73 CB750 Candy Glory Gold
'78 Maico Enduro 370 Red
'95 Honda SevenFifty Red
'96 Yamaha SZR660 SuperMono Orange
'96 Red CT70 Honda Dax (only 1000miles)
'69 and a '72 Jamathi TT mopeds (only 800 made)

Hans


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:45 pm 
Quote:
That is trough, but these dudes from Triumph never had that homologated, so the Escorts mark 1 get away with that but we don't :evil: :evil:

Btw I see Enschede, that is just 60Km away where I live, your Dutch??
And I see 2 bikes, even a big single :D

These are mine

THE BIKES IN OUR STABLE
'91 Green top ST1100
'93 Red usaST1100 (ex#stoc 221-'05) stays in Walla Walla Washington State, used during my summer holidays, mostly about 6000miles in 3 weeks
'95 MouST1100 Red abs (ex#stoc 1100-'08) Turbo project
'73 CB750 Candy Glory Gold
'78 Maico Enduro 370 Red
'95 Honda SevenFifty Red
'96 Yamaha SZR660 SuperMono Orange
'96 Red CT70 Honda Dax (only 1000miles)
'69 and a '72 Jamathi TT mopeds (only 800 made)

Hans
:D Yeah, in the neighbourhood :)
Love old motorcycles. Like your '73 cb750, k0? Friend of mine has a F1 and a k5, awesome bikes :) Thought about a SZR to, but I think I'm to big for one (I'm 1.95m)
Would love to see a pic of your turbo pan :D

My Sr500 is currently being revised, after a disaster with a new piston (seizure after 600km's :evil: ) and my vf is already fixed (valve meets piston = gaping hole in piston :P )


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:49 pm 
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Quote:
Someone is making carbon fibre bonnets and boots here in the UK. That'll make a big difference.
Eightiesflamer is the person you need to contact iirc.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11036&p=105505&hili ... re#p105505


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:40 pm 
I have purchased both the bonnet and boot lid and are both good quality and vastly lighter than the steel Items, the weights are posted somewhere.


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:35 am 
Quote:
Quote:
Someone is making carbon fibre bonnets and boots here in the UK. That'll make a big difference.
Eightiesflamer is the person you need to contact iirc.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11036&p=105505&hili ... re#p105505
Yep, Rob, Darrens mate is the supplier -
http://sprintspeed.co.uk/

They're not quite carbon fibre though, you can get it made from a fibreglass skeleton, with a carbon, kevlar skin


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:11 am 
Beaut , thanks for the ideas guys! They give me a few good areas to start. out with the angle grinder & tin-snips! Must say those carbon fibre bonnets & Boots look really good! Freight to Aus may be a bit prohibitive though??


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:25 pm 
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TDC Events Officer
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Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:50 pm
Posts: 5723
Location: Next to my Computer
Quote:
Beaut , thanks for the ideas guys! They give me a few good areas to start. out with the angle grinder & tin-snips! Must say those carbon fibre bonnets & Boots look really good! Freight to Aus may be a bit prohibitive though??
Maybe Mark and Philip at Sprintparts have some ideas?


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:56 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:13 pm
Posts: 13317
Location: Over here...can't you see me?
Test the costs at http://www.interparcel.com. I'm sure they be priced by size rather than weight...


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:15 pm 
Guys, where are the weight figures ??

Hans


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 Post subject: Re: Light weight Dolly
PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:35 am 
Quote:
Maybe Mark and Philip at Sprintparts have some ideas?
Hi Baz,
Sorry we have no tricks to light weight Dolomites- the category we compete in does not allow the sort of modifications that Hans enjoys.
Philip


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