530zxturbo

How light can I get my ae? Right now it's got lexan for the back 3 windows, gutted the dash, light weight seats, gutted hood , battery relocated to trunk, battery box cut out.
I want to get this thing under 26th lbs.
Also in the process of doing a 5.3/th400 swap. And planning to turbo next winter.
So right now it needs a diet

Zuphoria

...well if you do the 5.3 ls motor. make sure u take the time to find an aluminium block for less weight. Im a GM mechanic...and i hate the 5.3. expecally the ones with AFM. Find an LS1 LS2. The Stock Cas tiron 5.3, or 6.0 LQ4 are everywhere!!! but Weight a ton.

zxguy1986

Well, since it started life as a 'luxury sports car,' I guess you already dumped the 'luxuries:' power steering, power brakes, AC compressor, etc. And you gutted the interior. I would look for lightweight closure panels for the t-top holes. The glass tops weigh something...

Hey, I want to be at the track the day you show up with that Z...

530zxturbo

It will be getting boosted so the aluminum block is out of question. And as for seeing it at the track that might only happen about twice a year they get mad when you don't have a cage

530zxturbo

So does anyone have any ideas on how much weight I can strip out of the car with out cutting holes

530zxturbo

So do you Guys think I can get to 2600lbs with driver? Or possibly 2400lbs? the motor and trans is a hair lighter then stock.

zxguy1986

Good time to post some photos - showing what you have done so far. Interior, exterior, engine compartment, those should do it. Guys might have some more ideas for you

530zxturbo

I only have the stock dash and steering wheel in the car right now.
But I will try to get pics for you guy's

zxguy1986

You don't say what year you are working with there. This is from an on-line spec site:

Dimensions

The 1986 Nissan 300ZX retained the 280ZX’s wheelbase of 91.3 inches, but the body was slightly more compact than its predecessor. The 300ZX measured 170.7 inches long, a little more than three inches shorter than the 280ZX, and its width was 67.7 inches. The 300ZX measured 51.6 tall, making it slightly taller than the previous model. The 1986 model’s front track measured 55.7 inches with the rear track at 56.5 inches. Despite its smaller size, the 300ZX was heavier than the 280ZX, tipping the scales at 2,921 pounds compared to the 280ZX’s 2,824-pound curb weight for the two-seat model. However, the 1986 300ZX could weigh as much as 3,325 pounds, depending on the optional equipment. The fuel tank held 20.4 gallons. The car sat on 205/55 VR16 tires and 16-inch wheels. The 2+2 model had a 99.2-inch wheelbase a body length of 178.5 inches.

The Specifications for a 1986 Nissan 300ZX | Auto Resource - Internet Autoguide

I think in this case 2,600 lbs would be within easy reach.

530zxturbo

It is a ae84 300zx and I found a site that claimed the driver seat was 70+ lbs and the passenger seat was 50+
The ae was loaded with everything

530zxturbo

Plus everything I pulled out of the dash witch came out to 150lbs

zxguy1986

So far so good? Sounds like you can take it wherever you want. I think guys here are so used to putting Zs back together that they don't think a lot about taking them apart. The orig Z designers weren't much interested in keeping Zs Honda-Civic-lightweight as they were in getting enough torque from the motors to give a good convincing ride.

Don't know where you race but Lebanon Valley Dragway in New York doesn't require a cage for any of their basic drags. Only cages I saw last trip there was on the 4-wheel off road stuff. They do require helmets tho.

86tcoupe

yeah I swapped my 72lb seat ( thats what It weighed on my scale) for a 23lb subaru XT turbo ,moved the battery to the rear spare ,which got tossed .

the chassis of the Z31 is heavy but not designed to be a quick car but a fast car 130 plus which it can be good to have some weight at 140mph at least the manuals were /are
my 86 XT would side sideways 8 in around a curve where a heavier car would 2-3 in