[Vwdiesel] Reducing weight of an automobile and performance effects

[Area31 Research Facility]

Since there was a question or two and I lost the posts I thought I'd share
my experience with a 1964 Chevy four door Biscayne I had a long time ago.  I
had replaced the original 283 V8 with a bigger displacement 350 and swapped
in a 3 speed TH400 tranny for the original 2 speed powerglide.  The car was
a lot quicker in get up and go from a stop but I wanted more.  I decided to
try to shed as much weight as I could in an attempt to incresae the
acceleration.  The rear seat came out.  The steel sheet webbing behind it
between the seat and the trunk was replaced with a light sheet of aluminum
that I pop riveted into place.  The whole floor of the trunk was torched
out.  The inner layer of the trunk lid was also torched away and the heavy
hinges removed.  I used four hood pins sold at speed shops with that safety
pin on a wire to hold the now very floppy trunk lid on.  The heavy metal
fenderwells in the engine compartment up front got removed.  That is a
mistake if you wish to keep your engine clean in the rain!  Rear door panels
also got pulled out.  I probably managed to get more than 500 lbs. of weight
off that vehicle and let me tell you, the push you back in the seat G forces
improvement in a stoplight launch was incredibly noticeable!!!!!  The car
was more nimble in handling too and stopped noticeably better with less
kinetic energy to dissipate.

Now jumping to present day.  I recently acquired a '91 VW 1.6TD Jetta.  I
have just started driving it after repairing some major problems with worn
out brakes and suspension bushings. I have begun fuel consumption
measurements (it is getting around 55 MPIG).  The engine was rebuilt two
years ago and runs like a champ.  Yesterday I took a 200+ km trip to Barrie
and back to pick up a trunkload of some 300 lbs or so of heavy copper
electrical cable and tools.  I noticed a very apparent reduction in
acceleration performance once I had the goodies in the trunk.  It got me
thinking that putting a trailer hitch on this car, while necessary for my
lifestyle of hauling found treasure home, will really make that poor car
work hard.  I am still considering removal of the rear seat and anything
else I can find hoping to shed weight.

I think for the performance seeker (and fuel economy is also a form of
performance), removal of anything that isn't needed can be a good way to
help achieve your goals.  Care and common sence must prevail however.
Obviously one should not remove structural components necessary for the
integrity of the vehicle.

Rob