LSC on a diet - weight loss advice please

[Markheaven]

Any ideas for a diet?

I am beginning to take my '89 LSC in the direction of 1/4 miler and hot street. It will be street legal, but it is NOT my daily driver. Also, there are NO inspections or emissions testing in my home state (Fla).

How can I get this thing to lose some weight? I believe they were about 3850 lbs or so out the factory door.

[pro-five-oh]

There's about 200lbs of sound deadener all over the car. Floorpans, trunk, roof (I think) and inside the rubber wheel wells. You can pull all the emissions stuff (smog pump) and start removing gadgets if you like. Tripminder, power seats (get non power seats from a 83-88 Tbird, shaves 30 lbs per side) or replace seats entirely from another Ford.

If I were to lighten one up, I'd pull all the sound deadening (well, I wouldn't but that's where big gains are) replace the power seat tracks with manual tracks from a Tbird, add aluminum heads, remove smog stuff. Yeah, that's about it. The heads shave a good 100lbs off, the rest will probably be 300-ish lbs.

[pro-five-oh]

And if your cars got a moonroof, might wanna pull that and weld new sheetmetal in...if you're gonna do bodywork in the future that is...that's a good 40lbs of weight in the worst place to have it. :)

[NYC LS8]

Buy a Mustang.

:D

[NYC LS8]

There's about 200lbs of sound deadener all over the car. Floorpans, trunk, roof (I think) and inside the rubber wheel wells. You can pull all the emissions stuff (smog pump) and start removing gadgets if you like. Tripminder, power seats (get non power seats from a 83-88 Tbird, shaves 30 lbs per side) or replace seats entirely from another Ford.

If I were to lighten one up, I'd pull all the sound deadening (well, I wouldn't but that's where big gains are) replace the power seat tracks with manual tracks from a Tbird, add aluminum heads, remove smog stuff. Yeah, that's about it. The heads shave a good 100lbs off, the rest will probably be 300-ish lbs.

What he said.

I'd also relocate the battery to the trunk for better weight transfer.

[Markheaven]

Thanks for the iput. I will follw that advice - I have lifted a Mk 7 power seat and that thing was HEAVY!!!!!!!

Oh, the aluminum heads, I hadn't even been thinking along those lines. Of course I cant do any of that type stuff until I go from speed density to mass air.

Does anyone know if it is true that aluminum heads give different performance because of heat transfer or something? I believe I read that if you ran cast iron heads and then aluminum heads which were precisely the same in every way (chambers, valves etc) there would be a HP difference.

[Markheaven]

The charcoal canister thingy - passenger side astern the radiator - Scrap it? What about the lines to and from it? Is there a procedure for the lines? Leave 'em? plug 'em??:pull 'em???:confused:

[Nick]

Aluminum will transfer heat more quickly and will cool off faster. I'm not sure if there is a big difference in power though. It might reduce hot pockets and preignition, but I'm not sure. It will put more heat into your cooling system too.

[Bluegrass]

If it's going to be race only then a smaller capacity lighter battery will work with the reduced electrical loads and moved to the trunk.
Get the air springs at the height you want, then turn off the switch.
Another thing you can do is make up a plate to dead end the 4 airbag hoses to, then pump each bag to preload the chassis and get rid of the pump altogather. But you need to have 4 switches to control each bag solenoid for filling/air release. Here you can even fine tune the 4 corner weights for uneven traction problems.
Replace the ABS to manuel and take out the excess parts.
Alum driveshaft.
Alum heads.
Light weight front wheels with smaller tires.
Mag rear wheels.
Fiberglass hood, bumpers.
Remove the steel bumper backers.
Alum radiator.
Plexiglass side windows.
Small fuel cell.
All providing the rules allow.
About $15,000 +/- from scratch will get you a low 11 sec car when you go thru all parts of the car and drive train.

[90LSC]

Oh, the aluminum heads, I hadn't even been thinking along those lines. Of course I cant do any of that type stuff until I go from speed density to mass air.

You are mistaken. It will run great with aluminum heads, 1.7 rollers, aftermarket intake, etc. It is longer duration camshafts that makes SD weird out.

[pro-five-oh]

Yup, aluminum heads and a stock cam makes a Mark VII pull like a Mark VIII. 90LSC and I found that out the hard way. ;)

[NYC LS8]

The charcoal canister thingy - passenger side astern the radiator - Scrap it? What about the lines to and from it? Is there a procedure for the lines? Leave 'em? plug 'em??:pull 'em???:confused:

Don't plug the one that goes back to the tank. Just let it vent to the open air. DO plug the line going back towards the intake though!

[Markheaven]

Thanks for all the input. I took a load to the local dump and the difference when I left was 320 lbs!!!!!

Here is what is gone so far: all seats, center console, overhead console, all carpet, LOTS of sound deadener, rear seatbelts, power antenna, speakers, radio, fuel door release, trunk pull-down. BTW the power seat switche units in the door panels weigh a LOT.

Your results may vary because this car had a water leak and much of the carpet was soggy.

So my '89 LSC should be in the neighborhood of 3400 now

[pro-five-oh]

Your results may vary because this car had a water leak and much of the carpet was soggy.

Was that the motivation to strip it? :eek:

Don't forget the insulation in the fender liners.

[Markheaven]

Motivation to strip it....

Big part was that the interior stunk mold/mildew, but the Mark is our third car - not a daily driver so I think this played a big part in my decision.

I want something to tinker with, I plan on re carpeting without sound deadener.

BTW other Fox car seats ALMOST! fit - the seat rails are 1/2 inch too short on one side. I've got two passenger side seats in the Mark now - one from a Cougar and one from a Tbird.