What are folks doing to get some of the weight out of the L? I have a small list of reasonably easy changes that may help; has anyone tried these?

remove spare tire & housing
remove tow hitch
replace bumpers with lightweight something
replace hood with lightweight something

Other ideas? TIA.

-tvw

 

Padlock the refrigerator, stop all beer and BBQ production...Oh hell its light enough already no need to get crazy
Tom

 

stop the bbq & beer? how bout upping the nitrous instead. (let's be reasonable)

[This message has been edited by MRBBQMAN (edited 03-09-2000).]

 

I agree MrBBQMan!

There are some things that are just not done!

 

One thing to think about is how the weight reduction is going to affect your grip. The back end is light enough as-is. I think you'd aggravate your traction problems by removing much weight from the back. You really need to find a way to trim weight from the cab forward. As to the hood, Its my understanding that all the aftermarket hoods are actually heavier than the stock one.

 

I'll easily be able to shave 300lbs. from mine. It just won't be much fun standing beside it as she idles. Won't be great 1/4 mile times either.

Another thought would be to replace the big, honkin' boat anchor up front with a stock 4.6L. NOT!!!

Any other good ideas would be greatly apprciated.

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2000 Red Lightning on Order - All Options
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[This message has been edited by WHAT04 (edited 03-09-2000).]

[This message has been edited by WHAT04 (edited 03-09-2000).]

 

For those interested in weight reduction I have a few really great ideas.

For audio freaks the bed can be a great place to add toys, and mount the battery.
Of course there is some weight gain, but it's more important to stablize the Lightnings balance between Front & Rear.

Surprisingly your 1/4 times will actually improve by getting more bite this way.

For speed freaks I have began using the Atkins diet, and lost 55lbs. I am now at my normal weight 155-160lbs, and not to mention my blood sugar is stabilzed. I still have more work to do in dealing with Insulin abnormalities, but overall the improvements are "excellent" so far.

So the benifits here are:

1: I lost weight,
2: lowered my cholesterol,
3: HDL(Good choleserol) went up.
4: No more joint pain,
5: stabilized most blood sugar abnormalities,
6: relieved insulin resistance/hyperinsulinism,
7: The Lightning also goes faster.



my 0.2 cents

 

Don't just lose it, move it; i.e., move the battery to the bed for improved weight distribution. Optima is a good choice.

 

My best friend just got diagnosed last summer for type 1 diabetes last summer. Pretty stressful week for everyone close to him. He literally had to change his way of living overnight. Gone were the sodas, candy, and just being a careless 20 year old. We think it had something to do with his first year in college, not sleeping much, and lots of drinking. Thats what cnn said as one of the greater risks of Diabetes. Anyway, back to the topic

Moving the battery would be a good idea to not oly take weight off the front end, but to add weight to the rear tires. This, I assume, will make the ratio more like 54/46. I beleive it would also make your truck handle better, I have seen this mentioned on the f-body boards, and they say it helps more than you'd think. you could also re-locate other stuff from the engine compartment to the bed, such as the spare tire lowering rod. I know it deoesn't weigh much, but its something none the less.

I forgot to mention the weight differences between the 2000 and 1999 model years. I have seen posts where the 2000 Lightnings weigh in around 4444 pounds, and the 1999 Lightning packs a 4670 lb punch. What gives?

[This message has been edited by Tundra (edited 03-10-2000).]

 

My truck had nothing in it, (4444), about 9 gallons of gas, my hard bed cover will add ~45-60 lbs, 37.5 Thunder Form, 10 lbs for the amp, 10 lbs for the amp wiring. so best case I will be at 4550 after all that.

Maybe mines light because of the new taillights, I did lose a bulb in each tail light.

 

Off Topic - Ok How many diabetics own Lightnings ? Tundra tell your freind to hang in there - I was diagnosed a couple years after College as well. Tell him to get a new Dr. ( Endocrinologist ) Research is clear there is NO link between diet, sleep, drinking and Adult onset Juvenile diabetes. He doesnt need that guilt trip now.
Doug

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Got Silver 2000 2/28/00!!
Doug
Carrollton TX
drbdkb@hotmail.com
Had 87 Turbo Coupe traded for
92 F150 XLT 302, Put K&N Filter, cat back and Chip on 92 Still not enough.
Silver 2000 Lightning, Valentine 1, K&N Filter as soon as I can find one, Snuglid and Bedrug next week

 

No doctor told us that part about the way he took care of himself, that was our determination. In fact the doctor has no idea what triggered it, he is the first in his family to come across this disease. Good thing he already had life insurance. He takes really good care of himslef, I think his first 3 month blood sugar test was a 4.6, I fogot what the test was called. Since we are way off topic, ever listen to the art bell show? He had some guy on talking about outter space and the technologies dervived from it. Which includes teflon coated frying pans. He also mentioned a shot that would get the cells back to working order, this potion can only be produced in micro gravity, and it has been tested on a select few diabetics, type 1, they were cured. Problem is there is no space station to make the stuff. Good day

 

Well, I'm not the diabetic but my daughter is. She turns 13 today and has had type 1 for 6 years, diagnosed only a day or so from her b-day.

BTW She loves the L,and loves to go to the track with me. She want's me to save my L for her when she gets her license. Fortunately, I don't live with her mom and have to listen about her not going to be drag racin' when she can drive. Bet you know where we're going for her 16th b-day!!!

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'99 WHITE LIGHTNIN'
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Best ET to date-13.54 @101.51MPH--10/29/99
Best MPH to date-102.33MPH @13.68
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Plasma Super White headlight and foglight bulbs
'98 Red Lincoln Continental
1/8 mile--10.25 @69.64MPH
1/4 mile--15.82 @88.16MPH

 

tvw,

You're ideas sound good, except, have you taken a magnet to the stock Lightning hood. If you had, you would realize that a magnet does not attract to the hood. I believe it is alumnimun, and yes the aftermarket hoods are heavier than the stock hood.

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00 Red L, adopted 2/29/00. 14.356 w/250 miles on odometer.
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What About Yanking the passenger seat out???
I dont know about the SVT seats but My passenger side comes out and Still leaves me with a comfortable bucket type seat