Light weight Miata

Keith Tanner wrote: My old 1990 used to be 2150 lbs wet. And that was a car that could easily lose another 50 lbs, as it had some big one-piece brakes, 16" wheels, dual exhaust, PS etc. Stock seats too. No AC or airbag, it's a Canadian model. I didn't spend any money on lightening.

That's really interesting, it makes a sub 2K lb. car with creature comforts seem entirely feasible, I may have been too conservative with some of my estimate.

Keith Tanner wrote: Fun reading for you, here's the one weight loss program I can vouch for: http://targamiata.com/tags.php?tag=weight%20loss

Some interesting stuff, but just a tad too extream for a 'real' street car.

I would love this look, but with yellow or gold Minilite replicas.

WIth a simplified interior looking like this.

Door panels like this

A nice half cut dash could work with the above interior if there was a neat way to keep the radio and heater controls below it, not stripped out like this.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Adrian Look at the shape of that dash. It's super simple once you see the binnacle is not really part of it.

Instead of a stock one (that is still pretty heavy), why not bend a sheet of aluminum to fit, and cover with vinyl- similar to the door panels? Or use the original to make a fiberglass replica?

Not sure why there's a center suppor there, too- probably don't even need that.

If you really want a radio, hide an amp, use an MP3 thing.

Didn't Andy Hollis manage to easily get a CSP legal car to just over 1900lb?

And I do recall that Mongrel's $2003 car didn't have the bumber structure under the panels. Just don't hit anyone- that's some decent weight there.

(now that I think about it, I think I have an early Miata magazine where someone really went over the top in lightening a Miata.)

alfadriver wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: Adrian Look at the shape of that dash. It's super simple once you see the binnacle is not really part of it. Instead of a stock one (that is still pretty heavy), why not bend a sheet of aluminum to fit, and cover with vinyl- similar to the door panels? Or use the original to make a fiberglass replica? Not sure why there's a center suppor there, too- probably don't even need that. If you really want a radio, hide an amp, use an MP3 thing. Didn't Andy Hollis manage to easily get a CSP legal car to just over 1900lb? And I do recall that Mongrel's $2003 car didn't have the bumber structure under the panels. Just don't hit anyone- that's some decent weight there. (now that I think about it, I think I have an early Miata magazine where someone really went over the top in lightening a Miata.)

Yup, I realize that Eric, but there seems to be a lot to be gained from the half cut dash, the center support is apparently needed. I would need a head unit not just my iPod as I'm an NPR addict! Swiss cheesing the bumper support would be possible, but not totally removed. This would still need to be a 'streetable' car. And by streetable I mean by my definition. I did the no interior, no heater, no seats (yes really) thing in a DD when I was a youngster, not happening these days.

It's all mental masturbation unless people start buying more of my crap so I can afford a toy car again, it’s been too many years.

The steering column is mounted to the beam under the dash, and the center support supports the beam. Without it, the column will flex up and down. You can see the beam in this picture. The center support is not optional unless you replace that beam with a stronger one. On my car, I replaced the support with a piece of square tube and also braced it against the firewall - the factory mounts are trying to provide that fore-aft support with the vertical brace.

I agree that the bumper structure isn't really needed unless you're planning to get bumped, and since the Miata uses painted panels on the bumper (a pet peeve) you're going to take damage on even the lightest tap. If you do pull the rear bumper structure, keep going and cut off the rear horns. That's where the weight is.

A home-built panel to replace the hole left by the removed binnacle. Note that you lose the center HVAC vents and the HVAC controls when you do this.

Keith Tanner wrote:

What does it do!? What does it dooooo!?

(The 'eject' button, of course)

Master power?

it's for the NAWWWS, yo!

Only one person has simply reached over and tried it without asking any questions.

It should be wired to an under-dash super-loud alarm siren and a passenger side under-seat bass kicker hooked to a noise maker module. Perhaps a little too much weight for a joke in a race car, but damn that would be a funny reaction video.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: I would love this look, but with yellow or gold Minilite replicas.

Actually, if you want to make it look more Elan-ish, you need this:

Probably not going to help with the weight, though.

Keith Tanner wrote: Only one person has simply reached over and tried it without asking any questions.

Did you drive back and pick them up, or did you let the bad guys henchmen have at them?

don't forget the battery.

the stock one is over 20lbs. i bought a lithium ion battery that doesn't even weigh 3lbs.

belteshazzar wrote: don't forget the battery. the stock one is over 20lbs. i bought a lithium ion battery that doesn't even weigh 3lbs.

Most people who I've heard of with light weight Miata batteries say they die quickly. If there was a light weight, reliable, CHEAPish battery that would work it would go on the list.

belteshazzar wrote: don't forget the battery. the stock one is over 20lbs. i bought a lithium ion battery that doesn't even weigh 3lbs.

good idea. details on the one you bought?

this was just a touch under $300. has a three year replacement warranty. no trouble so far. rated 500~ish cca's.

i know that's not "cheap", but if you needed a battery anyway, it's only an extra 150-200 to save an honest +15 lbs...

http://www.ballisticparts.com/products/batteries/16cell.php

I used to use an Odyssey PC680 in the Targa car. Worked like a champ. I only pulled it out because it was asking a bit much of the battery with the V8.

I've seen a few versions of the Gold Leaf livery in the past. The width of the gold stripe seems to be important to make it look good. The first car posted works, the one with the pseudo-Elan nose does not to my eyes.

Found this thread while I was searching for something else. I thought some people might be interested in this. I finally weighed my car. This is a 93 chassis stripped to the tub, the trunklid is just a shell now(8lbs less), as is the passenger door(12lbs less than a bare shell), otherwise it's mostly what can be unbolted. Still has Koni race shocks, stock control arms, stock fuel tank, stock flywheel, stock 1.6L brakes. It is shod on 13x7s with hoosiers. I think I can get the car into the 15xx with some effort but not a whole lot of expense.

My 90 weighed 1960 lbs with a full tank of gas.

The car wasn't very fast because most of the weight savings came from replacing the drivetrain with a three cylinder geo metro engine and Suzuki Samurai transmission.

You guys aren't trying very hard.

lol, And what does that one weigh? Also, not sure what to do with that one. Not street legal, Doesn't fit any autocross class at all(yup), and the aero on that has to be horrid enough to leave at least the stock nose, fenders, trunk lid if it was a track day car.

Keith Tanner wrote: You guys aren't trying very hard.

Seriously, what's the point of this car? Is it a fun/cheap A mod car? A track car? what? This is not a dig at it, I genuinly want to konw. Looks fun, but I have to ask why?

It's a street car, actually. Not all states require windshields. I think the point is "hmm, what if?"

Be interesting to compare that one to your Exocet Spec A when you finally get one :)