Reducing weight in an R8

[geffers]

A lot of guys have spent big bucks trying to get extra horsepower via ECU remaps, filters and exhausts but I was thinking a better way to improve the R8 performance was to reduce the weight of the vehicle and any cargo.

There are some obvious things that can be done at no cost e.g.

- don't order unnecessary heavy options like electric seats
- don't brim the tank with fuel
- lose a few pounds and keep the cabin and trunk empty

Then there are some things that will cost you but are worth it for the extra performance and agility e.g.

- lightweight exhaust and tips
- lighter alloys and tyres
- ceramic brakes

I'd be grateful to hear other thoughts of improving your R8 by making it leaner?

[KfabR8]

Can probably save quite a few pounds by changing the battery from OEM to an Optima style. They're much smaller, light weight and can/will take a beating. Probably the most often used battery in off road racing.

Rims - that one may be pretty hard to do. The stock rims are extremely light.

I have Dymags on my R8. They ended up weighing being 3 lbs lighter than stock. (for both front and rear). When I weighed the Dymags and the stock rims, the Dymags had brand new PS2 sneakers on them, while the stock rims had PS2's that had exactly half the tire tread depth. I've wondered how much the tire that was worn away was.

I'm due for a new set of PS2's on my Dymags (actually intend on taking the 1/2 worn PS2's off the stock rims and putting them on the Dymags.) When I do, I'll weigh both the stock and the Dymag rims. I still think they're very close in weight.

Maybe a combination of the ceramic and something like a Dymag would make a noticeable difference in things like turn in and steering input reaction. I saw a huge difference when I changed the stock rims of my RS6 out to OZ Ultraleggeras (saving right at 15 lbs/corner) in handling, but alas, I didn't see any difference when I put the Dymags on the R8.

[Rob A]

You could remove all the trim, electrical windows, the a/c and so on, but I guess that most of us don't really want to go that far.

[willyjp]

you're right about the full tank!

if you have the (US std.) 98 liter fuel tank, you've got almost 74 kg. (over 160 lbs.)
of fuel onboard with a full tank

to say nothing of the 10 gallons (80 lbs.) of oil and water you can't do anything about!

so, if you go to the drag strip, run your times on "Empty" and have your full gas can in the paddock!

PS: you COULD strip off the paint! that's exactly how the "Silver Arrows" got to be silver: (version below from Wikipedia, but first appeared in Neubauer's autobiography)

A story exists that the origin of the Silver Arrows was accidental. The international governing body of motor sport prescribed for 1934 onwards a maximum weight limit of 750 kilograms for Grand Prix racing cars, excluding tyres and fuel. It is said that when in spring 1934 the Mercedes-Benz team placed its new Mercedes-Benz W25 on the scrutineering scales prior to the Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring, it allegedly recorded 751 kg (1,656 lb). Racing manager Alfred Neubauer and his driver Manfred von Brauchitsch, who both later published their memories, claimed that they had the idea of scraping all the white paint from the bodywork. The story continues that next day the shining silver aluminium beneath was exposed and scrutineering was passed. After the 350 hp (260 kW) car of v. Brauchitsch won the race, the nickname Silver Arrow was born, according to the legend.

It definitely is true that the generally accepted Intl. Racing Color for Germany was white (only) prior to the 30's, white or silver after.
(US colors, BTW, were white with {in those days} blue running gear, later displayed as blue stripes (eg: Cunninghams in the '50s)

[RS4Cab]

I'm going anorexic, Weigh two hundred pounds and figure if I can get to 100 I will gain at least 10hp

[geffers]

lose 100 lbs equivalent to gaining 12 bhp by my reckoning plus other handling benefits.

good luck with the diet!

[harrison]

NO FAT CHICKS = more power... But as McLuvin says more cushion... for the pushin'

[willyjp]

keep talkin' like that guys and r8talk.com will soon be having a bunch of sponsors like "Slim-Fast" and "Jenny Craig" (are they still around?)

latest trend in tuning: "get rid of 50 lbs. of ugly fat and they'll look your way when the light turns green"

better than a **** air filter upgrade!

[harrison]

Sorry , I could'nt resist. 'Gonna go ride my big fat horse now . Even one H.P. can be fun.(for me) And remember...anything can be "WHEELIED" !

[smoothy]

Losing weight on rotationals works, IIRC, on a 6:1 advantage (1 lb rotational same as losing 6lbs fixed). Keeping that in mind, what sort of driveshaft does the R8 have? Sorry, I'm not to familiar with the mechanical layout for a mid-engine quattro car, so maybe it isn't long enough to make it worthwhile, but if the shaft is aluminum or steel, changing it to CF would save weight. Also, how big is the flywheel on the engine, thats another item that could be worked on.