Help reduce lwb square weight! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69GMC910 · 05-11-2016, 12:21 AM

I would like to lose some weight off my truck. It is a street legal stock appearing vehicle, and I would like to keep it that way. What are some ways I could lose a couple hundred pounds off of it that won't cost an arm and a leg?

BR3W CITY · 05-11-2016, 01:22 AM

How far are you willing to go? Free stuff, like just taking things out/off, comes first; spare tire and hardware, interior stuff (depending on exactly how equipped the truck is) like door panels or sound deadening, underhood stuff like a/c or inner fender panels/splashguards.

Then you can start to spend some money, or put in some labor and sacrifice some comforts. Stuff like a fiberglass hood can help save weight but costs a bunch VS gun-drilling brackets which is hugely labor intensive for a weight savings that has to add up to be noticeable.

Then you get to a point where no amount of effort will prevent you from spending money because everything has to be specially designed or made from light materials. Thats where every extra pound seems to cost exponentially more.

vin63 · 05-11-2016, 10:10 AM

As BR3W CITY mentioned, after you've removed all non-essential and other items that you are willing to live without from the vehicle, you have to start making purchases for things such as fiberglass replacements for sheetmetal and bumpers; replacing steel with aluminum; glass for polycarbonate; etc.

69GMC910 · 05-11-2016, 12:22 PM

Are inner fenders structurally required? I read somewhere that removing them was a bad idea on the 73-87's....

BR3W CITY · 05-11-2016, 03:02 PM

The front sheetmetal on my '66 "moves" around a bit more. When I tube my front rails, I'll be adding a few braces for the fenders. When I drove without a hood or inner fenders, you could really see it "wiggle" on bumps at 70-120.

I just realized that last sentence makes me sound like an idiot....I stand by it

pistonbroke800 · 05-11-2016, 09:05 PM

The two outer front bumper brackets that go from the frame to the outer mounting hole are a bit of weight. Any extra wiring, AC, all the vent plumbing under the dash, noise deadener under the carpet. Is all free and adds up to quite a bit. I pulled all that stuff out of my truck and haven't looked back since.

05-11-2016, 12:21 AM	#1
69GMC910 MOTORHEAD! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Devon AB, Canada Posts: 849	Help reduce lwb square weight! I would like to lose some weight off my truck. It is a street legal stock appearing vehicle, and I would like to keep it that way. What are some ways I could lose a couple hundred pounds off of it that won't cost an arm and a leg? __________________ 82 GMC High Sierra VortecPro 496 12 Bolt, 3.42's AFR 265 Holley 850 Performer RPM Air Gap Hooker 2455's TCI Turbo 400 Super Street Fighter TRRC 12 Bolt Eaton Posi Mark Williams Axles Cal-Tracs Hoosier 30x10.5 Radial Slick Full weight long box pickup Current best- 11.33@117mph

05-11-2016, 01:22 AM	#2
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: Help reduce lwb square weight! How far are you willing to go? Free stuff, like just taking things out/off, comes first; spare tire and hardware, interior stuff (depending on exactly how equipped the truck is) like door panels or sound deadening, underhood stuff like a/c or inner fender panels/splashguards. Then you can start to spend some money, or put in some labor and sacrifice some comforts. Stuff like a fiberglass hood can help save weight but costs a bunch VS gun-drilling brackets which is hugely labor intensive for a weight savings that has to add up to be noticeable. Then you get to a point where no amount of effort will prevent you from spending money because everything has to be specially designed or made from light materials. Thats where every extra pound seems to cost exponentially more. __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

05-11-2016, 10:10 AM	#3
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: Help reduce lwb square weight! As BR3W CITY mentioned, after you've removed all non-essential and other items that you are willing to live without from the vehicle, you have to start making purchases for things such as fiberglass replacements for sheetmetal and bumpers; replacing steel with aluminum; glass for polycarbonate; etc. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

05-11-2016, 12:22 PM	#4
69GMC910 MOTORHEAD! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Devon AB, Canada Posts: 849	Re: Help reduce lwb square weight! Are inner fenders structurally required? I read somewhere that removing them was a bad idea on the 73-87's.... __________________ 82 GMC High Sierra VortecPro 496 12 Bolt, 3.42's AFR 265 Holley 850 Performer RPM Air Gap Hooker 2455's TCI Turbo 400 Super Street Fighter TRRC 12 Bolt Eaton Posi Mark Williams Axles Cal-Tracs Hoosier 30x10.5 Radial Slick Full weight long box pickup Current best- 11.33@117mph

05-11-2016, 03:02 PM	#5
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: Help reduce lwb square weight! The front sheetmetal on my '66 "moves" around a bit more. When I tube my front rails, I'll be adding a few braces for the fenders. When I drove without a hood or inner fenders, you could really see it "wiggle" on bumps at 70-120. I just realized that last sentence makes me sound like an idiot....I stand by it __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

05-11-2016, 09:05 PM	#6
pistonbroke800 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Airdrie AB Posts: 55	Re: Help reduce lwb square weight! The two outer front bumper brackets that go from the frame to the outer mounting hole are a bit of weight. Any extra wiring, AC, all the vent plumbing under the dash, noise deadener under the carpet. Is all free and adds up to quite a bit. I pulled all that stuff out of my truck and haven't looked back since.

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