styleandspeed Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 I was just thinking about different ways to cut some of the extra weight off of these trucks, and I remembered about seeing these http://flex-a-form.com/ fiberglass leaf springs that substantially cut down on the weight of at least the rear suspension. I e-mailed them already asking if they change towing capacity, and if they have some for stock ride height. I was also thinking about tubular control arms, but I don't think that anyone makes those that are for stock ride height or even close. Just wondering what you guys think about the fiberglass springs, or if any of you have any more ideas to cut down on the weight of the suspension. Aaron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcairns Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Start with the wheels, I hear the stock 20's are rather heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Oh, my God. The dreaded heavy wheel syndrome. RUN All Hail Zippy, All Hail Zippy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styleandspeed Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Stock wheels and tires together are supposed to weigh around 78lbs a piece which could definately be improved upon, but I really like the look of the stock wheels. I was just looking for anything else that we could do to the suspension to take off weight. Any new ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m396 #00-011 Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Stock wheels and tires together are supposed to weigh around 78lbs a piece which could definately be improved upon, but I really like the look of the stock wheels. I was just looking for anything else that we could do to the suspension to take off weight. Any new ideas? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The extra money spent to put the SS on a diet, could be probably better spent on giving it more power and performance. It's a truck, putting it on a diet isn't going to help it much in stock form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2drTahoe Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 I would go after the weight in the front first. The back end on a truck is light enough already compared to the front. Changing the weight ratio would throw off the handling I think. Some ideas... Smaller windshield washer fluid bottle A/C - who needs it power increase too New aluminum 5.3 punched back to a 6.0L Carbon Fiber hood Smaller radiator maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xero Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 or....sell your ss and wait for the regular cab version! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styleandspeed Posted September 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Do they even have a carbon fiber hood for us? I have also thought about a lighter weight battery Maybe drop the tow hooks up front that are behind our stock bumper that don't do any good There is also all the obvious stuff: spare + jack roll pan remove tailgate trailer hitch m396, in a completely stock truck I definately agree that there are better things to spend the $$ on first, but our trucks are really heavy, and they would perform better in every aspect if we could get the weight down a little. I am just curious as to what different ways people have thought up. That is why I brought up the fiberglass leaf springs. 2drtahoe seems to have the right mindset. Just wondering if yall could think of anything that wouldn't really effect the functionality of the truck. Aaron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m396 #00-011 Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 m396, in a completely stock truck I definately agree that there are better things to spend the $$ on first, but our trucks are really heavy, and they would perform better in every aspect if we could get the weight down a little. I am just curious as to what different ways people have thought up. That is why I brought up the fiberglass leaf springs. As zippy stated earlier, frontend weight is the major culprit. Hollow sway bar, lighter rim and tire, a/c, hoodliner removal, plastic engine cover removal, battery relocation, tow hooks, open air box, fiberglass hood, etc. My point is, unless you want to give up creature comforts, I don't think you can cut much more than 1-200 lbs off the front. Not going to make much of a difference. Now if you could cut 500lbs, and still have the comforts, I would be chuckin' sh*t like mad. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackySS13 Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Why not just give it more power? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styleandspeed Posted September 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 I am not looking at this as a substitute for power, just something to help along. Just looking outside the box kind of. Also, if you can cut 200lbs off of the front that means around .2 sec in the 1/4, better handling, better braking, and less stress on every part of your drivetrain. Also if you can do it for cheap then why not? Does anyone know the weight difference in the hotchkis hollow bar, and the stock one? It would actually be really nice if we could get a couple of people who have taken off parts like their stock hoods, hoodliner, tow hooks, sway bar, etc to post how much they weigh. That way we would at least know for sure how much weight we could really take off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 thinking about different ways to cut some of the extra weight off of these trucks This is insane and a subject that has been brought up before. I don't get it? You folks go out and buy a "LUXURY" truck, knowing full well it's loaded, and then try to figure out ways to cut weight!!!! If you want a super fast racing truck go buy a regular cab (or a stripped down ext cab), and then build it up with the options you want. I guarantee you it will be cheaper than buying an SS (at around $35k). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styleandspeed Posted September 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 This isn't that hard of a concept guys. I am not trying to find ways to take weight off of the truck by sacrificing luxury, or functionality. That is why I was trying to find out if anyone know about lighter weight suspension!!! That would make it lighter, and not sacrifice any creature comforts. I like my SS, and all of the stuff in it, if I didn't I would be taking out interior pieces and crap like that, but I am not. I don't know why you have such a problem with this thread Lee. I am just looking for a way to better the truck, and make it faster than it is. Not trying to transform the truck into a reg cab super fast truck. If I wanted that I would have bought a lightning, and not even bothered with the SS. Just trying to find out if anyone knows any ways to cut weight off the suspension. Not an argument about how cutting weight is stupid because our trucks are heavy anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcairns Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 I have been working on seeing if I can trim 40-50 lbs off my truck by going to the gym So far I have managed 1 lb in weight reduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
383ss Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 LS2 block with a 4" crank 100+ pounds off the front and a lot more power. btw, you can't 'punch out' a 5.3 to a 6.0L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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