We all know losing 400Kg would be easier on the brakes but how would such a substantial weight loss effect the clutch, shafts, gearbox and engine?

 

You'd be struggling to reach that I'd imagine. Its hard enough to get a classic to that weight.

 

Hypothetically speaking.

Would lack of weight put ease on components or would the rapid increase in RPM pick-up cause devastating friction??

 

U wouldn't be left with much

 

It would be good, but it's purely theoretical with a lardy newage...

 

Full Carbon Fibre body, polycarbonate windows, all parasitics removed, lightweight battery, wheel, tyres, brakes etc etc most of the boot underside cut away etc etc...

1000-1100kg Newage, or classic even, suppose it doesn't matter which.

 

I think sometimes you overthink stuff Matt.

 

Can be done but would be very expensive and time consuming.

 

Just a casual thought really, as my car gets ever lighter I just wondered if I'm capping or increasing the power/acceleration tolerances

 

In simple terms such a drastic weight loss would have no detrimental effects (strain) on mechanical components such as you have mentioned.
How you lose 400kg in the first place is the challenge. Once you start removing bodywork to acheive the weight loss you will have to put something back either to retain the shape of the car in the form of carbon or fibreglass panels, or adding some other kind of metal strengthening like a roll cage. So you will be putting weight back in at some point.

 

I think Andy F's car proves it doesn't

 

Yeah but that is built with race components, not chocolate WRX stuff

 

Most certainly easier on everything, apart from the wallet

 

So a WRX gearbox capable of handling up to 360-370 might now be a little more comfortable at 380-400? Or is the torque gonna kill it even if the car weighed 500kg?

 

You cant put that number on a wrx gearbox because some have let go with less but, yes thats the theory

 

Which?? I listed two theories!

 

I think munching gearboxes is down to driving style, all manner of gearboxes break.

 

so you want a lightweight racer and have a wrx..............


cool story bro!!!

 

1st one

 

TBH it's something that's never gone on me, blown plenty of engines and worn clutches down on other cars though.

 

The best one!

 

difficult question actually

you would think that yes it would be easier but then the engine is still producing the same torque onto the gearbox. the wheels might start turning quicker but the power is still being transmitted.

its not a concept we often come across in real life as its much harder for humans to apply the same torque when things are reacting to the torque

it will defiantly help if your launching though where your dumping all the rotational inertia off the engine into the gearbox

 

Save your cash and buy an ariel atom

Steve

 

Oh dear. We've gone from 'What's possible?' to 'What can I get away with?'
Always a direct route to failure where performance is concerned.

 

I think someone once told me they were running a 5 speed Newage box in their classic and holding over 500 horses for a considerable time. So it'd be nice to know for future reference. I mean that's only a 150KG shedding.

 

trying to make a performance car from a wrx is the first point of failure, hes just continuing the trend

 

also take a few of thesean hour before your run,,,

 

not a good solution for matt, hes full of ...............well you know

 

frankly mate you have 2 choices

1 get an STi.
2 get a 6 speed box
3 run the 5 speed box and be prepared to replace it at short notice

 

Shirley you'd start off with a classic RA.