Hey guys, I just got a 90 Bonneville SSE which I'm using as my daily driver. I know losing weight will make the car excelerate better, but I'm having a hard time finding places to shed any lbs. I've ditched the spare and jack, and lost an additional 20lbs when I switched to a smaller battery. Now I need more idea'*...anyone have any?

Yes, switching out your wheels/tires for aftermarket ones can cut up to 80lbs of weight. Other ones is taking out the backseat and replacing it w/ carpet, you could remove sound deadener material but that'* more for the track. Changing out your intake/exhaust helps in weight managment since a newer intake is lighter and takes up less space than the stock one. Changing the exhaust also helps get rid of that huge stock muffler. Removing speakers out of the car of using aftermarket speakers that are lighter can help, and not having sound equipment like amps, caps, subs and such help a ton. Just try not to add extra weight to the car and focus on more power and later when you max out the N/A out of your engine, then move on to weight saving mods.

He'* right about the wheels, not only do lighter rims get rid of about 50-80lbs of regular weight, they also have what is called less rotating mass which is what really helps a person out, for example: i had a friend who had done everything you could possibly think done to his 1998 honda civic including a supercharger. He took off the factory civic rims,though, and replaced them with larger Chrome rims. This made him go from 11.6 in the quater mile at the track to 13.2. Just something to think about.

If you want to go faster, smaller diameter wheels/tires will help the cause. Smaller diameter = more force at the tire-pavement interface -> more effective power -> faster times (albeit at a higher engine speed).

BTW Lithium - Sorry about forgetting New Mexico. It'* fixed now.

-Jeff

Thanks for the replys everyone. I wish I had the extra cash for a sweet wheel/tire package but at this time I don't. I will be putting on some 245/50/16 GSC'* in the near future. I was hoping to take another 50-100 lbs out of just dead weight, not just for going faster, but for better gas mileage, better braking, handling etc. Once the warmer weather hits I'll have more of a chance to look for unnessary weight. But keep the ideas coming...L8r..Andru.

My Bonneville has the mesh GTA style wheels. These seem like they wouldn't be as heavy as the chrome wheels. Does anyone know by chance if this is true?

You would think, but typically car companies make most wheels out of steel which is heavy no matter what. Like my wheels are Enkei'* made out of Aluminum and weigh 20lbs each compared to the factory steel which weighed 40+ lbs each. So its up to you to weigh it but remember, the factory had to cut corners somewhere and could not give the best in every department.

i thought the idea was to get lower times?

ditto? How can wheels add 2 seconds of time unless he was spinning with the new wheels for a while in first gear and the gear ratio killed another second off his time? Just curious.

http://www.erebuni.com sells a body kit for a 90 bonneville. I am getting it but i have not checked it out really. in fact i am not sure you drop any weight but go to the ground effects section and search for it. i think its like 648 for a four peice set