The Monte diet, losing those pounds

[Jon]

Everyone wants to shed those extra pounds, but who has the lightest monte (scorpion)? How much weight can you lose from your car to improve performance. Who knows how much each individual item that can be lightened or replaced weighs before and after the diet?

[Will]

There really aren't any "limits" per se, it depends on how much work you want to do, if you desire an interior, how much you can cut, drill, and file off the chassis and motor components and still have a mechanically sound car. Seats, bumpers, etc. people are all pretty much aware of. But there's other weight to be reduced- heck, I must have lost an easy 10lbs just on skeletonizing the alternator bracket!
I removed the AC and also the heaterand associated controls. I cut two shoeboxes worth of wire out of the harness and stripped all the emnissions garbage. I didn't do it for weight- but simplicity.
-Will

[Hamish]

I suppose its possible to go quite a long way by using composite panels :twisted: but not in the rear quarters as (if I recall rightly they are structural on the Monte :?: ) you could drill out door panels, pedals etc etc
I don't suppose anyone's done it to a huge extent - other than those using the Monte/Scorp in competition :?:
Nice kevlar airbox from Chad at the Monte Hospital looks a handy device - light too :!:
Just how far do you want to go :?:

[Ken H]

By calculation George Emery claims 1900# for his E prepared SCCA racer (2400# original - 500# savings) on his web site. This is from gutting the interior and replacing all panels but the doors with fiberglass, and eliminating the bumpers, trim and glass. His old web site itemized the weight savings part by part, but that site appears to be gone.

- Ken

[Will]

...from what I've heard about UK cars, you could just cut the rust out and be under 2000lbs!
Ok, you must have a good example then! You can't lose the Scorpion's bumpers and folding headlights on a Monte, but you can lose the heavy stock seats, air, heat, carpet under padding, firewall padding, lots of brackets and bits of wire, spare tire and pan, luggage box interior, I would guess you could judiciously strip 150-200lbs out of her if you look closely.
Even more importantly are the rotating masses, add lightweight wheels, replace the brake rotors with aluminum hats and rotors,lighten or replace the flywheel, etc.
More importantly in my book, find every electrical system you don't need, cut it out completely and clean it up. This will save you endless headaches later!
-Will

[omicron]

My montecarlo has currently got glass fibre wings, although I can get carbon fibre / kevlar ones.

I have a thinner rear bumper. Hope to replace the front one eventually.

Doors are hollowed out, fixed perspex with sliders for ventilation. Door catches on wires, just basically the bare minimum.

The engine cover has been lightened by removing the frame. Its on pins with bonnet clips. Rear glass replaced with perspex.

The front body cover is simply a sheet of aluminium, although I'd like to replace this with something more attractive but equally light.

No carpets.
No headlining
No soundproofing
Bare interior.

However, for road use I know this will be noisy, but its just a bit of fun / track days etc., I know it wouldn't be acceptable for long distance or more frequent use.

It does have a roll cage to compensate for lack of strength in the doors.

[Jon]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

That sounds like you saved a lot of weight. Would be very interested to know how much in all? Sounds fine for a track/hill climb car, which I would love to do to another car one day.

But I wonder what can be achieved with a road car still keeping to original Pininfarina looks and ancillory functionality.

When are you guys going to publish a price list and maybe some pics of your composite panels? Sound very interesting, have filled on the online application and phoned but am still waiting.


Best Regards

Jon

[omicron]

producing a catalogue takes a lot of time !

At the moment we can supply grp or carbon fibre / kevlar front and rear wings, lightweight rear bumpers and hopefully soon bonnet and front bumper will be ready.

I'll mail you some details and costings.

No idea of the weight saved on my car - hard to measure as engine is out being readied for a rebuild.

Andrew