dropping some weight
#11
09-12-2007 | 09:51 PM
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RE: dropping some weight
#13
09-13-2007 | 05:51 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
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RE: dropping some weight
I drove a 90 for several years, I fit just fine. Often the problem is not legroom but headroom. Trucks have taller rooflines than cars. I also like the usability of a truck. I often do light construction or help friends move, and i'm always the only guy with a truck, so I want something that can perform when i'm not hauling a load.
I was already looking at a fiberglass cowl induction hood, but I hate prerunner fenders. My engine is stock, so i was thinking about starting with an induction combo like ported R/T heads, M1 intake and 52 mm throttle body. I have to keep it under the limit of the California sniffer test.
I was already looking at a fiberglass cowl induction hood, but I hate prerunner fenders. My engine is stock, so i was thinking about starting with an induction combo like ported R/T heads, M1 intake and 52 mm throttle body. I have to keep it under the limit of the California sniffer test.
#14
09-13-2007 | 08:31 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 8
RE: dropping some weight
a cut from the Ram pickup MPG improvement FAQ:
===
Weight reduction is supposed to improve City MPG where acceleration dominates.
The rule of thumb is
" A 10% reduction in weight yields a 6% improvement in City MPG."
So 540 lbs off a 5400 lb Ram might increase 14 MPG to 14.8 mpg.
At a steady 70 mph however, a 10% increase or decrease in weight only affects
MPG by about 3%.
The US Army has been giving some of your tax dollars to Ford as a Research
grant to try out ways to cut the weight of a pickup truck by 25% so that more
vehicles can be airlifted and dropped into combat zones with the 82nd or the
101st.
Aluminum wheels save typically 40 lbs total, with the Alcoa forged wheels appearing to be the lightest at 19 lbs each.
New Aluminum Magnum cyl heads save 46 lbs.
Aluminum diff and rear axle tubes save 150 lbs.
Fiberglass leaf springs save 75 lbs or monoleaf steel springs save 40 lbs.
Do Google searches for 'monoleaf spring' or 'fiberglass spring' to find suppliers who can make such springs for
Ram pickups.
http://flex-a-form.com/
This company makes a 'QuadraLink' rear suspension that does away with leaf
springs on muscle cars and could be adapted to a pickup:
http://detroitspeed.com/QUADRALink10.html
There is at least one supplier of fiberglass fenders for Rams:
http://www.hannemannfiberglass.com/Dodge_Ram.html
Do you really need that rear bumper - are damaged bumpers less expensive to replace than damaged sheet metal?
Optima batteries are usually 10-20 lbs lighter than conventional.
Reactor brand batteries are even lighter.
Lexan replacement of the glass rear window can save about 22 lbs.
===
Weight reduction is supposed to improve City MPG where acceleration dominates.
The rule of thumb is
" A 10% reduction in weight yields a 6% improvement in City MPG."
So 540 lbs off a 5400 lb Ram might increase 14 MPG to 14.8 mpg.
At a steady 70 mph however, a 10% increase or decrease in weight only affects
MPG by about 3%.
The US Army has been giving some of your tax dollars to Ford as a Research
grant to try out ways to cut the weight of a pickup truck by 25% so that more
vehicles can be airlifted and dropped into combat zones with the 82nd or the
101st.
Aluminum wheels save typically 40 lbs total, with the Alcoa forged wheels appearing to be the lightest at 19 lbs each.
New Aluminum Magnum cyl heads save 46 lbs.
Aluminum diff and rear axle tubes save 150 lbs.
Fiberglass leaf springs save 75 lbs or monoleaf steel springs save 40 lbs.
Do Google searches for 'monoleaf spring' or 'fiberglass spring' to find suppliers who can make such springs for
Ram pickups.
http://flex-a-form.com/
This company makes a 'QuadraLink' rear suspension that does away with leaf
springs on muscle cars and could be adapted to a pickup:
http://detroitspeed.com/QUADRALink10.html
There is at least one supplier of fiberglass fenders for Rams:
http://www.hannemannfiberglass.com/Dodge_Ram.html
Do you really need that rear bumper - are damaged bumpers less expensive to replace than damaged sheet metal?
Optima batteries are usually 10-20 lbs lighter than conventional.
Reactor brand batteries are even lighter.
Lexan replacement of the glass rear window can save about 22 lbs.