Laser XE coming back

[ShelGame]

Ok, The complete hatch with glass, trim,wing, and hinges weighed 81lbs. I took off 3lbs with the hole saw,got 1.5lbs. off by sculpting the hinges,the rubber weather seal weighed 3lbs., latch and key assbly-2.5lbs, factory glass weighes 26lbs.,lexan replacement weighs 10lbs., the original wing alone weighs 13lbs.
The complete hatch as you see in the pics now weighs 35lbs.

Removing weight is alot of work!, and not cheap. Total weight reduction came to 40lbs.

Was the original weighed with or without the interior trim? I'd like to trim the fat from mine as well, but it needs to look stock when I'm done. The wing will be the easiest (and the hardest - it wasn't removed when the car got painted many many years ago, so it's black underneath). I could drill a bunch of holes in it, but I'd have to put the trim cover back on so it wasn't visible.

[BadAssPerformance]

Its supposed to go up front now,

As for the hatch, damn, nice work, reminds me of swiss cheese, nom nom, damn it, hungry now,

+1 excellent work as always Warren

[Warren Stramer]

Was the original weighed with or without the interior trim? I'd like to trim the fat from mine as well, but it needs to look stock when I'm done. The wing will be the easiest (and the hardest - it wasn't removed when the car got painted many many years ago, so it's black underneath). I could drill a bunch of holes in it, but I'd have to put the trim cover back on so it wasn't visible.

Original was weighed with interior trim. visors and all.

---------- Post added at 12:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ----------

Its supposed to go up front now,

I'm mounting a functional rear wing to give the car just a little down force at the top end of the track, also will make it more slippery, and enhance directional stability.
The wing will have no effect till about 100+mph, It is strictly for high speed braking and aero benefits, (think safety)

[Reeves]

Did you use a knock out set to do the swiss cheesing, or a hole saw?

[Warren Stramer]

Did you use a knock out set to do the swiss cheesing, or a hole saw?

Hole saw Jimmy, too thick for knock-out set.

[BadAssPerformance]

Did you use a knock out set to do the swiss cheesing, or a hole saw?

...or just your usual mad skillz?

[Reeves]

Hole saw Jimmy, too thick for knock-out set.

Is it thicker than L body material? I used a knock out set on some of mine. Only problem with the knock out set is having an original hole big enough and enough room to access the cutter that gets screwed on the stem. -James

[bakes]

Was the original weighed with or without the interior trim? I'd like to trim the fat from mine as well, but it needs to look stock when I'm done. The wing will be the easiest (and the hardest - it wasn't removed when the car got painted many many years ago, so it's black underneath). I could drill a bunch of holes in it, but I'd have to put the trim cover back on so it wasn't visible.

Take a die grinder with bur's and sanding disc and remove material from the inside of the wing.make it paper thin.

[turbovanman²]

I'm mounting a functional rear wing to give the car just a little down force at the top end of the track, also will make it more slippery, and enhance directional stability.
The wing will have no effect till about 100+mph, It is strictly for high speed braking and aero benefits, (think safety)

It was a joke, lol. Haven't you seen some of the new FWD drag cars, they run a front wing to aid in planting the tires, they say it works.

[dds78910]

I got this done so far, I'm now working on a functional rear wing, sorta like a pro stock style only smaller.

So far a 40lbs. weight removal. Was going to buy a glass hatch frame but it wouldnt support the wing without major reinforcements.

Looks great Warren, I think the pro stock wing would look very good on the Laser!

[Shadow]

How much of that is the rubber gasket? I had mine out to tint them and put them back in w/o weighing them, didn;t feel like much, but its a street car

If I had to guess, 1 1/2-2lbs. Don't think it'll slow Warren down though........

[Reaper1]

Diin Ding Ding, I believe we have a winner! Nice guess!

Just finished weighing one, get this 4lbs 15.8oz! lol Not gonna guess much closer than that!

This was with about 50% of the butyl left and no speed nuts.

HOLY CRAP!! LOL I thought I'd be close...like within a few pounds, not ounces!! LOL

Warren, as always that is supurb work! are you going to run the hatch bare, or put the trim back on?

Also, as stated you can undo the speed nuts and then with just a small amount of prying the quarter glass will come right out. A little heat from a heat gun on the back would probably make it easier.

[BadAssPerformance]

Also, as stated you can undo the speed nuts and then with just a small amount of prying the quarter glass will come right out. A little heat from a heat gun on the back would probably make it easier.

Mine were a mofo to get out... required some work with a blade.

[Shadow]

With the butyl being that old it can be a lot easier cutting as you go with ye'old Nana knife! Won't know till you try.

[Warren Stramer]

Warren, as always that is supurb work! are you going to run the hatch bare, or put the trim back on?

I was going to put the trim back on, but changed my mind and just painted it. Thanks everyone for the info.

[blk86trbo]

Hey Warren, just curious...do you have an idea how many lbs of paint have been applied to your car? Not that it makes a difference, but since you've been keeping track of stuff, I was wondering if you knew.

Can't wait to see this machine at SDAC!

[Warren Stramer]

Hey Warren, just curious...do you have an idea how many lbs of paint have been applied to your car? Not that it makes a difference, but since you've been keeping track of stuff, I was wondering if you knew.

Can't wait to see this machine at SDAC!

Paul,While I have not weighed the paint on my car, I actually researched that question. Turns out that according to a few race car fabricators the typical comp eliminator or Pro Stock car carries aprox. 18-22lbs. of paint and primer.
These are cars that have actually been weighed before and after painting.

I got this info from some Pro race car builders.

[Reaper1]

WOW! That's a LOT of paint! I wonder if it would be lighter to wrap the car?

[blk86trbo]

the typical comp eliminator or Pro Stock car carries aprox. 18-22lbs. of paint and primer

Never woulda imagined it would be that much, incredible! Thanks for sharing that

[Shadow]

So a car with 2 or 3 paint jobs + some body work could be loosing .10 in the 1/4 quite easily.