Thanks for the inspiration!

I have lots and lots more to do, but here's a start.

I went to a Braille 17# battery and replaced the factory mounting system/battery box and also my mounting brackets for both the coil and MSD. I know this probably doesn't LOOK very light, but it saved 31# off the very nose of the truck. I opted to leave it basically in the factory location rather than add 20# worth of battery cable and battery disconnect switch to get it all to the back of the truck.

To me it looks like something out of a 1940's WWII plane. Yes, all aluminum - and lightweight!



It's a good thing the MSD is in the pic for scale - no, that is not a GIANT MSD box.
The new mount is painted black and simply disappears from view.
Yes, that's the coil tucked in there as well.



This thread is awesome for good ideas!
I'm gonna go fab some other lightweight stuff up!

Duner.

Very nice work. That is a good amount off the front. This thread I believe, brings back the fundamentals of Tinkering with Hot Rods. It's what makes it fun again.

I figured it out this way as a general break down of the ideas vs labor vs cost.
* There will be at the most, 15 places on a car or truck where 20 or more lbs can be removed or replaced.
* There will be at the most, 20 places on a car or truck where 10 or 5 lbs can be removed or replaced.
* There will be at the most, 25 places on a car or truck where 1 lb can be removed or replaced.
* There will be at the most, a 100 places on a car or truck where eight ounces or less can be removed, but not necessarily replaced, But.........if replacing, the most expensive small parts or fasteners are where one pound down to an ounce will be addressed.

Check the Titanium K-member bolts. Saved only 1/2 Lb.

Read closely and wish me luck at the shrink. LOL

The pros are that Ti will not corrode in the water ways.
Note that Aluminum spacers used between Alternator brackets and such are able to save 1/2 Lb. Next time when changing/servicing that alternator, think about the small mass those solid spacers amount to.

Clearer look at the spacers. Plus I had to venture over to the dark side and spring for a GM 140 amper. Saved 3 Lbs over the original Chrysler round back 35 amper and no more charging problems while running my lights, electric fan, electric fuel pump and MSD 6AL.

Here's a look at the radiator/Fan shroud made completely out of Aluminum. It was made by this guy in Maryland and he followed my measurements and instructions to the T.
I don't have his card with me at the moment, but if anyone needs his info, I can get it. This cat makes some really nice shrouds to any ones specs.

Those hose clamps are sick. How much do 2 weigh versus 1 standard clamp? And I thought I was diseased. I've got a buddy who has a Titanium K-frame. He claims it weighs 4 lbs. I've held it up with one hand with my arm stretched straight out. Its never been used, old Chrysler factory race stuff. apparently they didn't last.
Doug

I'm not in front of my papers, but it's pennies from the dollar as I call it. If I remember, both clamps still weighed a few micros less compared to one, but the advantage was double security. So the savings was not much at all, a few ounces if that. LOL. They are available from Mcmasters.

On the subject of your friends K-member. If indeed it is a Titanium piece, than it must be from the later super covert Pro-stock years during the early 70's when Trick Titanium over in Troy were in bed with Chrysler under the direction of Ted Spehar I believe.
I was lucky enough to work with Larry Klajda at Trick Titanium on a few fasteners and things on my car before they moved further up north in Michigan, but not on a K-member unfortunately. Plus it would have been a fortune close enough to the one on Ebay recently. It's still there trying to fetch a bid of some kind.


If it's an early to mid sixties K-member and made out of Titanium, than it's a one of one. It could also be confused with one of a half a dozen Magnesium K's which could have been instigated by the creation of the four 2% AFX cars of 64'
The 65' AFX cars had Lightweight stainless K's from what I know and were light, but not that light at 4 lbs unless of course if it's a mag. They also cracked under those wild wheel stands common during the day. A friend of mine threw one in the garbage here in Brooklyn when he found it to have cracks. Who knew. Funny enough, my K is not lightened other than the Motor mounts that have been removed in favor of the front engine plate.
Here's a few Ti fasteners on the engine.

Here's obviously an easy homemade Aluminum steering column firewall plate that saved almost a pound.
I have to find some other photos of some really cool stuff.

AFX stainless lightweight K member.
One wild of a conversation piece.

He's got a stainless one also. Let's start trimming that K-frame. Also shame on that heavy Indy valley plate. I was thinking bead rolled .060" aluminum with a 1/4" lip on the sides to give it some area to seal?
Doug

Yeah, I was against using such an obvious and heavy piece on a stealthy set up, but in a hurry, it was installed even after milling off the INDY logo. I wasn't going to argue the point with the guys at BEST Machine. They were already looking at me with those eyes that said; Is this guy alright in the membrane? LOL. Note the no-name intake though.

I know I can take a few pounds off my K with the lip trimming, oil pan cavity among other tricks, but I'll have to settle for what I have at the moment. There are some great Factory Race items loitering around the car though.

So then I`m thinking about removing most of the material from the ft. and rear pillars and the cross brace that supports the center of the roof and dome light to cut more weight.............is that going to kill the integrity? I`ll eventually cage it if I want to keep racing which I THINK I do but who knows for sure at this point.

ThumperD.
I'll say ney and I'll explain why tomorrow.

I was thinking that if there was 25-30lbs. in doing that w/out affecting strength then it might be worth it. I`m obsessed w/trying to get this heap as safe and light as possible and my dash is now about 40% alum. and down to 7-8 lbs. based on my bathroom scale and will be even more swiss-cheesed and lighter when I finish...........

Me thinks that the SWAT bashes to your noodle have affected your abilty to focus, on any thing else than going fast
Hope your well now

have you trimmed down that K member down yet??
BTW you know if you go lexan your not gonna be a street car LOL

My k member is stock except for removing the motor mounts and I`m way past worrying about the pump gas this and street car that stuff...........I want to go fast w/the junk I have then some SERIOUS cyl. heads will end up on top of the short block then we`ll see how fast a street driven baby 470 ci motor will go all nuts.