Thinking in a year or two to purchase a used Challenger and this led me to the fact that these cars are heavy. 4500 lbs is a number mentioned the most for the vehicle weight. So, I got to thinking, can you lighten these cars up? With the computer (computers) that run these vehicles, is it really possible to shed some weight from them? Interested in hearing some opinions on this topic.

You can thank the National Highway Safety people that mandate that we drive around in tanks instead of making sure we know how to drive

Just being a smart ass, do a 4130 tube chassis

Go retro.

Save your money for a smaller, lighter, better looking '70 to '74 model.

What is the intention? A street car with full original safety equipment intact or a racecar?

Might I suggest a fibberglazz hood ? I sure like the style of the Scat and Hellcat Charger and challenger scoops.

Intention is a spirited daily driver; take it to the track occasionally just for the fun of it. Fiberglass hood & deck lid would be heading in the right direction.

most hoods are already light weight aluminum

Aftermarket seats are one way to shed weight. Remove the rear seat too. Sound deadening makes for a much quieter ride but adds weight. These cars have multiple air bags/sensors/wiring, multiple computers/wiring....stuff you cannot easily disable and remove.

Those Scat and Hellcat hoods are alum ? What do they weigh ?

Those seats probably are hefty .... but the rest ? .. WHERE is all the weight in these cars ?

Much of the weight is in safety stuff and wire...My 2004 BMW 330Ci convertible is supposed to weight at least 300 lbs more than my '68 GTS convertible. Everything about the BMW, except the engine, body, and perhaps the suspension is heavier. The BMW is quite a bit smaller. BUT, the BMW is also about as quick as the GTS, has a theoretical higher top end, and get better fuel economy. It's just not as cool as a GTS convertible...

I presume the impact bars on the doors and quarter panels, the power windows and their components, computers and misc wiring like mentioned above, the chassis platform itself, the dash board and all the ducting and of course all the safety and deployment apparatus.

It would indeed help if the fenders and doors were stamped out of aluminum to fend off all the heavy stuff.

Thats pretty much it right there.

The only issue with getting rid of the power windows is the "smart glass" feature/necessity. The glass won't clear the weatherstrip unless it drops down a small amount when the door is open...So far the best solution I've seen is keep the power windows intact.

round up all the info you can about the drag pak program and copy it, then add your own touches where possible. I forget the exact number but we chopped around 900 to 1000 lbs out when done. Regardless if a person happens to love or hate the drag pak, it's a good benchmark because the biggest/easiest steps to weight savings were taken there.

There is a massive, hidden beam in the rear foot well area for side impact resistance, that most are unaware of unless they've cut up a car to find it. It's been several years and the number escapes me but it was a suprising find back in the day when we were doing them.

Don't forget to throw away the brake booster, abs pump and module, and every brake line in the car. Install all lightweight manual aftermarket stuff. Also throw the power steering pump in the garbage. Anything related to air conditioning or heat=dumpster.

Basically anything there for emissions, safety, or comfort (other than a seat), you rip that out and throw it in the garbage. At the end you have a drag car.....is that what you want in a late model Challenger?

IIRC there was an article that indicated that the airbag system adds 100lbs. I think that its just a big car. Its 7" taller and 7" longer than the e-body. Its about the same width.

Thanks for the comments. Frankenduster & Zippy, I was thinking along same lines. To put a fine point on it, I know some equipment has to stay, some can go; challenge is to find the line. Research will help with that.
I do want some creature comforts-Houston, we have to have air. But I can see getting rid of the seats that heat up/cool down your backside, and have what seems an infinite number of adjustments to make. Backseat-can anybody 11 and older fit back there? I wish their was an option to delete the backseat.
Power windows- ahh! Had a 350z that had that window problem of not auto adjusting to close door. I wish their was an option to go for old school crank windows. Even at my age, I don't mind rolling a window up and down. It's what I gotta do with my '67 b-body!
Was at a car show yesterday, and one item I noticed that practically all of the modern Challengers that showed were sporting carbon fiber hoods and deck lids.

As stated, I'll gather data, do research. I'm sure people have done a little of something to lighten up the newer models.

It's all in safety stuff, big brakes, independent rear axle, creature stuff (seats, A/C, radio. With that all gone you can keep the stock body, power windows, interior (-factory seats). Now it's easily at 3100-3200lbs. I've seen 3-4 this light.
Doug

I am sure that like the old schoolers cars out there, if you take a magnifying glass to every part and fastener on a new Challenger, you will indeed shed weight like no other and even the factory could not.
Just study that bad boy and go to work.
Like DVW said, some things and windows are to be left alone, but others can go under the knife in a surgical and clean way.

I bet, that if I had my hands on one of those Cats or even a Demon, that pup would float like Franklin handling a kite in Central Park. LOL.

How much do you weigh?

Battering rams behind bumpers, door intrusion beams, HVAC system, power equipment, stock seats, computers, wiring, Nav & stereo stuff...
The structures are a lot stronger nowadays so they can better handle impacts.
The platform the Challenger is on is a larger size to begin with.
As for the electronics, getting rid of power stuff & the nannies means you might as well replace the harness with an aftermarket one to just power the basic stuff. God knows what a modern harness must weigh!
'Glass panels might help with fenders & doors.
Then again you'll add some weight back in with rollbar/cage...some of which might even be redundant due to modern structure.
For a track toy I'd want to start with an older & lighter basic tub and build from there; the mixed-use deal always involves compromises that detract from both ends of the final useability.