okay, so here are the first steps to acquiring the parts/pieces which is not much at all to make the horn ring. Starting with the rings most complex shapes, I decided to turn to Burns Stainless in California for their excellent choices in swedged and transitional tubing. Aluminum of course.
As you can see in the upcoming photos, I am cheating by using a transitional aluminum tube to replicate the main center cone shape of the ring. After this, the other parts will be more simpler to make with the exception of the main outer ring and the welding to keep it all together.

Side by side, you can see that with a small amount of cut/trimming, the cone piece will start to materialize from the swedged aluminum part. The swedged aluminum at the moment without trimming weighs NOT AT ALL on the scale. LOL
This was also some of the swedged pieces that I used to create my aluminum exhaust. So far those are hanging tough.

WAY cool man.............Just when I thaught I was savvy and thorough you come up with THIS............

Thanks man.
I'll wait to get the whole deal sealed and flick pics of the steering column, steering wheel and the Horn ring all together in the car.
Weight shaved semi-high and just out front of the Center of Gravity.

With this ring and the recent ounce initiative, I will be 82 ounces into a 1,600 ounce push. LOL.

Here's the center cone cut down to size and ready for some filing and squaring off.
All the rest of the parts will be welded to this central piece to look just like the stocker.

Weighed my Duster this morning at a scrap metal place down the street from my house. 3,060 without me so that's 3,240 with me in it. Car was weighed with a full tank of gas. I'm pretty happy with that.

This is an all-steel car, small block with iron heads, 904, 8 3/4 with aluminum center, Caltracs, battery in the trunk. It has all OE glass and window mechanisms, OE dash, door panels, full carpeted interior and fixed lightweight seats from an '80s Jeep. No creature comforts or radio though. OE fuel tank, frame connectors.

I have not had it down the track but the P.O. took it to a best of 11.97 in it's original configuration which had the OE bench seat, heater and radio, 4 corner drum brakes with OE master cylinder, OE bumper brackets, S/S springs and snubbber etc. I think I shaved at least 100 lbs, probably more but I never weighed it before I started working on it.

I'm sure I can find more ways to trim some fat. Thanks to Lee and everyone who contributes to this thread, it has been a good source of info and inspiration!

Rmcharger.

It was cool to hang for a minute last week and talk shop, chop shop weight loss that is. LOL.
I'll be at Carlisle with the fellas as usual, G-90-G-87, so stop on by and we'll continue the conversation and this invitation is for anyone. I do move around a lot though, so late mornings or late afternoons is good to catch me flying kites at the spot. LOL

Very nice car you've got there. If you ask me, your current weight is pretty darn good as it is considering that it is wearing all its original birthday suit for the dance. Factor in the fact that a full tank of gas is about 60-70 Lbs in itself, though your car can not go down any quarter with out Gas in the tank. LOL. I usually try to weigh in with a quarter tank of gas as I would be in full race mode.
Like I had told you, my friends original six banger Duster (I think it's a 72' model) was 2900 Lbs and change with an iron headed small block in the nest and non creature features along with some "Brooklyn Dodges" trickery. I was surprised being that some A-bodies come in heavier. But who knows.

He has since added a few things along with a complete audio system, air scoop and good flowing iron RHS heads (which are heavier than stock) and the car is back in the low 30's with out him in it, but it is much faster.
I could safely say that there is more or a lot more left to shave off your car depending on how the madness infects you. There is a line in the sand where one chooses to cross or not. I love lightweight street cars.
Now let me get a hold of one of those James Bond 707 HP Hellcats and the Bats will definitely be set loose.

Yeah, I'm heading to Beaver Springs on Sunday on the way home as well.

Some Dusters and or Darts tend to be heavy depending on their options though. Curt and I have always agreed that A-Bodies for the street have a little more to deal with by carrying a big stick up front (aka) big block. But if you start out with a small block from the beginning, your weight efforts will need less labor and the car will struggle less as well.
Though ThumperD here has achieved a good weight number with his low block Dart. He's probably cheating more than us all around. LOL

Here's a flic of the door cranks that are waiting to get looked at closely for a quote to sand cast out of 356 aluminum. I'll make sure to let you'll know what the tooling and cast will cost. Might be four star $$$$. If it is, I'll run for the hills. If not, then I'll make a very small run of a few sets.

if cost is super bux, there appears that an oz. or so could be gained by removing the ribs,lumps, and lettering ? maybe only just several grams.......

True this.
Four cranks can add up to something. I have several extras laying around.

Thumber, I believe you missed on a few hits back. I am in the process of getting a quote for the cranks and levers to be sand cast in aluminum. Plastic would probably be too weak and not consistent with my metal objective.
Those early B-body crank and door latch levers are heavy for their size and functions. The only weight related thing I did a few years back was to exchange the long door window cranks for the shorter stubbier quarter window cranks. Did not weight the difference though.

So here's the Horn rings center cone piece coming together after a little welding of the round disc from behind. This is a very complex piece that has a few details that can only be pulled off via trick usage of certain by-products out there. Aluminum by-products that is. As I go forward, I'll post the step by step of this madness.

So as to compare to the Mother ship. I would guess that by this picture you'll have an idea of where this is going right?
I do hope that others can chimmie in here with some of their trickery activities. Oh, I forgot, Winter's passed and everyone is racing except poor me.

I believe the lower shift bowl on a 64 floor shift Dodge is stamped instead of die cast, much lighter.
Doug

shift bowl? stamped? lighter than what if I may ask.

Oh, I think I now know what you are talking about DVW. Never looked into that. Keen and lean.