Going lean on the smart?

VinceLA · 07-22-2008, 10:31 PM

Hey fellow smarties,

So I have been here for a bit now, reading and observing the various mods done to the smart. I haven't yet quite seen anyone go lean on the smart. Meaning shaving weight. My other post on various weights of exhaust systems is full of crickets chirping by now.

I came from a modding background of shaving weight on the car first before anything else. Hence my mod program for the smart has been very conservative so far. I would love to upgrade wheels, tires, exhaust system but the weight thing is on my mind.

The smart weighs about 1900lbs. Adding a mere 10lb maybe only 0.52% but from my experiences my most anticipated and enjoyable time when driving the smart was with 1 to 3-bar left in the fuel gauge. The car is quick from the start and the momentum will really push the car to go faster. Hence for the past weeks, I only fill up to 4 bars. That's it. Btw 1 gal ~ 5.5lbs at room temperature.

I notice much of the enthusiasm really focus on upgrading to 17" wheels. But don't they add more weight to the smart? And don't you actually feel the additional rotation inertia from stationary?

That being said, has anyone looked into lighter batteries, lighter 15" wheels, cross-drilled brakes?

Or am I just echoing into a cave again?

GiantKiller · 07-23-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinceLA

Hey fellow smarties,

So I have been here for a bit now, reading and observing the various mods done to the smart. I haven't yet quite seen anyone go lean on the smart. Meaning shaving weight. My other post on various weights of exhaust systems is full of crickets chirping by now.

I came from a modding background of shaving weight on the car first before anything else. Hence my mod program for the smart has been very conservative so far. I would love to upgrade wheels, tires, exhaust system but the weight thing is on my mind.

The smart weighs about 1900lbs. Adding a mere 10lb maybe only 0.52% but from my experiences my most anticipated and enjoyable time when driving the smart was with 1 to 3-bar left in the fuel gauge. The car is quick from the start and the momentum will really push the car to go faster. Hence for the past weeks, I only fill up to 4 bars. That's it. Btw 1 gal ~ 5.5lbs at room temperature.

I notice much of the enthusiasm really focus on upgrading to 17" wheels. But don't they add more weight to the smart? And don't you actually feel the additional rotation inertia from stationary?

That being said, has anyone looked into lighter batteries, lighter 15" wheels, cross-drilled brakes?

Or am I just echoing into a cave again?

Yah the 17'' is noticable not just from stationary. but I also have really wide tires too. Hope to put in smartuki kit if, when they make one for 451.Will run stock bike engine first,then turbo, then complete build. As the psycho need for more and more power takes over

brian r · 07-23-2008, 09:04 AM

I'm replacing the battery with an Odyssey PC680. It's about 15 pounds.

My thoughts of losing weight came secondarily from deciding to get a sealed battery. I gutted my interior to apply sound deadening, and was disturbed by the idea that there was a non-sealed battery under the floor where I'd not routinely see it. Plus, it was a generic OEM battery similar to the one that came (and leaked all over the trunk) in my Elise.

In order to do it I'll need to shim the original clamp with a piece of ABS or block of rubber, but that will be easy to do. You can let the car sit undriven for about three weeks (maybe less if you have an alarm activated) before they go dead. www.odysseyfactory.com

You can save even more weight with a Braille battery. I've got one for our track car, and it weighs 11 pounds, but for everyday use you'd need to put it on a battery tender if the car sits more than a week. They're more expensive, too. www.brailleauto.com

If you want to go nuts and have deep pockets, get a Voltsphreaks racing battery. They're 3 pounds.
https://s.p10.hostingprod.com/@www.v...products_id=55

ex300SRT8 · 07-23-2008, 09:23 AM

Sorry . . sorry . . sorry . . I'm a bit of a novice . . novice . . novice . . novice . . . but I believe I read long ago that in the 450 there were lighter (aluminum?) versions of our rear brakes (in lieu of the cross drilled rotors option). Is this something that can be pursued . . . pursued . . . pursued . . . .

p.s. my version of an echo effect . . . effect . . . effect

jonnysan · 07-23-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex300SRT8

Sorry . . sorry . . sorry . . I'm a bit of a novice . . novice . . novice . . novice . . . but I believe I read long ago that in the 450 there were lighter (aluminum?) versions of our rear brakes (in lieu of the cross drilled rotors option). Is this something that can be pursued . . . pursued . . . pursued . . . .

p.s. my version of an echo effect . . . effect . . . effect

They are drum brakes unless it's been upgraded to discs.....

VinceLA · 07-23-2008, 01:33 PM

Ah great! Finally the cave is not empty!

Thanks for the replies, all!

Brian: I actually have a voltphreak battery in my track car. I was one of their early guinea pigs. IIRC, their prices have gone up quite a bit lately. By any chance would you know the weight of the stock battery? I am guessing 30lbs. Correct me if I am off. Will look into Braille. Thanks!

GK: you serious about the engine transplant huh?

whalepirot: Agreed on the exhaust. Just that as of now, with only 2 companies offering exhausts, it's difficult to justify a $400ish system. I see that you went $200 for yours. I might do something similar as well. The stock system as I found out was 17lbs. DTH claims 12lb lighter with their single-tipped. That comes up to 5lbs. Though, no one has really verified this info.

SylenThunder · 07-23-2008, 02:01 PM

I too have been modding my cars lean for a while, but like you said, not really a whole lot left to remove. I can usually take out a few unnecessary baffles, and the spare, and other components to lose a hundred pounds or so, but with the smart, there's not a lot you can take off and still leave the car functional. You said that yours weighed 1900lbs.... is that with you and a passenger in it? the sticker on mine says it is about 1493lbs or something like that with a max cargo of 507. With me in it, it probably sits about 1700lbs. Right now I am working on ideas like HAI and reducing the weight with a new exhaust. IIRC the Breathless exhaust is 30% lighter, although 5-10 pounds is not going to make a huge difference... primarily I just need to loose some weight.

GiantKiller · 07-23-2008, 02:21 PM

Yah would really like to. Saving weight isn't going to do as much for me as my body weight 280 throws the ratio off more than most.

brian r · 07-23-2008, 08:12 PM

Vince- I didn't think to weigh the thing when I had it out, but I'm going to guess close to 40 lbs. Maybe because it was a PITA to wrestle out of the well in the floor; it could very well be closer to 30 lbs.

I think you're right about the Voltsphreak battery going up in price. I think one of the Lotus guys paid $350 last year. You can't beat 3 pounds though!

VinceLA · 07-23-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian r

Vince- I didn't think to weigh the thing when I had it out, but I'm going to guess close to 40 lbs. Maybe because it was a PITA to wrestle out of the well in the floor; it could very well be closer to 30 lbs.

I think you're right about the Voltsphreak battery going up in price. I think one of the Lotus guys paid $350 last year. You can't beat 3 pounds though!

I will try using the voltphreak unit from my track car. I had to go with the hefty 4.5lb version.

Will report back on the stock battery weight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SylenThunder

You said that yours weighed 1900lbs.... is that with you and a passenger in it? the sticker on mine says it is about 1493lbs or something like that with a max cargo of 507.

Hrm....I thought the curb weight of our smart passion coupe is about 1850lbs? I would have to look at my sticker then. 1493lbs sounds like a dry weight though.