For those who strip their interior before a track day..

[hotdc2]

As some of you may know, my car is undergoing a pretty big build and the shell is currently being stripped and resprayed. A lot of the junk that came out won't be going back in (as per usual track cars), however whilst gutting it I came across something I'd like to share.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa19/onslaughtartdesign/GetAttachmentjj.jpg

The red circles indicate a patch of sound-deadening. In a Dc2 Vtir, there are a total of 9 patches of sound-deadening. I know it doesn't look like much, however after we took it all out, we put it in a bucket and weighed it. I was stunned that it weighed in at whopping 10.4kgs.

If I had of known the weight that I could have saved by stripping this sound-deadening out when I was racing the b-series, I can guarantee you all that it wouldn't have taken me this long to finally get rid of it.

For all of you out there tracking your Honda's, can you afford to carry around 10kgs more than you need? Our cars our built around the concept of power:weight and whilst having light cars to start with, there are several other little things like this that you can do to improve that ratio.

I just wanted to point it out - majority of you lot would already know this, however this is mainly for the newbs just getting into it. I'm not going to sit here and tell you how to do it (there are DIYs for that), I simply wanted to share my experience, and maybe amaze some people as much as I was when I saw the reading on the scales. It's such an easy and relatively cheap modification to make to your car that can help you shave hundreths of a second off of your lap or 1/4 mile times. If you already strip your seats and carpet for raceday then this is just something else, that if you're super-keen, can help you knock your time down. I know when I first started drags, and was stripping the interior, I had no idea that this stuff was there let alone weighed as much as it did.

This is what it looks like when it's cleaned up:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa19/onslaughtartdesign/adamsinterior.jpg


You can always put your carpet, trims and seats back in after as well and no one would be the wiser.

So what do you guys think?

[EG5]

Strip down under body sound deadning

[SPEEDCORE]

So did you get the firewall mat out also?

Cause that will get you to around 15kg if you haven't already done so.

[hotdc2]

the firewall mat is between the dash and firewall right?

how would you get the under body sound deadening off? you cant really soak it in solvents

[EK1.6LCIV]

we got over 14kgs out of my buddy's Fiat from under the arches alone lol

I'd paint all exposed areas tho and use fish oil prior to prepping

[hussLEr]

Ah...the joys of stripping tar!...not the best when using a hammer and chisel and NO dry-ice..!

[tekung89]

Ah...the joys of stripping tar!...not the best when using a hammer and chisel and NO dry-ice..!

fyl and fml, it was no fun. i rather drag my ass through a mile of broken glass then to ever do it again

[EG5]

the firewall mat is between the dash and firewall right?

how would you get the under body sound deadening off? you cant really soak it in solvents

rip it out
its easy

[bennjamin]

just a note for those thinking about it....


its free to do.
it really does make your car sound that much nicer/ rawer. (pro or con)
Free unseen weight reduction - i pulled all the sound deadening i could see out of my EG hatch - which resulted in 12kg of dead weight removed.

[hotdc2]

and is the unbordy deadening just in the arches?

[bennjamin]

and is the unbordy deadening just in the arches?


under the entire car. The entire exposed chassis is covefered in sound deadening tar. Removing it would net a a decent amount more saving IMO ...i might do it overa few lazy DIY days in future. But its not for people who live at the beach !

[hotdc2]

Ben, we should organise a 'strip your car of useless tar' meet where by we all get there, crack open a beer and get the shit off. at least then we can have a laugh while we FML

[bennjamin]

Ben, we should organise a 'strip your car of useless tar' meet where by we all get there, crack open a beer and get the shit off. at least then we can have a laugh while we FML

im always keen. Most of the Sydney OZhonda team knows this lol.

Anyone got a hoist ?

[hotdc2]

Yonas does. but it's occupied permanently i think.

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Rob may have access to one for us Ben :)

[vtecrx]

hey guys undermeith is where all the weight is. i pulled 7kgs from in the car and almost 20 from under on a crx.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSC00111-1.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSC00112-1.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSC00085.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSC00088.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSCF0031.jpg

[hotdc2]

very bloody nice. I might get underneath with a chisel to get all the big chunks off. then hit it with an orbital sanders and a fesh coat of black paint. Maybe the rust proof stuff.

[vtecrx]

yeah i used a screw driver then wire wheel then rust guard gloss black.

[GSi_PSi]

vtecrx = how much weight did you pull outta the car including the interior sound deading?

[vtecrx]

hey mate not sure what a stock sir crx is as far as i know it is some where between 980kg to 990. mine is about 880 to 890. then i put 10kgs of lead in passenger rear corner to get the weights right. in is all about corner weights when using on the track.

[gambate]

will doing this reduces overall chassis rigidity?

[hotdc2]

short answer is no.

[lil_foy]

will doing this reduces overall chassis rigidity?

Tar is flexible so you'd presume no, nothing noteable.

[bennjamin]

Tar is flexible so you'd presume no, nothing noteable.


As above...nothing to do with teh rigidity of teh chassis.

BUT if you put enough holes thru it with your screwdriver or chisel it WILL cause issues lol.

[vtecrx]

As above...nothing to do with teh rigidity of teh chassis.

BUT if you put enough holes thru it with your screwdriver or chisel it WILL cause issues lol.


you are doing something way wrong if you put a screwdriver through the steel.

[VTi_b0i]

well i thought it was funny :p
i might start my weight reduction by swapping my 17s for 16s, does anyone know how much heavier a 5 lug conversion compared to the OEM eg vti brakes

[vtecrx]

i race on 17s

[whyte]

i race on 17s

where do you race at?

[joyride]

i had no idea there was tar on the cars belly. interesting...

[SPEEDCORE]

then rust guard gloss black.

Yeah... that's all you really need for a track slut. Its certainly not chip resistant, but nothing to worry about if you're keeping an eye on it every so often.

For those that are more anal about keeping the underside free from surface rust from chips, POR15 or even better... treatment and coatings from Xtroll (Aussie product to boot) is your best bet.

[vtecrx]

where do you race at?


queensland raceway.

[ewendc2r]

interesting you are racing on 17's ... why do you 'need' 17's? I think a 16" would be much better, have you done any load calcs? i.e. 16 225 should be ample with more sidewall flex (mech grip).. without taking into account the increased unsprung mass.

[vtecrx]

interesting you are racing on 17's ... why do you 'need' 17's? I think a 16" would be much better, have you done any load calcs? i.e. 16 225 should be ample with more sidewall flex (mech grip).. without taking into account the increased unsprung mass.


i am hearing you mate, i would even rather go smaller like 15s. but the reason is cause i get full slick 1 meet old for about $50 a tyre and as funds are all ways low these are sweet for me.

but i still like using 17s i dont seem to have a prob rounding people up.

[spardikis]

i managed to pull 14kgs of tar from inside my dc2 (thats including the dash lining stuff) using a flat edged hammer drill bit on just the hammering function. then also ripped all my heater boxes out which weighed a crap load... still to do under the car...

[string]

hey mate not sure what a stock sir crx is as far as i know it is some where between 980kg to 990. mine is about 880 to 890. then i put 10kgs of lead in passenger rear corner to get the weights right. in is all about corner weights when using on the track.

Are you trying to meet a minimum weight? I can't see how adding ballast anywhere could increase performance. The passenger footwell seems to be a popular choice for underweight yanks - nice and close to the centre of mass.

[beeza]

Awesome thread.The best threads are the ones where people are just sharing experiences,like this one.

Good work!

I'm gonna attack some more sound deadening,might even be able to strip some kg's before trackday,on saturady!

Vtecrx,will U be racing Kermit out there Saturday - SAS?

[spardikis]

had a look at the tar matting underneath the car yesterday, its alot thinner than the inside stuff. I might not strip it just yet unless i get desperate. cant really see more than 5 kgs in it all however i could still be wrong.

[beeza]

It's also about having a balance between what benny said,makes ya car sound 'rawer'.So that raw sound and a quiet ride.How mine is at the moment I reckon I could lose a little more to have that 'raw' sound come through a bit more but not too much.I love my comfortable ride,just a lil rawer sounding would be sweet!

I'll check mine on friday.I got 3 days off Fri,sat,sun with raceday on Saturday WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[jks24]

i plan on starting on my boot when I get the time. See how that goes then I might consider the rest of the car.

[vtecrx]

Are you trying to meet a minimum weight? I can't see how adding ballast anywhere could increase performance. The passenger footwell seems to be a popular choice for underweight yanks - nice and close to the centre of mass.


hey mate not going to a min weight.it is more important to have the car weights right rather then being 10kg lighter.

[vtecrx]

Awesome thread.The best threads are the ones where people are just sharing experiences,like this one.

Good work!

I'm gonna attack some more sound deadening,might even be able to strip some kg's before trackday,on saturady!

Vtecrx,will U be racing Kermit out there Saturday - SAS?

hey mate yeah i will be there you wont miss me. come say hi

[vtecrx]

had a look at the tar matting underneath the car yesterday, its alot thinner than the inside stuff. I might not strip it just yet unless i get desperate. cant really see more than 5 kgs in it all however i could still be wrong.

hey mate it looks thinner then it is once you get closer to the middle it gets thicker also cant forget it is in the gaurds to. i pulled about 15 to 20kg from them spots.

[fatboyz39]

how did you tackle underneath sound deadening?

[vtecrx]

look my pxt on the first page. screw driver and wire wheel and time.

[string]

hey mate not going to a min weight.it is more important to have the car weights right rather then being 10kg lighter.

And you couldn't get the weights right without adding a lump of useless mass?

[vtecrx]

And you couldn't get the weights right without adding a lump of useless mass?

no the driver being where it is and nothing to move in the boot i cant any other way, throw me any ideas if you have any.

[string]

Well why not just do a basic corner weighting with some "coilovers"?

With a ~70kg driver off to one side, a battery right up front and an engine with mass in god knows what arrangement, the car's true corner weights are going to be all over the place to begin with - a 10kg ballast seems like almost nothing.

[vtecrx]

so you think i would just put 10 kgs somewhere with out weighting.

did you not look at the pxt of my interior, does it not look like it is half done.

i have scales
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSC00887.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSCF0031.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/brendocrx/DSC00697.jpg

[bennjamin]

interesting you are trying to corner weight , when you have other useless mods on the car that have no real effect on the handling. For the street thats great but IMO get rid of the wing , c pillar brace and big rims.

[vtecrx]

interesting you are trying to corner weight , when you have other useless mods on the car that have no real effect on the handling. For the street thats great but IMO get rid of the wing , c pillar brace and big rims.


trying to corner weight?

the wing was put on for the track everyone to there own and own ideas.

c pillar trying as much as possiable to stiffin the car up like i said everyone has there own ideas.

big rims i guess you didnt read money does not just flow around my place so anything i can get cheap i do. i get slick 1 meet old for 50 to 100 dollas. thats why the big wheel.

why not pick on that useless door hinge. cause it looks cool

[bennjamin]

im sorry if i hurt your feelings champ - just pointing out some clashing things. Also , used semis or slicks i would strongly avoid - good chance they are stale !

[beeza]

hey mate yeah i will be there you wont miss me. come say hi

Will do! (we did hello,once in passing @ QR :) )

Here U are @ 50 seconds WOOT WOOT!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoAdpEx8bmg

I reckon the wing and c-pillar brace is working to a positive means on the track and reading how you are doing this on the budget/cheap like myself makes me admire you more!

I will be attacking the extra sound deadening I learnt about tomorrow!

[beeza]

Here's some pics of stripping the sound deadening out:

Wiggidy wiggidy whack YO! (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92436)

[vtecrx]

im sorry if i hurt your feelings champ - just pointing out some clashing things. Also , used semis or slicks i would strongly avoid - good chance they are stale !

hey mate not bothered, love this shit. you need to know more about the tyres to understand.

[bennjamin]

hey mate not bothered, love this shit. you need to know more about the tyres to understand.

do tell ! What times you running with / without these tyres ?

[vtecrx]

i run the same times as when i put the new semis on the white crx on mine. so for 50 to100 dollar a tyre it keeps me happy. when i buy them they are brand new when i see them go on the car then they do 1 race meet then i buy at the end of the meet.

[spardikis]

i run the same times as when i put the new semis on the white crx on mine. so for 50 to100 dollar a tyre it keeps me happy. when i buy them they are brand new when i see them go on the car then they do 1 race meet then i buy at the end of the meet.

absolutly nothing wrong with running with used semis, I would definatly run these over a typical street tyre if i could, especially if it were for practice. if however you were to try and put a P.B down then sure go and get a fresh set, but for the price and budget id say go for it... experiment with you tyre pressures and temps etc thats how you learn with out making the sport crippling...

[vtecrx]

absolutly nothing wrong with running with used semis, I would definatly run these over a typical street tyre if i could, especially if it were for practice. if however you were to try and put a P.B down then sure go and get a fresh set, but for the price and budget id say go for it... experiment with you tyre pressures and temps etc thats how you learn with out making the sport crippling...

i run used full slicks.

[beeza]

This has been a great thread!!

It has really got me psyched to remove more weight from the car,which I'm doing!

A lighter car is a quicker car :)

[spardikis]

i finally managed to take out my sunroof glass last night, the stupid allan key bolt heads stripped so i had to drill them out. took me ages to get round to this nasty one!!

the glass in the roof alone weighed 7.4kgs :eek:

being right at the highest point of the car, this would upset the center of gravity quite alot. Ill be trying to make a sunroof out of lexun that i can quickly bolt on for track days... hopefully

[beeza]

Nice!!!!

[vtecrx]

sweet

[beeza]

I'm gonna buy some dry ice tomorrow and get rid of that last bit of sound proofing on the rear seat.I started with the hammer and chisel today and gave up after 10 minutes,hot and sweaty!

Man,I'm on a mission now to lighten the car!!!

What ya been doing to your baby brendon?

[beeza]

I'm gonna put a front splitter on,next time I track,like this:

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss141/beeza9/IMG_3021.jpg

Just an idea of design:

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss141/beeza9/front_wind_splitter.jpg

I reckon they work,to help keep the front wheels sliding out,understeering.

I want to put a big lightweight wing on too,to help keep the back wheels planted right.

[vtecrx]

I'm gonna buy some dry ice tomorrow and get rid of that last bit of sound proofing on the rear seat.I started with the hammer and chisel today and gave up after 10 minutes,hot and sweaty!

Man,I'm on a mission now to lighten the car!!!

What ya been doing to your baby brendon?

hey mate, just been flat out getting the white race car ready for last sat, then broke after 1 lap was no happy. stripped all
the power steer out more weight gone from green one.

that splitter looks great i want one.

[beeza]

How much weight is in the power steering gear?

[vtecrx]

not sure prob at least 5 kgs

[beeza]

It's a bit but I do love my power steering and I cant see me taking that out.

I have decided to remove the air con after summer,I hardly ever use it.That would weigh more than 5kg/power steering gear wouldn't it or would it?

[vtecrx]

yeah it would way more it has its own rad to so it would all add up. you cant forget the power steer has power drag to.

[vtecrx]

just weighted it 7kgs would be more if you ran a non power steer rack

[beeza]

True,a good loss of weight then!

Does air con have a power drag on the engine when it's not being used though,just from the belt?

I can live with the power drag from the power steering cause I've tried my car with no power steering when the belt was off and it was too heavy.

[beeza]

just weighted it 7kgs would be more if you ran a non power steer rack

That the power steering gear yeah?

[vtecrx]

That the power steering gear yeah?


yep that is pump, cooler, hoses, oil, bolts and brackets. i am still running power rack tho cant afford or find a non power rack which is lighter to.

[beeza]

What's the power rack?

[vtecrx]

you have a power steer rack when have power steering. you can put a non power steering rack on which is light but also has a different ratio so it makes lighter steering with out power steering. i am just running the power steer rack with no fluid in it.

[beeza]

Ah,so that makes it lighter,with no fluid in there?

How much is the non power steering rack?

I just bought some KYB gas shocks for $400 new and I will team them up with some whiteline springs,then give you a tingle to corner balance the car :)

This will be about January,I got a trip to Japan first! WOOT WOOT!

Will you still have them ya reckon?

[trism]

beez, your car is a daily driver, i wouldnt pull aircon out of it. imagine when the end of the world starts to come around and temps jump up to 50 degrees. youll want it then

[beeza]

beez, your car is a daily driver, i wouldnt pull aircon out of it. imagine when the end of the world starts to come around and temps jump up to 50 degrees. youll want it then

Bloody legend!

It IS gonna get warm alright :p

But after removing a few kilo's lately,it's a new car!

I'm LOVIN' IT!

So true but Trism,I don't wanna be livin' out my last days hot.I wanna be comfortable as a mofo :thumbsup:

[Killa From Manila]

if i cud id lose ps and keep aircon lol.

any1 know which non ps steering rack would fit in an ek??

[e240]

beez, your car is a daily driver, i wouldnt pull aircon out of it. imagine when the end of the world starts to come around and temps jump up to 50 degrees. youll want it then

Well, it that happens and I were you, I wouldn't be driving and just hang out all day long at the bluetongue brewery. :-p

[beeza]

hehe,I'll be in the bush!

[i-jrdm]

where can u get dry ice from in melb!!! :)

[Benson]

BOC gas and Gear?

[connorling]

change all the glass and window to plastic, that save u heaps of weight

[Sexc86]

pretty amazed all the sound deadening weighs 10kg !

[bennjamin]

pretty amazed all the sound deadening weighs 10kg !


define all ? I took the firewall matting , 95% of the floor deadening out and the carpet matting and got "around" 13-14kg out of the car.

[Riced_Civic]

will def be doing this to the Project car.

[beeza]

How much noise-ier did taking the firewall sound deadening out benny or did U do it all at once?

[bennjamin]

How much noise-ier did taking the firewall sound deadening out benny or did U do it all at once?

did it all at once Brett
considerably noisier.....alot more raw sounding....you can hear the tyres on the road and gravel pinging against the chassis etc. Cool for me but crap for the GF.

[beeza]

Forsure forsure,BUT she gets to drive a SICK b18c7,COOL!!

Thanks for that benny,good to hear!

[cyryl07]

whats the easiest way of taking the sound deading off the car? i tried it with hammer and flat head, it leaves little black spots and it gets sticky. looks very dirty. any tips?

[HwyStar]

get as much of the black mass off as you can.
clean the remainder of the tar/glue with some carb-cleaner and rags or paper towels.

note: It's much easier to do in winter than in summer.

[Killa From Manila]

dry ice!

[DNYALL]

I used dry ice. came off easily!! except for around the floor plugs. it is like glued on with some brown crap that is almost impossible to get off. so i just left it there :p oh well. my car aint no show car and it is covered by the floormats so I can hide it. haha

Anyone got any tips to get it off the floor plugs.

And sound wise. taking out all the front sound deadening and carpet etc didn't really make it all that much louder in the cabin. But I have been running with no rear interior for ages now, so i guess i am sort of used it already.

[Benson]

I used dry ice. came off easily!! except for around the floor plugs. it is like glued on with some brown crap that is almost impossible to get off. so i just left it there :p oh well. my car aint no show car and it is covered by the floormats so I can hide it. haha

Anyone got any tips to get it off the floor plugs.

And sound wise. taking out all the front sound deadening and carpet etc didn't really make it all that much louder in the cabin. But I have been running with no rear interior for ages now, so i guess i am sort of used it already.

Wire brush on a drill. :thumbsup:

[sinseven]

i used dry ice never worked :(

so ive been slaving away with a chisel!

does anyone know where to get good rattle can primer and rattle can paint for the floor?

[navinraj]

guys can i no what is the best time done 1/4 for honda vtech street car....for street car drag can we go without power string and aircon.what is the requiment..pls.adv bro i new to drag race in australia.

[xntrik]

^
This.

[RandyRhydah]

that post was awesome..

[ewendc2r]

More seriously, check out the ANDRA website for full supps on what is and isn't allowed!