weight reduction
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
In that case, weight reduction doesn't play much of a roll in what your doing. Idk, to me it is t worth hassling over, but if you want to, by all means go right ahead. Afterall, it is your truck. We are here to help. Fiberglass hood would cut some off. There are kits out there to remove the big rear leaf springs and use an air ride setup. That would drop a couple hundred pounds.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,377
Likes: 844
From: Mi'kma'ki
convert it to 2wd and srw.those will be the largest gains.
that 460 isn't no light weight either.swap that out for a 300-6.that's all you need to run down the hwy with.you don't need that heavy frame for nothing anymore,so ditch that for a f150 frame.use their lighter axles as well.use a reg cab f150 frame as it's much lighter than the current crew cabs.so this means using the reg cab from the f150 too.
now you really made a difference worthwhile.
once that's done,post back for more.we can spend your $ all day.if you cheat by selling and re buying,we'll know! we expect the pics to show the work.
that 460 isn't no light weight either.swap that out for a 300-6.that's all you need to run down the hwy with.you don't need that heavy frame for nothing anymore,so ditch that for a f150 frame.use their lighter axles as well.use a reg cab f150 frame as it's much lighter than the current crew cabs.so this means using the reg cab from the f150 too.
now you really made a difference worthwhile.
once that's done,post back for more.we can spend your $ all day.if you cheat by selling and re buying,we'll know! we expect the pics to show the work.
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Junior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Wow. The point of this thread was to discuss weight reduction through the use of things like fiberglass hoods, bumpers, fenders, ect and to get ininput from people who have used some of these parts and see what they thought of them
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
The point is your plan for weight reduction is flawed. The inefficiency of the 7.5L engine and restrictive exhaust are not going to be overcome by dropping weight. You are driving the barn and the barn door. Until you overcome the inherent friction/efficiency and aerodynamic drag you are joisting windmills in your quest to reduce weight in order to improve MPGs.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
The point is your plan for weight reduction is flawed. The inefficiency of the 7.5L engine and restrictive exhaust are not going to be overcome by dropping weight. You are driving the barn and the barn door. Until you overcome the inherent friction/efficiency and aerodynamic drag you are joisting windmills in your quest to reduce weight in order to improve MPGs.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
The point is your plan for weight reduction is flawed. The inefficiency of the 7.5L engine and restrictive exhaust are not going to be overcome by dropping weight. You are driving the barn and the barn door. Until you overcome the inherent friction/efficiency and aerodynamic drag you are joisting windmills in your quest to reduce weight in order to improve MPGs.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
I'll answer your question....
ive worked with fiberglass replacement body panels before, and they can be a wh0re. theyre often low quality, hard to "massage" into place vs metal, and they can take paint differently than steel, leaving you with an "off" colored piece.
you can prob save 50-100 lbs max by replacing front fenders and hood with fiberglass. as for bumpers, fiberglass can give you a clean look, but its awful trying to keep them looking good. if you ever bump anything, or anyone bumps you, they spider crack and paint is ruined in that vicinity. you could prob save 50 lbx max swapping those out, fiberglass still requires steel bracketry.
so, whether or not its worth doing is up to you. if you have damaged body panels, fiberglass is an affordbale replacement option, but like I said, theyre often junk.
I'm not gonna stop at the gas station that is 10c cheaper a gallon that is on the other side of the street than I'm on...I'd weigh the cost vs the gains before going too crazy after replacing stuff that could stand to be replaced, as youre not going to get much out of it in the weight department.
ive worked with fiberglass replacement body panels before, and they can be a wh0re. theyre often low quality, hard to "massage" into place vs metal, and they can take paint differently than steel, leaving you with an "off" colored piece.
you can prob save 50-100 lbs max by replacing front fenders and hood with fiberglass. as for bumpers, fiberglass can give you a clean look, but its awful trying to keep them looking good. if you ever bump anything, or anyone bumps you, they spider crack and paint is ruined in that vicinity. you could prob save 50 lbx max swapping those out, fiberglass still requires steel bracketry.
so, whether or not its worth doing is up to you. if you have damaged body panels, fiberglass is an affordbale replacement option, but like I said, theyre often junk.
I'm not gonna stop at the gas station that is 10c cheaper a gallon that is on the other side of the street than I'm on...I'd weigh the cost vs the gains before going too crazy after replacing stuff that could stand to be replaced, as youre not going to get much out of it in the weight department.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Nobody.. and I mean nobody buys a 1-ton crew cab dually to build into a hotrod. If you really want a performance truck and don 't care about fuel milage go find a 2wd reg cab F150 and swap the 460 and trans into that.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Not a gas job anyway. Diesel maybe...
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Junior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Thank you for the info and the heads up on the fiberglass body parts looks like i will just stick with heavy parts and force the 460 to make some more power those aluminum heads sounds good. And why couldn't you make it into a hot rod stuff doesn't have to be fast to be a fun hot rod and from what I can tell the 460 is a lot cheaper to make good drivable power then the 7.3
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ClatonK
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Nov 28, 2003 08:47 PM