Cutting Weight
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: Florida
What Kind of off-roading?
The bed can go or replace with wooden flat bed/ or something 'useful', bumpers can go or they can be replaced with lighter modified ones, all seats but the one(s) you use, replace the hood with fiberglass or take it off altogether, replace all glass with plexi-glass or just remove all together, replace the gas tank with a something other then steel/sheet metal, depending on the axles thickness you may be able to shave a little off the axles (if you don't know where too, DO NOT TRY), aluminum intake manifold, aluminum water pump or electric water pump, electric cooling system, replace the cast iron exhuast manifolds with after market and keep the exhuast piping simple, remove the doors or light weight half doors ( I've seen custom tubing made/ doors cut in half to replace the full length length doors and it looked okay), replace steel rims to aluminum/cast rims, aluminum drive shafts, remove the heater/A/C systems, replace the dash with diamond plate and gauges, etc.
Think light weight... But safety first! If you plan on bashing the crap out of it then lots of tubing or metal around you is a good idea.
The bed can go or replace with wooden flat bed/ or something 'useful', bumpers can go or they can be replaced with lighter modified ones, all seats but the one(s) you use, replace the hood with fiberglass or take it off altogether, replace all glass with plexi-glass or just remove all together, replace the gas tank with a something other then steel/sheet metal, depending on the axles thickness you may be able to shave a little off the axles (if you don't know where too, DO NOT TRY), aluminum intake manifold, aluminum water pump or electric water pump, electric cooling system, replace the cast iron exhuast manifolds with after market and keep the exhuast piping simple, remove the doors or light weight half doors ( I've seen custom tubing made/ doors cut in half to replace the full length length doors and it looked okay), replace steel rims to aluminum/cast rims, aluminum drive shafts, remove the heater/A/C systems, replace the dash with diamond plate and gauges, etc.
Think light weight... But safety first! If you plan on bashing the crap out of it then lots of tubing or metal around you is a good idea.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Depends on the vehicle. On an old Ford truck with an FE 360/390 I swear you can drop 100 pounds off the engine by replacing the cast iron intake with aluminum 
Same with going with aluminum heads.
Going aluminum alloy wheels instead of steel can save about 100 pounds on bigger wheels.
On the newer vehicles, factory seats are pretty light compared to the older trucks. You could always swap that out.
Removing the A/C system, especially with an older York, can shave a few pounds.
Same with going with aluminum heads.Going aluminum alloy wheels instead of steel can save about 100 pounds on bigger wheels.
On the newer vehicles, factory seats are pretty light compared to the older trucks. You could always swap that out.
Removing the A/C system, especially with an older York, can shave a few pounds.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Good luck on the build.
What do you plan on removing/ replacing?
Trending Topics
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 0
From: Rep. of Texas
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: Florida
I've taken my offroad desires in a new direction... I'm using many techniques found on the trucks that we frequently see for sale on ebay. Besides the overriding theme of terrible engineering, the lack of a front driveshaft seems to be the most common reoccurance. And it saves weight to boot.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
steve(ill)
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
1
Oct 12, 2005 10:35 PM
