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Light weight panels
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:48 pm
by RogerM
I take it from some of the other posts on thsi forum that there are no easily available light weight panels for the closures on a Mk2 Scirocco???
I am considering my options for project budget balster and today it's loosign as much weight off the car as possible!!! It's a trackday weapon before anybody points out the demerits for road use.
If anybody knows anything then please post it up or PM me!!
Thanks in advance
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:28 pm
by RogerM
I'll take the silence as a no then .....
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:23 pm
by Grrrocco
try searching the old forum (i dont have a clue where its archived) i know these things were discussed several times but i never saw anything materialise.
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:58 am
by Chaps
Roger,
The best panels imo to replace would be the bonnet and boot if your looking at lightweight stuff. There was a thread abit ago on here for fibreglass bonnets but dont think anything happened with it due to prices:
http://www.sciroccoregisterforum.co.uk/ ... f=15&t=179
Wings weigh nothing as they are single skin with no re-enforcement, you might save a kg on each so not really worth the cash - plus if u crash on a track day, F/G wings aint good!!
With the doors, remove all window gubbins, and cut everything away jsut to leave the outer skin.
Poly Carb / Perspex windows are by far the best value for money / weight savng you can do. Plus there is the safety aspect of not having any glass in your car. There is another thread on here about this...
http://www.sciroccoregisterforum.co.uk/ ... it=perspex
Interior, carpets, trim, sound deadening, dash, all should come out b4 going for replacement panels i say. you'll get ~30kgs but properly stripping the inside.
You prob know most of this, but its nice to push buttons!!
Chaps
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:59 am
by the edmundator
Removing all the strengthening from the underside of the bonnet will leave you with a much lighter, wobbly bonnet.
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:21 pm
by RogerM
Thanks for the responses guys. All stuff I had on the list already but going to look at what can be done with the tailgate in terms of lightening it.
I have to keep a window mech on the drivers side at least as I struggle with heat of any form (I consider 16°C too be about the maximum comfortable temperature!!!) so could simply not drive the car for more than a quick track session without the window open!
As for crashing believe me it wouldn't matter what material the wings were there would be nothing left ... I don't have small accidents

Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:15 pm
by the edmundator
RogerM wrote:Thanks for the responses guys. All stuff I had on the list already but going to look at what can be done with the tailgate in terms of lightening it.
If you're still running it with the rear spoiler, you can cut a lot of the metalwork out of it from underneath. You can also lose the struts.
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:54 pm
by Chaps
RogerM wrote:
I have to keep a window mech on the drivers side at least as I struggle with heat of any form (I consider 16°C too be about the maximum comfortable temperature!!!) so could simply not drive the car for more than a quick track session without the window open!:
If you use perspex instead of glass windows you can make yourself a nice slider in the drivers window.
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:39 pm
by RogerM
Cheers for the suggestions guys.
Rear spoiler will be replaced with something a little more effective (watch this space ... big plans for this car).
I can not fit sliders or indeed anything else that would comprimise security or water tightness as the car will have to live outside on the drive, just no other option for her unfortunately. I had considered it but had to decide against.
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:51 pm
by b5byt
There are two wings on ebay at the moment, located in derby I think
Re: Light weight panels
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:52 pm
by walkinginperu
Perspex/lexan will save weight but it's a pig if it's even remotely wet - you get steamed up inside badly and can't see! Your car will also get damp inside if you leave it outside. I would leave the glass in and get rid of all the heater gubbins. Saved about 20Kg on my BMW325 track slag. Sound insulation under the carpets also weighs a fair bit, as does underseal. The 'rocco is such a light car anyway, you'll never be able to remove as much weight as a big fat exec saloon, but with not much power weight loss will make a big difference. I'd look at removing lights and taking out bulbs/reflectors etc that you don't need. F/G bonnet would be easy enough to make as it's big and square and flat(ish). Boot would be a complete pig with all that glass in it, i would leave standard but maybe deskin the interior of it and then fix with bonnet pins and remove the latch mechanism.