[last_in]

I am going to pick up my new to me 96 single cab 318 short bed in March, that's when the fun will begin! The plan is to replace the 318/44re with a 440/727 with power steering. I am pumped to get started on this project. I don't even have the Gen II in my possession yet but I already like it more than my r/t. The ease to swap the front to 5x4.5 lug patter is the first reason I like it more already.

My question is about the weight of the truck. The truck weighed in at 3400 pounds with out driver. I am going to strip this thing down to bare bones, make a wiring harness for lights, turns, and brake light only. How light have people got these down to?

Do they make fiberglass parts for the Gen II like they do the Gen III, like hairy glass?

 

[Rebel13]

Not sure how other people got them, but If I had one to play with, there is plenty to remove. Just look and think of structure and what is needed or not.

 

[91dak239]

I have an AAR fiberglass bumper/airdamp, it comes out to about 10 lbs lighter than factory setup, they got fiberglass hoods too, fiberglass roll pan will likely lighten the truck up even more so. No OEM style fiberglass fenders that I've seen other than the ones for like a pre-runner truck. none the less there is still loads of weight to be lost on these trucks can remove inner fenders though they are fairly light but if your goign for track duty why not! lol

 

[last_in]

I have an AAR fiberglass bumper/airdamp, it comes out to about 10 lbs lighter than factory setup, they got fiberglass hoods too, fiberglass roll pan will likely lighten the truck up even more so. No OEM style fiberglass fenders that I've seen other than the ones for like a pre-runner truck. none the less there is still loads of weight to be lost on these trucks can remove inner fenders though they are fairly light but if your goign for track duty why not! lol

Do you know if they have stock style fiberglass hoods? It will be interesting to see how light I can make it.

 

[446Kota]

with mine, regular cab, shortbed.. I removed everything from the behind the dash not needed. Heater box,electronics,wiring etc, I still had a stock carpet, an 8 pt roll bar kit, APC race seats, stock front bumper, rear steel roll pan, 8 3/4 rear, 440, with aluminum heads and intake, Hooker headers, 727, driveshaft safety loop, homebuilt s/s 16 gallon fuel cell,all factory glass and hood, aluminum wheels, etc,etc,etc.. I was VERY surprised when it crossed the scale at 3380.. I was hoping for 3000. 3200 tops.. Thats was without me in it..Factory it was a 4cyl,5spd truck..2880...

 

[96daksport]

Dont forget to move the battery to the back of the truck and ditch the clutch fan for an electric setup(with that big firebreather under the hood you might not have a choice but to run electric anyway.)

 

[Dakota77]

My truck is a 93 RC v6 5 speed. The only thing glass on the truck is the hood. It weighs 3160 full of full without me in it. I haven't striped anything off of it. I think most of you weight is coming from the big block.

 

[01Motorsport]

I think a 318 weighs about 600 pounds, and a 440 about 900. Consider all the pros and cons of more front end weight, more torque vs. weight distribution. But...I'm just into curvy roads :jester:

 

[last_in]

with mine, regular cab, shortbed.. I removed everything from the behind the dash not needed. Heater box,electronics,wiring etc, I still had a stock carpet, an 8 pt roll bar kit, APC race seats, stock front bumper, rear steel roll pan, 8 3/4 rear, 440, with aluminum heads and intake, Hooker headers, 727, driveshaft safety loop, homebuilt s/s 16 gallon fuel cell,all factory glass and hood, aluminum wheels, etc,etc,etc.. I was VERY surprised when it crossed the scale at 3380.. I was hoping for 3000. 3200 tops.. Thats was without me in it..Factory it was a 4cyl,5spd truck..2880...

Wow I was hoping to get it down to 3,000 also. Well I guess that means we will just have to make up for the weight with power!

Do you know how much power you were putting down and any times on it?

Dont forget to move the battery to the back of the truck and ditch the clutch fan for an electric setup(with that big firebreather under the hood you might not have a choice but to run electric anyway.)

Oh for sure, the fuel cell and battery will be mounded in the bed. Planing on running the Lincoln Mark VIII fan, I had one for my r/t but it hit the water pump pulley. Even after shaving it down, now I wish I would of kept it but there not expensive to pick up.

 

[446Kota]

11.73 @ 115 with CalTracs.. "on paper" it was supposed to be around 625 hp.. Not sure on torque..That fuel cell empty is close to 30 lbs. Get a plastic cell. Its ALOT lighter. Keep the stock carpet out. That stuff is real heavy too. I also had a hard tonneau on the back of the bed. I cut it and fit it to fit snug inside the bed edges. I know there was weigh to that, maybe another 25-30 lbs.. What I had planned for this year was to chnage out the converter, gut the doors and use lexan for windows, guut the tailgate, and add a 'glass front bumper.. I was thinking with the weight savings, I might have been able to lose around 100-150lbs.. My converter was a PTC 4000. I was going to up that to a 4800-5000 stall..

 

[last_in]

Thanks for the info! I would be happy with 11's n/a, was it a track only truck?

 

[446Kota]

Street/strip. I got 8.5-9mpg with 4.10s,lol..I think I'm gonna regret parting it out instead of rebuilding..