[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

...I would expect mid-12's from of a well sorted out car stripped down to manual steering and brakes, no options weighing about 3600 lbs. with driver (little guy or gal).

Personal diets aside, what are these cars generally weighing in at?
IIRC the official weight rating was 3,450, which is why the highest official engine option was rated at 345hp...

I would think that a non-AC car without too many options should be able to come in under #3450...

Maybe a work out regiment, and cutting back on the burgers is something people do before the PSMCD's?

lol

[Formulajones]

I've never seen a second gen that light, even a no frills version. If they are that light at the PSMD then someone went through a lot of trouble to make it that way. Then I start to raise an eye brow.

I've done absolutely nothing to lighten mine. The only weight bearing options it has is PS, PDB, and 400 turbo. Nothing added, nothing missing. You can say it's basically a no frills version, no AC, no other power accessories. It scales at 3,690 lbs. without a driver. Take out the PS and PDB's, put in a 4 speed that would lighten it some, but it still won't be a sub 3500 lbs. car. If you find a 70 Formula lighter than that, then someone has taken weight out where you can't see it As far as I'm concerned, that's starting to flurt on the edge of fishy, then I start to scrutinize the rest of the car.

Generally the Formulas are lighter than the TA's too. But I can tell you those fiberglass hoods sure aren't that light either. I've picked up steel hoods that didn't weigh that much.

1st gens are another matter. A 400 firebird or 396 Camaro (stock weight) shouldn't have a problem seeing 3400-ish lbs. I haven't scaled my 69 Z yet but I fully expect that one to come in right around 31-3200 lbs. I did nothing to remove weight on that one either, I left the factory sound deadener in it etc... matter of fact I added weight, my wife wanted power steering (originally a manual steer car) so I added a complete factory setup.

Edit: just to add to this, I float around 205 lbs. So my Formula is pushing close to 3900 lbs. going down track. These things aren't featherweights that's for sure, or maybe I need to lose a few lbs, lol.

[Formulajones]

Add to that the 70 and probably 71 models are among the lightest of the 2nd gens to boot, so look at the weight of my car, then compare. I believe shortly after impact regulations set in, and later models have reinforced doors with side impact beams that add weight. I also know the front noses got a little heavier. I have a couple of spare noses here, a 71 and a 73 and when I scaled them the 73 weighed a few lbs. more. I suspect it had some impact upgrades by then. Probably other small details that add weight like the core support bars (70 never had them) etc.... and likely more small things.

In a nut shell, for example, if you find a 73 model (that is heavier than previous years) and it's lighter than my 70 Formula that has very little weight adding options, then you know someone put that car on a serious diet.

[SD455DJ]

Formulajones, the lightest 2nd gen Firebird at the Pure Stocks was Steve Coulter's '71 Formula 400 a couple years ago with a TH400 and 3.73 gears (ran low 14's/98 mph) weighed 3700 lbs. John Glasgo's '70 RAIV TA auto weighed 3800 lbs. I think Steve's Formula had power steering & brakes, center console, radio, etc. If you pull all the sound-deadening (only lightening that is legal), ran just a half tank of fuel and devoid of all options, it's conceivable you could get one down in the 3450 - 3500 lb. curb weight range (no driver). 1st gen Birds are 250 - 300 lbs heavier than their comparable 1st gen brethren in Formula form and 350 - 400 in TA form.

Dennis

[Formulajones]

Thanks for that Dennis, those cars are right in line with mine.