lightening bumper brackets

[Challenger6pak]

Taking weight off a car never hurts its performance regardless of where it comes off from. Simple physics agree with this. It is also easier to find 100 places to loose one pound than it is to find one place to loose 100 pounds.

This is true.  If you take one car and just pull weight from everywhere and another car where the same weight is removed with the intent of setting the car up for drag racing, the car set for drag racing will make it down the quarter mile faster, considering all other factors the same.  For all of that we have to get into weight transfer, suspension geometry , etc. The main thing here is what is the cars purpose?  It sounds like a weekend warrior.  With that much motor in a street car lightening bumper brackets isn't really a concern.  That motor on the street should scare anything including you , black 71.  It will be an awesome set up.

[Chryco Psycho]

Taking weight off a car never hurts its performance regardless of where it comes off from. Simple physics agree with this. It is also easier to find 100 places to loose one pound than it is to find one place to loose 100 pounds.

I generally agree that any weight saved is a good thing , removing weight from some places has far  more effect then other places , for example rotating weight is approx 10 times more effective so removing 7 lbs from the internal engine parts as is the case with a 451 stroker or removing weight in the driveshaft [using alum ] or the axles or wheels is far better than just removing dead weight from the chassis , also removing weight from the front will help weight transfer which is also more effective

[Challenger6pak]

I generally agree that any weight saved is a good thing , removing weight from some places has far  more effect then other places , for example rotating weight is approx 10 times more effective so removing 7 lbs from the internal engine parts as is the case with a 451 stroker or removing weight in the driveshaft [using alum ] or the axles or wheels is far better than just removing dead weight from the chassis , also removing weight from the front will help weight transfer which is also more effective

An easy rotating weight saving item are lightweight wheels. 

[black71]

schweet thanks for the tips. . . i have already cut the door braces out but are there any other weight saving tricks (other than the obvious fiberglass pieces)?

[vinb]

There's a place in North or South Carolina (Quartermasters) if he is still there that does acid dipping. I dipped several of my race cars years ago. I used a guy in Virginia. Complete front sheet metal, doors, etc. Yes, you do save alot of weight, but if you want to get some quick weight off, get a fiberglass front bumper and hood also take the beams out of the doors. Acid Dipping does get costly and you have to strip the paint and primer off before they could dip it. 

[Challenger6pak]

schweet thanks for the tips. . . i have already cut the door braces out but are there any other weight saving tricks (other than the obvious fiberglass pieces)?

  I know of several. Do you want to do things that will make it difficult if not impossible to restore this car.  I wouldn't like having the door braces out without having a cage.  I've been through some serious wrecks.  On the street if you are t-boned without the braces you will be in trouble. How much racer and how much restoration do you want?  How altered do you want the appearence of the car to be?  I'm considering lightening a car myself at this time.  I want to go with a smaller motor but have the same performance as a larger motor without modifying the small block to the power output of a big block.  The goal is to use less gasoline.  Add some laughing gas and the car may be fun and usable for trips.

[black71]

well as for looks, i am not a big fan of pro street for some reason, i am planning on a nice black paint job with possibly a fiberglass shaker hood. as for restoration, it is just a 318 car. driving it on the street will be rare, but i still want to leave that option open

[Challenger6pak]

I'd go with a fiberglass front end and leave the chrome bumper since you are going to drive it on the street.  Use aluminum wheels.  Switch to the aluminum manual steering box.  A front suspension from alterkations will take off more weight than just switching to the manual box. A 70 grille is lighter than a 71 grille.  You can go to an aluminum dash in the car.  If it has air you can get rid of that for weight.  Headers are lighter than exhaust manifolds.  Aluminum heads and manifold will help on lightening the engine. I'm sure you have headers with that motor.  You can remove some of the inner fenders but with that size motor I don't think it would be necessary.  For added traction and better weight transfer you can also move the battery to the trunk.