New Member

[Mrbarry]

Thought I'd say hi. I have a Mazda engined zero in white on throttle bodies. I have the car primarily for track days, but it will be used on the road too. My mrs wants me to teach her to drive on track and she is really getting into the car lately.

I've built loads of cars in my time and like to think outside of the box. I'm quite excited about the concept of a GBS Zero however, my other cats have always been far larger and heavier, the zero is feather weight.

How light is a strict track car does anyone know? I'm aiming at 420kg wet but may need a lighter power plant for that.

[WallerZ]

My 1.6 Mazda Zero weighed in at around 550kg wet in a pretty basic IVA trim. With what that involved, I'm pretty sure you would struggle a lot to cut 100kg out of that...

[theduck]

Welcome! Would probably need to go for a bike engine setup to get down to that kind of weight though.

[Mrbarry]

Thanks, I'm sure it won't be easy but I have a few plans up my sleeves. I'm trying to find numbers but struggling. Does anyone know the weight of the bare space frame chassis? I have enquired and if the weight is significant I will be rebuilding into a new chassis over the coming winter. This time a T45 frame rather than mild steel, a saving of 30% being reasonable.

It's not easy I know but it's a path I've followed before. Plans involve lighter chassis, custom wiringloom (that's my job) as the GBS one is over complex for my liking, I'll save a kg there easily. Alloy bells and rotors with alloy calipers. A pair of carbon bucket seats I have in my loft, carbon prop shaft, carbon wheels, no luxury items like carpets lol. But the big one is the engine. I've looked at a few and i think the best bet so far is a 3 cylinder turbo from a fiesta. Ok it's only 1000cc but you can get 170bhp from one without being silly. And it's soooooo small and light. Trans is an interesting one however.... oh and exhaust, I'm going to fabricate a titanium exhaust with no cat, again something I've done before, i just mock up my mate tig welds them for me.

Not sure what weight it will be in the end, but it will keep me busy anyway. I don't know why but I've always had an obsession with making my track cars as light as possible, well I do know why, and I get lots of enjoyment from the build.

I won't be doing anything this month though. I have to finish the bathroom or the mrs will kill me haha

[MarkBzero]

Sounds like an ambitious and expensive project. The problem with these cars they can be to light and you will have to factor some form of down force or risk losing at every bend. Keep us posted.

[speedtripledan]

My bike engined atomic weighed in at around 340kg apparently and that really was a bare basic car...

[brumster]

Sounds like a project with a mission! Anything possible, just depends how much $$$ you throw at it . As you rightly say, focus on some of the key points like engine, gearbox, diff and uprights/wheels should help get the weight down.

 

I like the engine suggestion good little characterful lumps.

[Mrbarry]

This is the problem, cost. I used to have a celica GT4 and I started off wanting a bit more power, £65k later I wrote it off at rockingham. Ouch. I always liked the idea of a zero because you can have loads of fun for little cost, yet I now find my self looking down the same road and I know where it will end up going :? That's just me though, I either don't bother or I go all out on a project.

[David S]

Welcome to the club. This all sounds very interesting, will be interesting to see how it pans out.