ClubRoadster.net banner

The Blackbird Fabworx Time Attack Build - Creampuff

267K views 1K replies 209 participants last post by  hotrod59 
#1 · (Edited)
Guess it's time for me to start a build log for the new Blackbird Fabworx NB project.

Purpose of the build -
Creating a fun track day car that showcases some of the capabilities of Blackbird Fabworx.
Weapon of choice is a 2002 NB with the VVT, 6 speed, 3.9 Torsen, sport brakes etc..
This car is not intended to be used in competition but may be legal for some series like NASA super touring, instead, it will be remain a two seater to allow fun rides, instructing and possibly test drives for potential BFW customers.

Build plan -
The construction of the car will be broken into a few major phases and constant development on things that don't keep the car from heading out to the track.
Power level will be kept decidedly low, with the potential to have other drivers on board there's no need to increase the level of difficulty of driving the car.

Phase 1 - The initial diet of removing unnecessary stuff from the car includes gutting the interior, ditching the AC, PS, stock exahust from the downpipe back, chopping of select body panels and eliminating all glass from the car.
Then the tub will be partly seam welded.
Major fabrication items for this phase are a full cage, seat mounts, new exhaust system, custom coolant reroute, front panel / wind deflectorand a very minimal interior.
The car will be getting a bit of mechanical refresh - fluids, brake pads, hoses, lightweight flywheel and some more.
New suspension and wheels are of course in the order as well, more about it later.

Phase 1 is scheduled to be concluded in roughly two months and the plan is to hit the track on the beginning of december.

Phase 2 - The secondary diet is about to shed a lot more weight from the car, this will involve cutting good amounts of sheet metal off the car and replacing it with lighter items such as Carbon doors.
Removal of dead weight from wiring, tubular subframes and more.
This is also where aero development will come into play, the car will be getting a full makeover though the details will remain in the dark until there's a car to show, but trust me that this car will not be the standard splitter and wing affair ;)...

Phase 3 - Finally the motor will get some love to increase power levels by many additional ponies, not the kind that eats hay in the field, we're talking about ones that like their steak medium-rare.
Expect insanity at it's finest.

Here are some before shots, taken two days ago -






And here she is as of yesterday -



Stay tuned, this page is about to get exciting :twisted:

Moti @ Blackbird Fabworx
 
See less See more
4
#42 ·
More like, not available at all.
I custom ordered 15x8 Kosei K1Racing and it took some months to get...

Heh, the top of the line suspension setup of the time was Advance Design shocks with ground control coilover perches and spring.
I remembered it costing an earth shaking ~$2k and it seemed like a huge lump, forget about todays Motons and Ohlins or anything like that.. :lol:

Moti
 
#43 ·
It still amazes me the sheer number of available parts that are available now vs. 10 years ago for reasonable money. I remember setting my car up with suspension and one of the best, readily available and affordable options is considered a band aid now.
 
#50 ·
Honestly, the road to 411 Lbs. isn't _that_ glamorous.
Take out the interior to the point that you only have the pedals, steering column and the wiring electronic mess left, everything from the trunk, top, A/C, P/S mirrors and muffler.
Bam, you're at 411.
I haven't even cut a single thing off the car yet, it's only bolts and nuts so far.

However, the road to 600 does get a bit more creative.
Definitely involving good use of grinders and the plasma cutter to get there...
Some of the major items are still untouched, the car still has all the door glass in it with the mechanism for example.
I bet I still have 70 Lbs. in the doors alone.


Moti
 
#51 ·
I would bet on 70 lbs from the doors. I pulled 50+ from my NA doors and there was more that could be taken out, and those NB doors w/ Bose have more weight in them than mine did.

windshield and A-pillar have got to be quite a good amount as well. I've never seen anyone actually document what chopping the windshield off saves in lbs - this would be a cool bit of data to get when you get around to that!

-Ryan
 
#57 ·
So, it was time to bust out some cutting tools and go for it.
Started by removing the windshield itself, went the whole way around with the removal tool, nice and smooth.
With 6" of cutting left to go, splat!
windshield cracked a nice big crack all the way from the lower right side to the top left... :oops:
I was hoping to salvage it and sell it but what can you do.
NB windshield with mirror = 20 lbs.

Then I busted out the plasma cutter -




I was hoping this will be a chunky piece, but it turns out that it's only about 13.5 Lbs.
A bit lighter than expected, but then I got to the doors.

Holy smokes, NB doors are heavy, much heavier than NA.
But with the correct attitude you show the doors who's boss and blam - 82 Lbs. came out of the doors alone.
Yeah!


By the time the rest of the pieces that I removed today went on the scale, total weight removed has gone up to a healthy 550 Lbs.
Serious business.



My 600 target looks mighty close.
I'm pretty sure that 585-590 will be pretty easy, but from there on there's a bunch of little stuff that takes time.
However, looking at what I have left in it I'm pretty sure that there's at least 100 Lbs _more_ after the 600 mark is hit, but I'll save those for phase 2.

Moti
 
#61 ·
so...is the target 600 before or after you put some things back?


Also, I am pretty sure a nicely done wiretuck (phase 2 in general really) will net you some good gains weight wise.

I would assume you are aiming for more than 600 really so that you can end up there after the cage, seat, and fenders are put back on.
 
#64 ·
so...is the target 600 before or after you put some things back?


Also, I am pretty sure a nicely done wiretuck (phase 2 in general really) will net you some good gains weight wise.

I would assume you are aiming for more than 600 really so that you can end up there after the cage, seat, and fenders are put back on.
I'm looking to lose as much as possible within a reasonable amount of work at this phase, simply because I do have a time frame that I'd like to stick to.

My initial goal was to lose 600 before the cage and seats go in, which will put me at roughly 450-470 lbs. lighter than before after it's all done.
Not too shabby considering I have yet to take any measures such as purchasing a lightweight trunk lid or fenders.
BTW, I only weigh stuff that isn't going back on the car, so things like the fenders that were temporarily removed or the stock intake were never factored into the total.

Of course, I won't be too sad if I got 620 out of there during phase 1...

Phase 2 is all about the things that take a bunch of time to do like you said the wiring harness and such.
There's definitely more in there, but it does require a good bit of time to get done.

I'll take a pic later of the fender gap, it's hilarious!
With all the weight removed you can stick a cup of coffee between the rear fender and the tire :lol:.

Moti
 
#65 ·
Moti, I am sure you have dealt with this multiple times..but how do you remove that crap on the floor board and transtunnel? its like rubber/sticky stuff and I think it used to block heat. It looks ugly as **** as my insulation stuck to it and now my shoes dig into it when driving.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top