Hey guys I need some help... ive been looking into weight savings and etc and besides striping everything out of the cab and all the fun that is I was wondering how much of a difference it actually makes too go from steel too a full sized fiber glass body? keep in mind this would be for a 69 charger ive been interested in

how much weight would I save using fiber glass compared too the original body weight

is fiber glass something that's durable and will actually last for say 15 or more years after being painted and etc?

thanks in advance for the help

 

What are you building the car for ??? The fact that it is a unibody IT needs that metal body shell. A switch to fiberglass would not make that much difference. There are two types Most of which is race weight. durable Fiberglas is twice as heavy and almost as heavy as the stock fenders and such

 

im building it as a fun classic that will see alot of street time along with some strip time too I was just wondering if the weight saving would be worth while for a fiberglass hood and panels and etc

 

Mopar B-Body Performance Upgrades - Andy Finkbeiner

The book is awesome! Includes a section on weight reduction in B-Bodies.

From switching drum brakes to disc, seats, wheels, front suspension, driveshaft, brake booster etc.. includes the weight differences on most of the part changes.

One could easily and relatively cheap remove 200+ lbs from a B-Body.

 

I was hoping that I could try and get the car down the 3500 pound mark with a new 6.1 hemi and the 5 speed Im hoping that with the weight savings will obviously help with the overall performance but help with gas mileage as well the new hemis are capable of 20 MPG so my thoughts are if I can get the 6.1 hemi with the 5 speed I could have a fun iconic American muscle with the new area technology why not do it? and im in the process of getting my ASE master certification right now too so I know stuff when it comes too tearing down a car along with im currently Working on getting AWS certification in welding too so hopefully I can fabricate a lot of my own stuff soon enough and save a lot of money in the process

 

and with more searching I found some specs for a 69 charger but the weight seems a little low too me... can anyone confirm this?


1969 Dodge Charger: Specifications

• 1969 Dodge Charger 500 Hemi
• Wheelbase: 117.0 in.
• Weight: 3671 lb.
• Price: $4641
• Engine: ohv V-8
• Displacement: 426 cid
• Fuel system: 2 x 4 bbl.
• Compression ratio: 10.25:1
• Horsepower @ rpm: 425 @ 5000
• Torque @ rpm: 490 @ 4000
• Representative performance
• 0-60 mph: 5.7 sec.
• 1/4 mile: 13.48 sec. @ 109.0 mph

 

If you have ever worked with fiberglass its a night mare, If you do go all fiberglass your car when finished will be worthless to any buyer, unless for a full drag car. You will need to run a full tube chassis then stick the body on it. I would keep the car all steel, besides where you gonna find a fiberglass body at. I have seen the fenders which look and fit like trash..

You need to re-group your thoughts on this, My buddies 69 all steel, glass hood and bumpers only, chrome molly tube chassis

 

My 69 Charger wears a fiberglass hood and all the aluminum goodies on the B/RB and weighs 3998# with me in it and a half tank of gas (I weigh 165). The 'glass hood can be lifted with one hand, it's that light.

 

I can understand wanting to lighten the car. Aluminum engine components will help. Changing to fiberglass fenders/hood/doors may work, but as stated, they often have poor fit. They are intended for race cars. The panel gaps are inconsistant and they often lack the factory mounting tabs. If you are firm on the decision, you could certainly spend the time to modify the panels to achieve a better fit.
I'm no fan of adding weight to a car, but I'd rather have a car that performs well and is comfortable to be in. I recently added over 60 lbs of sound deadening material to quiet much of the drone and vibration.

 

thanks for the help guys but sadly the charger was sold before I could get my hands on it but the info is really useful considering I plan on buying another Dakota soon for a strip build

 

Sounded alot like a funny car to me...Bill

 

I own the 1970 B body charger with the 440. A good general rule of thumb for weight savings on a quarter mile is for every 100 pounds the car loses on average youll get your car a tenth of a second faster. As for a fiberglass convo I see a good amount of weight loss.

 

I do agree with purple hornet though man you should put that money towards performance modifications not to mention the work you would have to do.

 

The best stock quarter mile time I found for the hemi was only 14.25 on the quarter but I may be wrong.

 

These where Real tire friers back in the day !!!!!
There E.T.'s did there MPH no justice...

 

I know back in the day these cars suffered from poor tires back in the day and I don't think the suspension technology was there back in the day compared too now same with tires but the fiberglass has been a help i'll play around with it some more and see what could be replaced on these cars and just on cars and trucks in general and yeah no bill its not a funny car build just something I was curious about

 

So something you guys may find interesting I talked with some guys that work in the auto body shop here at the college and granted this is for a 99 Dakota rt but I was looking into the fiberglass molds they have done and after talking too some of the guys that work on fiberglass alot they brought up that working with a fiberglass hood and fenders etc would be worth it in weight savings and could be built too last as well might be something too look into I mean weight savings is worth it if you're looking too go faster fiberglass is worth it also the Dakota will probably either be getting a 383 big block or a new modern hemi in it as well just food for thought thanks for all the info too

 

Dom is right on with the correlation. I remember an old Hot Rod article. It involved a very large 472 c.i. cadillac and a closed track. First run was slow, but they started cutting this thing up. First 100 lbs. 1/10 sec. 200 lbs. 2/10's so on and so on. In the end all that was left was a frame with a drive line and seats. With no changes to the engine car was running 12 second 1/4 mile times in the end.

 

I believe that dropping a 100 pound shaves 1/10 second of the car honestly look at Hondas and imports I hate too say but power too weight is a big factor just at modest Honda (I hate Hondas) but with only 300hp out of there little 4 bangers they are well into the 10s with an all motor build I plan on building another dodge Dakota rt build and I will build a big block for it but trust me I will do fiberglass molds for the weight savings too help my times