I just replaced my 11 pound motorcycle battery with a 1 pound Lithium-ion battery. Wow! What a difference in flat line cranking capacity. (Lead-acid battery power starts to trail off fairly rapidly). The big battery on the F-Type weighs 45 pounds and can be replaced with a 15 pound lithium battery with similar capacities. Additional weight savings available if you replace (or remove) the ECO battery. Here's the "but": $1600.

 

Here's another "but" - they are prone to catching fire. Here in Boeing country we are all too familiar with this trait. Google 787 battery fires for details.

 

How does that work in practice? Lithium ion batteries require special chargers and charge regimens that differ from lead acid?

 

The cases include the necessary electronics to enable compatibility with alternators and standard smart chargers.
http://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/products/12v-100ah-lithium-ion-battery/

 

Fuel tanks are are known to burst into flames as well. Poor design is always a concern.

 

Sometimes people just explode. Natural causes.

 

nice idea with the battery.

I tried to remove the water pump system for wipers on the rear end of the car to simplify it, my dealer strongly advised against it saying that if the car ever burned down, they could say it's because I messed with the water tank.


I am just going to settle for some HRE p101 wheels for now.

 

What? It's a washer system, not a damn fire sprinkler.

 

That's what you've been led to believe...

I think it's also part of the water injection system, right into the air intake. You know, that adds at least 25 hp...

 

That actually wouldn't be unreasonable.

 

ok... Then you'll want to use straight methanol in your washer bottles.

 

Well of course, like the old days

 

That's all I have to go by.

 

Anyone consider how much weight is saved when no one is actually in the car? Seriously if you are going to track car and want to spend money there a lots of ways to lighten cars. Of course they all void warranty, but I see plenty of guys out at Spring Mountain Motor Park with new high end cars set up for their track days. They usually have 2 setups, one for track, one for street. I'm talking Aston Martin's, Mclaren's, Vettes, XKR-S, and of course Lotus and Miata's. My favorite is a Veyron that only changes wheels and tires. Original set of tires is $25,000!

 

Anyone have any idea how these rims would be on the F Type?

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/19x8-5-19x9-5-MRR-GF7-5x108-Black-Wheel-fit-Jaguar-Volvo-Ford-set-4-/231730036760?nav=WATCHING_ACTIVE

Been looking at ways to reduce the weight of the F Type and the first place to start is unsprung weight.

These are listed at 26 lbs and 27 lbs for the front and back respectively, compared to my existing 19" Propellors, which are roughly 41 lbs.

 

Can't tell. They don't specify the offsets.

 

The wheels are always where I started for "lightening" on track days. Tires make the biggest difference anyway. I would also remove the passenger seat as well if I was getting serious and clear the airbag code later. Lightweight racing seats would be a great option it you don't mind the discomfort off the track, or don't mind swapping them back after the track day.

Honestly, I think that there is little point to weigh reduction beyond unsprung mass on this heavy beast of a car! I love it none the less. Better brakes and wheels/sticky tires would at least help keep the beast under control.

 

I have not tracked the car yet, but hope to do that this summer at Summit Point. Are the brakes truly inadequate for the task at hand?

 

I think that the "performance brakes" on this car are quite good compared to others and the various reviewers have agreed on this. There will be some serious fade, however, once the rotors are glowing red and the stock pads stop grabbing. You may have to brake a bit earlier at that point...

 

I'm a mere novice, but I was quite impressed by the brakes the one time I tracked mine. About **** myself when the instructor showed what the car could do. Only thing he didn't like were the P-Zeros.
http://www.gingermanraceway.com/about-track-maps.html