Over 200!

[flyin6]

In my constant quest to squeeze a little more power from the engine and reduce the weight of the Escalade, today I removed the entire roof rack system. It weighed 15.5 pounds and that put the total weight I have removed to almost 202 lbs!

 

Gotta say, this thing runs great and feels fairly nimble for being a large SUV

Running Boards -45.6 -45.6

 

Stock exhaust manifolds

 

& Y-Pipe -55.0 -100.6

 

Headers & Y-Pipe +38.6 -62.1

 

Jack and base assembly -10 -72.1

 

Spare tire and wheel -71 -143.1

 

Spare tire hoist -7.8 -150.9

 

Exhaust shield (spare) -0.5 -151.4

 

Catalytic converters -4.0 -155.4

 

Short tail pipe section -0.5 -155.9

 

Tow Hitch and hardware -30.6 -186.4

 

Roof rack and cross bars -15.5 -201.9

[Snow White]

you took out the cats? thats pretty illegal, i'm guessing you don't have inspection in your state?

[flyin6]

you took out the cats? thats pretty illegal, i'm guessing you don't have inspection in your state?

 

 

Actually I use either cat or no cats. No cats for some upcoming drag strip testing.

Kentucky used to inspect, but no longer

[tanked_darren]

Yeah all it would take is one human body to fill that wieght gap you created

 

 

J/K good job.

[flyin6]

Yeah all it would take is one human body to fill that wieght gap you created

 

 

J/K good job.

 

 

Yea but I can carry that human for free now

[marine_devildog801]

Decided whether or not you will cut/grind/build and replace?

[flyin6]

Decided whether or not you will cut/grind/build and replace?

 

 

Yep, probably a combination of all of the above.

 

At the moment I'm looking into aluminum driveshafts, a performance converter, and 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

 

After evaluating the whole project I decided it must remain all wheel drive. When I cam and supercharge the motor there is no way two rear tires will hold all that power, it will need at least one in the front to keep from turning around everytime I hit the throttle.

[tanked_darren]

yeah aluminium driveshaft is a good one! Surprised you haven't done that yet!

[jim brock]

Since you have gone this far, consider removing the stock fuel tank and replace with a fuel cell. You can always carry extra fuel if traveling any distance. Be sure to check effects of this modification on electronic engine management systems beforehand. What you are doing may not seem productive to some, but it is interesting. Can't wait to see what you will remove next...

[flyin6]

Since you have gone this far, consider removing the stock fuel tank and replace with a fuel cell. You can always carry extra fuel if traveling any distance. Be sure to check effects of this modification on electronic engine management systems beforehand. What you are doing may not seem productive to some, but it is interesting. Can't wait to see what you will remove next...

 

 

The fuel tank on this thing is plastic, so no weight savings to be had there.

 

I think the driveshaft is the next best thing to go after. If Avalanche's with 4WD come with a factory aluminum shaft, then it should fit. I have no idea why Caddy replaced a aluminum shaft with a steel one.

 

Anyone out there with a 6.2 have an aluminum shaft?

 

I seem to remember that my Sierra Denali with the 6.2 had an aluminum shaft going back and a steel one going forward.

[Wingnut]

Decided whether or not you will cut/grind/build and replace?

 

 

Yep, probably a combination of all of the above.

 

At the moment I'm looking into aluminum driveshafts, a performance converter, and 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

 

After evaluating the whole project I decided it must remain all wheel drive. When I cam and supercharge the motor there is no way two rear tires will hold all that power, it will need at least one in the front to keep from turning around everytime I hit the throttle.

 

 

Nah. As heavy as that pig is, and as much tire as you have room for, it would be fine. I'm putting more to the ground in my GTO than a supercharged Denali will, and I get by. AWD with enormous power would be sweet though.

 

As for weight, lightweight wheels would make quite a bit more difference than removing roof racks and the cats.

[Egghaus]

You can remove the 2nd battery a guy on performancetrucks weighed his at 3 lbs. You could also debadge and demold the truck. FYI you could also check Suburbans/Yukon XLs for the aluminum DS since they are the same chassis.

[[email protected]]

A battery,....weighing only 3lbs......you got to show me where these magical batteries are.

[Wingnut]

Several places make racing batteries, but I wouldn't put them in my truck.

[flyin6]

Decided whether or not you will cut/grind/build and replace?

 

 

Yep, probably a combination of all of the above.

 

At the moment I'm looking into aluminum driveshafts, a performance converter, and 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

 

After evaluating the whole project I decided it must remain all wheel drive. When I cam and supercharge the motor there is no way two rear tires will hold all that power, it will need at least one in the front to keep from turning around everytime I hit the throttle.

 

 

Nah. As heavy as that pig is, and as much tire as you have room for, it would be fine. I'm putting more to the ground in my GTO than a supercharged Denali will, and I get by. AWD with enormous power would be sweet though.

 

As for weight, lightweight wheels would make quite a bit more difference than removing roof racks and the cats.

 

 

 

How could a supercharged GTO put more power to the ground than a 6.2 powered truck?

 

Granted there may be a bit more parasitic loss from the truck drivetrain, but the L92/LS3 will make a lot more power than your LS2 powered GTO. I may be mistaken, but your GTO is a LS2 correct?

 

The new rectangle port heads on the 6.2L L92 breathes whole bunch more than the earlier LS2 heads. I believe the trucks would put down a great more power to the ground than a GTO given the same mods, i.e. cams and blower. No putdown intended what so ever, just using logical reasoning.

 

Granted that GTO will be about an eight mile ahead of a similiarily built truck in the quarter, but in the dyno wars where weight does not matter, you might be surprised.

 

The wheels are a good idea and will get replaced, but a bit too expensive at the moment. Looking at the stock Esky 22" wheels, they have a semi hollow spoke design which looks like they might have been paying attention to weight right from the beginning!