Weight Reduction 101

I plan on using this thread to update the status of my weight reduction efforts for my 2013 Mustang GT.  A lighter car will be faster and easier on drive-train parts.  My goal is to reduce weight, without affecting the overall appearance/quality/experience of the car.

Current Running Total of Weight Reduction

Phase 1 (Purchase - EOY 2016)- Complete

• Spare Tire - 34 lbs (free)
• Trunk Tools - 1.5 lbs (free)
• Factory jack - 3.5 lbs (free)
• Sound Experience Tube - 2 lbs (free)
• Axle Weights - 5 lbs (free)
• Boss Strut Tower Brace - 8 lbs (free)
• Factory Chassis Brace - 5 lbs (free)
• Sway Bar End Links/Misc Hardware - 5 lbs (free)
• BMR Cross Member - Swapped w/ Factory Radiator Cross Member - 16.5 lbs ($89.95)
• Factory Sway bar - 8 lbs (free)
  
  Phase 1 total:  88.5 pounds savings
  Total Cost:  $89.95

Phase 2 - (2017)

• *** Driver - 33 lbs (Free - losing 33 pounds by 4/1/17)
• Traded Axleback for Roush Axleback - 16 lbs (stock exhaust - 42 lbs - Roush 26 lbs)
• *** Corbeau FX1 driver's seat (non pro) - 49 lbs (stock seat - 78 lbs, Corbeau 29 lbs w/ bracket) - $430

Phase 2 Total:

Phase 2 total:  98 pounds savings
Total Cost:  $430


Running Weight Reduction Total:

BMR Radiator Support / Sway Bar Delete

The BMR Radiator Support / Sway Bar Delete shaves a lot of weight off of the nose of the car.  In my case, I was able to remove the factory sway bar (8 lbs), End links and hardware (5 lbs), chassis brace (5 lbs), and factory cross member (16.5 lbs).

The BMR piece weighs 5.5 lbs, for a total weight savings of 29 lbs.

Spare Tire/Jack/Tools Delete

The spare tire/jack/tools is usually an easy way to drop significant weight, without spending much $$$.

Pulling the trunk carpet, I found that the factory hold down for the spare tire actually holds the middle of the carpet/floor up in the trunk.  Uh oh, we'll address that later.

First up - the tools in the trunk weigh in at about 1.5 pounds

The factory jack weighs 3.5 pounds, we are already up to 5 pounds

The spare 18" wheel and tire weighs 34 pounds, for a total weight savings of nearly 40 pounds

The next issue to address was how to support the center of the trunk floor. I decided to try using a piece of PVC pipe, cut down to size, and reuse the factory tire hod down assembly.  It works great, looks clean, and weighs under a pound.  I put a shouldered nut on the top, with blue loctite to keep it from backing off.

I already had the PVC laying around, and as you can see the cut height isn't critical.  So for very little time and money, you can easily shave 40 pounds off your 2013 Mustang GT, and still have a fully functional rear trunk at your disposal.

Sound Experience Tube Delete

The sound experience tube weighed in at 1 pound 13 oz, we'll put this delete in the category of "Find 2 lbs in 100 places".

Axle Weights

The axle weights came off during the LCA bracket install.  These weighed 4 lbs 14 oz, so right at 5 pounds.  I did not notice any harmonics after removing them, even at freeway speeds.