... Well I guess that lack of messages here means that you can't improve Rovers! Ha!

Actually there is one thing, but it's not a mod I've done. It's a dream mod. One that can't ever happen though.

I've always wished that they could seriously reduce weight. I don't mean aluminum body panels here and there. I mean some serious redesigning. New materials, different ways of constructing certain parts. Shave a few pounds here and there, and it adds up. And what does it result in? Better handling, better braking (or rather, shorter braking distance), faster 0-60 (or 0 to anything), more payload capability, less fuel consumption = less gas bill, less fuel consumption = better for the environment. I'm sure there are some offroad advantages too, but I've never gone offroading, so I don't know anything about that. Well for example, you can probably go farther on one tank.

An example I'm really proud of - but you'll probably hate me for saying this - is Subaru. They spend a lot of time reducing weight - while keeping incredible crash ratings. They shaved off enough weight to be over 200 lbs. less than their direct competitor, the BMW X5. It resulted in much better power to weight ratios and 0-60 scores. Jaguar has that all aluminum structure - which I guess isn't suitable for offroad use because it's not brute strength - but it's something like 40% lighter yet 60% stiffer than before, which is all good.

Can you imagine a RR under 5000 lbs.? It'd be like strapping a rocket to a bird, or more like a bird to a rocket.

The only part where money is lost is in the office - they have to spend time and money on this, valuable research time, which is exactly why I don't think this will ever happen. But I can dream .

 

aluminun is still good for body panels. hell i heard Hummers (real ones) are aluminum bodied, also the original LRs were mostly made of aluminum, due to post war steel shortages in Britan.

 

I took off the rear step, the rear resonater, the running boards, factory hitch (my bumper i built w/ hitch weighs less than the stock bumper and hitch) and it was a heavy load, i would guess around 300lbs.

 

damn. im going to have to request that you share what else you've done.

 

if you guys have DIYs that need to be put up with more pictures than the forum will let you, i can help!

 

[sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif]Remove weight from a Land Rover you say????[sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif]


---Is it even possible????



[hr]

Roger
Luke AFB
Arizona

1999 Disco One

 

Land Rovers still have aluminum body panels. Go walk around your Rover with a magnet...

 

Rhondo,
Yes they still have some aluminum panels, everything but the door skins and the roof.
Mike

 

why bother? just get a blower for it & you are set!
power to weight ratio immediately improved...

 

until you blow an already weak head gasket. Besides, you can buy a lot of gas for the cost of a blower that won't improve it that much..