I have my first track day coming up in a few weeks, so I swapped out the Adaptive Sport Seats for the 996 GT3 Seats (elephant ears version). Not knowing the real weight of the two different seats, I weighed them and found that the *** weigh 65.4 lbs each, and the GT3 Seats weigh 33.4 lbs (including most of the 6 pt Harnesses) a savings of 32 lbs per seat.

The other weight savings comes in the form of some LW 18" Volk TE37 Wheels, the fronts (18 x 9) weigh 18 lbs each and the rears (18 x 11) are only 20 lbs each. The 19" Sport Design Wheels that I have weigh 24 lbs 3 oz (19 x 8) for the Fronts and Rears weigh 28 lbs 3 oz. The weight savings before tires is 28 lbs 12 oz. Since wheels are unsprung weight and 1 lb of unsprung weight is equal to 7 lbs of sprung weight the effective weight saves is 201 lbs 3 oz.

Total weight savings for these two items is 265 lbs, I guess I can now afford to go for a few beers and not worry about my buddy in his V8 M3 keeping up with me!

 

Awesome!

Did you go by the dealer to get the airbag light switched off when you changed out the seats?

 

I am going today, the Shop Forman is a part time instructor as well and he thinks the seats work well in the 997. I spoke to him on Friday and he gave me $hit for missing the first day of the year, until I told him it was my wedding anniversary.

The warning in no big deal, it is no different then the low fuel warning. I though it would be a bigger deal then it is.

 

very cool... taking out weight is even better than adding HP! Got the same seats in the RS, they just fit me...

 

Yeah, not much that you can to add a lot of HP on a NA car. The wheels are new to me, but the seats make a huge difference in the corners.

 

After your next track event, your wrists and left knee will thank you for your seat purchase.

 

Hey Ed, you compared your new wheels to Sport Designs, but I thought you had Carrera Classics for tracking. Have you posted any photos of your new track wheels? Actually, perhaps I can see them in real life this coming weekend when I'm up.

With all your weight savings, even though you had the GT seats last season, you should be able to stay ahead of your major competitors.

 

Yes I know, the seats were out for the winter. Huge improvement on the track.

 

Carrera Classics are the street wheels, they are about the same weight as the Sport Design. Sport Design will be for wet track days.

The wheels are at a tire shop, I left them there to get a few tires, rears are too small for the 997.

I am doing all I can to convert a E92 M3 (heavily modded) owner to the Porsche side, I think he will be buying a GT3 in the fall!

 

Could you post up some shots of your car once you have the TE37s mounted on?

 

I've now pulled the PCM/speakers and amplifier as well as the air conditioner and condensors. With euro GT3RS seats and my RS98 track wheels the car weighed 3050 with about ten gallons of gas in it. I've just ordered a light weight carpet kit and a light weight battery for the track season which should get me to a semi-dry weight under 2900 lbs. It feels lighter on the road.

 

Will do.

 

That is impressive, I may go a little further with weight reduction like this in the future. Thanks for sharing.

 

One of these days Ed, I expect your car will look closer to this one.

 

I would take a GT3 Cup car, lots of fun. I doubt my car will ever look like that.