The US spec VIII's have a 100+ pound anti-intrusion bar in the front fascia. So far as I can tell the Euro ones do not, but they have the same fascia. So it seems that removing the bar would still leave the fascia with secure mounting points. Anyone thinking about improving their weight balance by taking it out?

 

Nope, no pics as yet, still an Evo drought down here in FL. Going by things I have read in Car and evo magazine, where they are talking about the differences between the US and Euro spec cars.

 

if you are going for weight savings, there is more than likely one in the rear for 50lbs, front 50lbs and the doors for 20lbs each....of course you better hope like hell you don't get hit.

would be a great idea if it were a track only car with a full rollcage and door bars to protect you.

 

whats the usual wheight to ET comparison? losing 100lbs lowers the ET by 1/10 a sec?

 

10 pounds is approximately effectively 1 HP.

Loosing 100 pounds would effectively net you approximately 10 HP.

Also good motivation to loose that extra 10 pounds around your gut if you've got it.

 

What happens if you have a brain fade and you bump something with the nose or worse some idiot in an SUV backs into your nose. With out the bar the intercooler is going to get smoked.

Is that something you want to risk? Not me...I'll lose weight else where like myself. Although, I can't lose 100lbs then I'll weight 60lbs. Now that would be bad.

 

Well, if your going to go to the track.. Take the rear seat out, the passenger seat, spare and jack.. you can lose about of 150lbs.. Not sure if the trunk lid on the EVO is steel or aluminum, but I've seen carbon fiber, and Glass Fiber trunk lids for the Lancer, for drag racing, you really don't need the wing either.. so if you want to do some drag racing, you can remove the trunk lid for the day and put a CarbonFiber or Fiberglass lid on without the wing.. Aside from aligning the lid..its actually a quick swap..

We do that in our cars, anything that is easy to remove, we take out for track testing.. I even have a friend who removed all of the Jute (sound and heat insulation) and carpeting from his car.. but damn it got hot in there.. This was on a different car than the evo obviously..

 

Thing is this, MalibuJack is making a good point.

Day to day drivers should be concerned about safety because people are idiots on the street. If you remove your rear bar, lowering the stability/strength of the car, you could get some serious damage. I bet even, if you got hit and someone got hurt, if it was discovered that you removed the bar, you could be sued.

Track=Do watcha want.
Street=Be safe first. Going a 100th faster, being unsafe doesn't make sense.

Hobie helped me with understanding this exact situation....

 

HEY!! how'd you find out about my little gut!

 

That's easy we're in America! Land of the Fat and Free.

 

While I plan on running in Stock for autocross initially, Street Modified may be a possibility down the road, and for that, I would certainly consider dumping some of the extra bumper reinforcements. Would be nice if removal turns out to be quick and simple -- take it off the night before an event and slap it back on after...

JW