Will lightening a 1998 Firebird Formula make it handle better? I want my car to rip through the corners at autocrosses and prove a car with a solid rear axle can handle well. I figure a good place to start is by removing the back seats. How much do they weigh? Will this difference in weight distribution actually hurt me more? Is there a list somewhere of options and parts and how much they weigh?

 

Lighter weight will help handling, but not as much as a set of good shocks. There just isn't that much that can be lightened on our cars. The back seat can be taken out, but doesn't weigh much.

If you are starting out at autox, don't worry about lightening the car or modding it much until you have some seat time. An autox school will do more to cut lap times than anything you can bolt onto the car.

When you are ready to mod, pick a class (FS, ESP, SM or CP). In stock (FS) you can't change muchl just shocks, tires, brake pads and front sway bar. Many like Koni SA's and the 35mm ST front sway bar along with a sticky set of tires like Kuhmos or Hoosiers. Well driven FS cars are brutally fast on the autox course, despite the live axle.

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2001 Trans Am M6