Taking off the weight, what can I do?
 

I currently own a 79 4 dr 300d. I am looking to figure out ways to cut weight down. I was also thinking about selling my 300d and getting a 2 dr 300cd. I was told that would knock off 165lbs roughly. I have a complete euro 4 speed change over. Is there any weight savings in converting from auto to 4 speed? I came up with a few possibilities. I wouldn't want to change anything about appearance but less luxury is ok. Anyone got any more ideas? My end goal is to knock off 300-400lbs and switching to a 300cd to knock off 40-50% of my goal is very possible. This would lead to a little more performance out of the engine and better fuel mileage keeping my foot out of it. I drive like a granny normally

Take a/c out.
Euro bumpers
Switch to a 300cd
No sun roof car? Is that possible?
...?...?...?

why do you want to drop the weight?

If your not into luxuries you could toss out the seats as they are quite heavy, and bolt down some aluminum lawn chairs.

dang.... beat me to it...

carpet and speakers and spare tire.... ;) maybe dieting??? lose some weight in the drivers seat?:D

does it have alloy wheels? that might be a great place to lose some weight

how clever.
the 4 speed will make it feel 400 lbs lighter. if you want better performance and mpg, a maual cd would definitely be the way to go. but don't scrap the ac unless you live way north or have no body fat. clever stevo got one thing right, those seats are about way heavier than they need to be. if you get a chance to drive a manual cd, i'd check that out before i got to hackin stuff off the 4 door.

James May on Top Gear once tried to lighten a W123. I think it was the across Africa show.
As a child I used to have an electronic kit that allowed you to make all sorts of things. It got a bit boring so I used to see how many components could be removed and still have the thing work. It showed just how much unnecessary stuff was included.
You could just try taking things off & see if it still works. Stay away from the brakes!! :D

this thread has fail written all over it

Carpet, headliner, door cards, mufflers... Replace bumpers with nerf bars. Cut out sunroof and mechanism and weld in sheet metal or use fiberglass. Replace fuel tank with 3 gallon tank. Get a 190D 5-speed.

Sixto
87 300D

Put in a couple of Miata seats. that will save 40, remove the rear seat, 50. the stick tranny will save some too, maybe 40 or 50, go to a dinky spare, save 15, convert to manual steer about 15, remove ac maybe 50, go to 240 black aluminum wheels, save 16. remove hood pad, about 10, euro bumpers about 100 skinny 240d sized tires, about 20. straight pipe from middle muff back about 20.

After that I would stop.

That is about 366# I think. if you start with a coupe add a couple of hundred more. drive a coupe before buying though the seat sits quite differently thatn a sedan seat.

That was one of my favorite episodes of Top Gear. It was the Botswana special, and the best part was when they found a SPARE DOOR for the w123 in a very very very very remote african village. Think 6 inch lip rings, war paint, and the biggest luxury for fifty miles was water. Absolutely Brilliant!

What's going to keep the rain out if you pull the sunroof? If you're doing that, pull the glass too and go with goggles. Pull the hood and trunk lid, and spare too.

Take out the heater core and related electric fan/gadgetry. Also pull all the seats and carpeting and matting under the carpets, dashboard, hubcaps, exterior chrome trim. Replace driver's seat only with an '04 or newer E-Class driver's seat. The new ones have to weigh less than 30 year old ones.

MB has been decontenting their cars like crazy to CUT THE WEIGHT the past 30 years.

lol this thread is funny, Y u wanna drop weight???

Just had a similar discussion in OT the other day about the weight of the seats.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=286190

electric windows converted to manual?
convert the auto climate control to manual
put in recaro plastic race seats.

This could be the genesis thread for a 30 year old MB diesel dune buggy.