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Does anyone out there own a stripped, lightweight SL55? How much have you managed to reduce the overall weight?
For some reason I have this sick idea to buy a cheap SL55, preferably one with some interior damage to get it cheap, completely strip it down to the bare bones and then mod it for the track. Interior stripped down to the bare metal, racing seat, stack cluster, and roll cage. Pull out all the folding top nonsense and bolt it down. All of the sound deadening around the car would go as well. Then just add some stiff suspension, big brakes and lightweight wheels and I'd be set.
You already have a CLK63 BS which is probably a better track car than a SL55 would ever be. BTW, you can't just stiffen the suspension. SL's have ABC. The SL65 BS sounds like what you want. Stripped down (somewhat), bolted down top and stiffened suspension with widebody kit. Not cheap though.
SL55 transmisison is not really suited for heavy track use either.
The first out of the gate will be Coast Chassis shop’s new flagship car, a 2006 Mercedes AMG SL55 with a Brad Anderson HEMI sitting between the framerails and a black PSI screw supercharger protruding out of the hood.
You already have a CLK63 BS which is probably a better track car than a SL55 would ever be. BTW, you can't just stiffen the suspension. SL's have ABC. The SL65 BS sounds like what you want. Stripped down (somewhat), bolted down top and stiffened suspension with widebody kit. Not cheap though.
SL55 transmisison is not really suited for heavy track use either.
So you can't rip out all the ABC mess and just bolt in standard coil over suspension? I admittingly have never looked under a SL with the wheels off.
I love the SLBS but that's unfortunately out of reach... the whole idea is to build a capable SL-based track car on the cheap.
In my fantasy land I'd rip out the stock slushbox for a Hewland LSG
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Originally Posted by clkwork
Does anyone out there own a stripped, lightweight SL55? How much have you managed to reduce the overall weight?
For some reason I have this sick idea to buy a cheap SL55, preferably one with some interior damage to get it cheap, completely strip it down to the bare bones and then mod it for the track. Interior stripped down to the bare metal, racing seat, stack cluster, and roll cage. Pull out all the folding top nonsense and bolt it down. All of the sound deadening around the car would go as well. Then just add some stiff suspension, big brakes and lightweight wheels and I'd be set.
Good idea or should I talk to a shrink?
I can provide a psychiatric referral if needed.
The SL55 is a great car. It is even great on a road course. But doing what you are thinking is similar to the Porsche 928 guys that insist on turning their cars into track cars. It may be an interesting exercise, but it's just not the best starting point. You would be far better off going a different route. But to each his own. This reminds me of the square peg, in a round hole analogy.
I think it's actually a great idea, I think KW already make coilovers for the SL (I'll have to check). You'd have to do extreme weight reduction. I'm thinking of doing this myself, just trying to decide if it's feasible or not which I suspect I won't be finding out very soon. The GT-R does seem like the most "efficient" way of making a track animal but it some how lacks a personality. I test drove one once and it was just stunning in terms or performance. The SL however is better looking, especially if you go for a widebody kit, it sounds better and I think has potential, but expect to pay money. Also plan out EVERYTHING before even getting the car, research, research, research.
I've been thinking about this for a long time. Why sell my SL for 25k, when I could just invest a little bit more to have a track car. For starters, I would just unbolt the roof (I wonder what I could get for my pano roof?) It would make designing a chromoly cage a whole lot easier. Tires, wheels, straight pipes, strip it, GO!!!!!
As far as brake upgrades go, you many not need one if you can strip an SL55 down to the bare bones and get the weight down by 1,000 pounds or so. The stock breaks would become even better.
...but I agree that the SL just is not a track car. You are better off buying a C55, throwing the blower on that, and stripping down the C class.
C55? Maybe a C63 but the C55 wasn't one of Mercs best chassis. The CLK wasn't a track car and they made the Black, yes lots of mods and different parts but the same chassis none the less. Now stripping an SL is different, I think that kills the car. Lightening but keeping the interior and all is good but stripping it like a Miata is blasphemy.
I'd love to hear more about your brake swap to traditional style hydraulic mastercylinders. Are there any options that adapt to firewall or you just throwing out OEM and fabricating from scratch the pedal box? I wouldn't do this to my prestine 18k mile SL, but you can get these as cheap as Miata now days....why not one for the boulevard and one for the track/canyon carving. I have caged, hard core cars with engines in back....but I still think a light weight SL would be really fun.
If you want to make Car fast, start with a Fast Car .
I completely agree ,look at the list of things these have already , RWD V8 Supercharged , huge brakes solid chassis .
Ive done this to mine and aim to make it Handle as well , ive not kept a log of how much weight ive shed but ive dumoed the interior , Carpet and original seats , fitted Recaro Mclaren Sports seats - these may have to be shed for even lighter ones one day , ABC kit is all dumped , Anti roll bars fitted, Fuel system re-located and upgraded , plenty more to do once finds allow as ive run out of coin for the moment .
I'd love to see how you made the custom mounts for the Tein Coilovers , ive been looking for an option for Coilover dampers- im currently on Bilsteins on mine .
Can you add any pics of them off and on the car please ?
Cheers
Tony
Glad to optimistically hear that the SBC can work when the hard parts are uprated. Obviously dumping weight is better than any brake kit alone. And the fact that I'm comparing the stock AMG setup to others in stabile with either GT2 brakes or ceramic Rotora Brakes on cars 1300lbs lighter is a tough swallow. Im still waffling between taking an SL down or building a CLK up. Swapping brakes and suspension just sound less failure prone than messing with German ECU's living in the middle of corn fields.
I love hearing ideas and what others are doing. The whole argument of these being big expensive GT cars held more truth when they were $100k and not price below a Mustang. I know in "numbers" these won't ever beat the GT2 on track or even a new GT500 or Z28. I just think its a fun project that could offer great fun and rewards. Can't be any siller than buying a new Miata and spending $20k in upgrades. The whole argument about "not an ideal chassis" for track times is a wash. For most of us hear as simply above average drivers, we would all just buy GTR's then. I know Id be faster in a GTR than my Porsches with nannys turned off or any rear drive Mercedes......just not the point for many.
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