Building your own car, where to start?
Discussion
I've been thinking about kit cars for some time, and always assumed I'd like a 7 type car... but things have changed recently.
I want a Ferrari... well not a Ferrari, but a replica, but not a wheezy little 4pot turbo, and not a 360 on a 406 coupe body.
I was thinking using a mid mounted v8 (like the real thing) but a chevy small block V8. The way I see it, if I were to use the middle section of an mr2 for roof, windscreen, door mounts, interior etc, I could have a space frame made up for the front and rear. The have the 355 rep panels fitted to that.
The idea is to go drag racing, so road legality isn't likely to happen, but I'd get the lines (almost) of a F355, and the grunt of a classic yank motor. Perfect mix as far as I'm concerned.
Any ideas how I could mate a yank engine to a mid mounted set up? I presume using an ultima/radical or similar rear section (this is the system they use right?)
I know a few of you have scratch built cars (like Andygtt and the zonda chap) and they are mid mounted, but v12's. Anyone done similar with a v8?
What are your thoughts on this project? Seems awesome to me (but then I'm a bit biased!
I want a Ferrari... well not a Ferrari, but a replica, but not a wheezy little 4pot turbo, and not a 360 on a 406 coupe body.
I was thinking using a mid mounted v8 (like the real thing) but a chevy small block V8. The way I see it, if I were to use the middle section of an mr2 for roof, windscreen, door mounts, interior etc, I could have a space frame made up for the front and rear. The have the 355 rep panels fitted to that.
The idea is to go drag racing, so road legality isn't likely to happen, but I'd get the lines (almost) of a F355, and the grunt of a classic yank motor. Perfect mix as far as I'm concerned.
Any ideas how I could mate a yank engine to a mid mounted set up? I presume using an ultima/radical or similar rear section (this is the system they use right?)
I know a few of you have scratch built cars (like Andygtt and the zonda chap) and they are mid mounted, but v12's. Anyone done similar with a v8?
What are your thoughts on this project? Seems awesome to me (but then I'm a bit biased!
Why not come along to Stoneleigh there's so many cars on show there to look at and we'll have something you might like to consider too though it's not V8, it's a 4 pot we've got on show but V6 can go and V8s are possible too.
400bhp per tonne from a 4 pot though is plenty we think though
and it goes round corners very nicely
400bhp per tonne from a 4 pot though is plenty we think though
and it goes round corners very nicelyCutting and shutting would be a waste of time to me. If all you want to do is go drag racing and never see the road, why bother with all that heavy bodywork? Just get a spaceframe made up, and chuck a big blown V8 and auto box in the back. It'll be quick but won't ever make it onto the road.
IF you want it to see the road at all, then I would suggest a similar route, but with a different start design. For the drag strip you only want 1 seat, but for the road that would be a bit limited for the type of car it sounds like you want. You would also want sound proofing, a bigger fuel tank, different brakes and so on. Although I would say that they're aren't many Ferrari reps for a reason. Getting it to look and sound right is hard, and Ferrari will sue you if it does!
IF you want it to see the road at all, then I would suggest a similar route, but with a different start design. For the drag strip you only want 1 seat, but for the road that would be a bit limited for the type of car it sounds like you want. You would also want sound proofing, a bigger fuel tank, different brakes and so on. Although I would say that they're aren't many Ferrari reps for a reason. Getting it to look and sound right is hard, and Ferrari will sue you if it does!
You can buy a real Ferrari F355 for about £26K now (my friend sold his stunning one for £29K last year, FOOOOOL!), so those £20K MR2's seem even more pointless to me now!!
If want a drag car only, i would start with someting like an Proven Ultima Chassis with LS power, and then get some fibreglass F355 panels bonded to it . Would it work? No idea.
BTW the cheapest was for 10 second pass and adrenalin rush on the 1/4 mile is £4K of superbike....
If want a drag car only, i would start with someting like an Proven Ultima Chassis with LS power, and then get some fibreglass F355 panels bonded to it . Would it work? No idea.
BTW the cheapest was for 10 second pass and adrenalin rush on the 1/4 mile is £4K of superbike....
It doesn't matter what you build; BEC, V8, V12, super car, or 7. The key thing is do the research. Visit the shows, visit the factories, talk to the builders, get a drive in the serious contenders and make sure you know exactly what you're going to get for your money.
If you list all the fors and againsts for each car/manufacturer something will start to look good.
Even then it will cost double your budget and take twice as long to build as the manufacturer's manual tells you.
That said, it should be more fun to drive than you could ever have imagined.
Regards
Bill Bob
If you list all the fors and againsts for each car/manufacturer something will start to look good.
Even then it will cost double your budget and take twice as long to build as the manufacturer's manual tells you.
That said, it should be more fun to drive than you could ever have imagined.
Regards
Bill Bob
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