300bhp in a kit car.

[dave364634]

Basically I have a huge (physically) V8 out of an 05 Mustang (~320 lbft).

I need something to stick it into. A Capri is to small, but a (fake) 7 should be ideal imo. I realise I may have to mod the;

chassis (IVA)
trans tunnel
anything in the way (servo/steering colume etc)
front bodywork

I want something for track use, and I want something cheap.

I'd be buying a second hand car.

But what are my options apart from Caterham/Westfield? I'd be driveing it to/from the track (I'm a novice).


Robin Hood (the ph read up on these is not good!)
MK
Mev Exocet

etc.....


Thanks.

[dave364634]

also if i alter the chassis enough to require an ive recheck, do they just check the chassis, or the whole car?

ta.

[slomax]

Ginetta G27?

you might struggle with a 7 as they are very narrow but it's probab;y been done. Doubt you could squeeze one in an exocet as they are designed for a boggo MX5 lump, although i may be wrong. You may find that such a big heavy engine is not as fast or rewarding as a very light, very powerful modified bike or car engine that is more responsive and gives loads of revs. The more expensive kits like Ultima, GD etc are ideally suited to big powerful engines, but they come at a price. Bang for buch, people ussually find lightness is key to everything.

[dave364634]

the engine is ~30".

i think i've seen jag v12's in them (7's).


the g27 is to expensive (£7+k).

i want to spend £3 - £6.5k.


ta.

[dmulally]

Hi,

I would head over to locostbuilders or locostusa forums and put up a post about it. If you search around you will see guys that will build you a chassis for your engine.

Otherwise, perhaps study up and look at building one yourself. If you have your heart set on a kit, MNR are quite approachable.

[dave364634]

engine size (H D W) is;

27 1/8" 689mm
23 5/8" 600mm
26 5/8" 676mm

[Wanchaiwarrior]

Yup, head over to locostbuilders.co.uk and look for threads by a bloke called bj928..........he was puuting a Viper engine into a Luego Viento chassis. Think he stopped it though. Would be worth a read.

HTH

Jamie

[Furyblade_Lee]

I remember Mark Fisher of Fisher Sports Cars SVA'ing a Dax Rush with 5.7 Chevy in . So it can be done, however Mark told me the handling was awful due to massive weight distribution issues and the torque made it very difficult to drive fast and smooth. Only his opinion, but one i'd respect.

[Jerkins]

A Luego Viento would probably swallow it up with no problems! It's like a '7' on steroids...



It's still in proportion though, so its size isn't obvious until you put a 'normal' 7 alongside.

I've had a close look at one with a Rover V8 in it, and there's a fair bit of space all around. How big is your engine in comparison to a RV8?

BTW: The one with a Dodge Viper engine uses a highly modified Viento chassis - really not 'out of the box'. He stopped building it because he got a job in the USA, so couldn't continue. It was a ridiculous beast though...

[jason61c]

why not get a smaller lighter engine that makes the same power?

[dave364634]

because i have already got/paid for the engine.

here is a picture of it next to a sbf 302.



is the Luego Viento road legal? according to the site it says,

"Based on a standard 'Seven' chassis the car is for track use only and not designed for passing the IVA inspection."

ie not road legal????

does anyone have any kitcar forums with a for sale section?

ta.

Edited by dave364634 on Tuesday 1st March 19:34

[MKnight702]

Why not drop it in a MG ZT.

For 3.5-6K there aren't many kits that you could do the amount of modification to make an engine that wide fit into and still come in on budget.

[dave364634]

i want to spend <£6k on a registered car, then fit the engine.

[hairykrishna]

How about a cobra? Ideal match for that lump. Plenty of unfinished ones knocking about on eBay;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ac-cobra-replica-unfinished-...

[Jerkins]

dave364634 said:

is the Luego Viento road legal? according to the site it says,

"Based on a standard 'Seven' chassis the car is for track use only and not designed for passing the IVA inspection."

ie not road legal????

How odd! I have seen many of these fully road-legal, having passed SVA (as was). IVA isn't THAT much different. Here's another example (my Locost is the yellow/silver thing, and the Viento is the black beast next to it).

/

Eureka! I see your problem!

I just looked at their website - they have a track car (normal 7-sized) which is for track use only. apart from that they have some other cars, including the Viento, which IS for road use.

Edited by Jerkins on Tuesday 1st March 20:00

[Steve_D]

You would be best to find a second hand Luego or part built.
I stand to be corrected but believe Luego have ceased trading.

Steve

[jason61c]

Have a look at locost builders.

[dave364634]

hairykrishna said:

How about a cobra? Ideal match for that lump. Plenty of unfinished ones knocking about on eBay;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ac-cobra-replica-unfinished-...

i have been laughed off the cobra forum for thinking it would fit, or that cobras are cheap. basically it wouldn't be finicially (sp?) worth it.

[dave364634]

actually, if that cobra's goes cheap.........

[Steffan]

Nice project whatever you do make sure the Chassis is strong enough and well suspended enough to stand the power.

I have driven a number of outright dangerous V8 RobinHood/Locost/
Locust/Sevenesque kit cars with V8 engines shoved in.

One Dutton was still on DRUM BRAKES.

Frankly unless you really attend to the suspension design and ability of the chassis to deal with the torque and power this could be a very unrewarding drive. The Dutton with old escort fittings was unsafe at any speed.

But it can be done although I think using Jaguar subframe assemblies is a much better bet on such a car. But these will not fir sevens..

I agree with the Cobra suggestions but realistically getting this through SVA will be a challenge. Finishing unfinished kit cars is fraught with problems.

But it can be done good luck to you.