Project Sabertooth

I will start by saying I suck at documentation, so bear with me.

About a 18 months ago I sold my 69 GTO ragtop that I had owned for about 10 years. It had morphed from a fairly original 2 owner car into more of a pro tour driver. Blown LS, custom coil overs at all 4 corners, big brakes, you know the drill. I was bored with the car. It was time for a change.

I bought a Porsche 993 C4 Cab. Beautiful car, drove well. Didn't scare me.

I stumbled on a 1960 Sunbeam Alpine that was being turned into sort of a race car. Small block Ford, T5 narrowed 9"....

I should have stuck with the original plan. HO 5.0, the T5 and an 8.8 with mustang front clip and 3 link rear.

Not known for going the easy route, I decided in for a penny, in for a pound. Custom rectangular tube frame, cut the body off the unit body frame. C5 cradles front and rear. LS1, TR6060 04 GTO center section, you get the picture.

Here are a few random shots of the progress.

Wow.  That ought to scoot.

Yes Yes Yes bring it!!!!

I bought a Porsche 993 C4 Cab. Beautiful car, drove well. Didn't scare me.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that this should solve that particular issue.

Are the flares VW fenders? 

I figure with an 87.5" wheelbase and about 400 hp, this one should scare me a bit.

This is the 69 GTO I did previously.

Too cool. Both of them!

The Alpine looks like a Hot Wheels in the best kind of way! I love it!

Do keep us in the loop on that one! 

If the IT Clown was a car.....

Fantastic project - how did you attach the body to that custom frame? (What was left after you cut off the unitized body?)

The current flares are VW fenders. I'm not in love with them at this point. I got some light cardboard to make templates out of, so we will see how that goes.

The outer shell is all that's left of the Sunbeam body. I will be fabricating everything on the inside.

Here is a better shot of the frame and body. I welded in new inner rockers to have a better base. Then added a 4 foot long 2x2 angle channel. I put 3 riv nuts into the outer rails on each side to bolt the angle channel to the frame. There will be 1/2" thick dense rubber pads between frame and channel to soak up some of the vbration

I have been making a bit more progress lately.

I did manage to create a lower radiator mount. Still not thrilled with the upper plate, I need to ponder on that a bit more.

I really started to work out the exhaust routing. This is a bit of a challenge due to the lack of ground clearance and tight spaces.

I ordered some SpinTech frame clearance 304 oval sections. Probably get the -pipe and mufflers ordered today.

We leave for SEMA tonight, maybe I can get seats and the HVAC stuff figured out and on the way while we are there.

This is amazing!

Like I said, I suck at keeping up with the documentation.

I got started mocking up the exhaust yesterday.

Spintech 304 oval tubing, transitioning to round at the Magnaflow X-pipe and back to oval under the axles into the Flowmaster laminar flow mufflers. The plan is to have v-band clamps just ahead of the axle to make removal much easier.

I also ordered seats while we were at SEMA. This is the style. Power backrest with adjustable lumbar. I am going red with SS grommets and black filler. like in the style like the black one.

I really have been making some progress.

I finished up the rear frame section and mounted the fuel tank.

I have been acquiring additions to my tool collection as you can see in one of the pictures.

The brake will be getting a workout in the near future.

Sunbeam hell. That's a Laser Beam if I ever saw one.

"I have been acquiring additions to my tool collection as you can see in one of the pictures."

uh.....let me guess...the crescent wrench??  

The pan brake, planish hammer and belt/disc sander are a few of the latest. I gotta relearn the english wheel and planish hammer.

Man this is great. Amazing work. following along 

Oh yeh, that thing is gonna look sick!

In because anything that sticks to the roof of the shop is gonna be quick.

Good Lawd

These new members are bringing the heat!

759NRNG said:

"I have been acquiring additions to my tool collection as you can see in one of the pictures."

uh.....let me guess...the crescent wrench??  

SAE or metric?

In reply to AngryCorvair :

Left Handed or Right?

Is it me or does this thread suck the ever livin' life outa the site???? Don't get me wrong, but half pics where I can't boost myself over the top of the fence to see, make for a very agitated boy.....cuz I'm diggin' the E36M3 outta this....