FWD Ghetto-cet

I may have a spare BG chassis with front end damage fall into my lap for free. I have an immediate use for the doors, hatch and windshield. The remaining working lights and non-damaged fender would join the spares pile.

All of that being said, the spares pile has an extra rad support, radiator, all the front suspension bits, hub, etc to make this car run again. With scrap currently being so low, there's nothing but time and the cost of fluids to lose.

I'm wondering how flexy a BG chassis would be without doors, a hatch or glass. And how much lift off over steer welding a piece of rebar to serve as a massive rear sway would cause. Weight wise without doors, glass and hatch, with the carpet, speakers, rear seats, sound deadening it should easily come in under 1700lb.

How incredibly dumb is this? (Please note even this would not see the street nor any sanctioned track days), but it could be fun here: secret PA "track" location (edit I made the video public for viewing)

public relink

I don't have any answers to your questions, but I can think of worse ways to spend your time. Mame sure to post videos when done.

Sounds like it's time to test the theory.

Sounds like fun. Aero would be awful. And not much weight is in the skin of the car, so I'm not sure its worth the tradeoff. Why not go crazy gutting, but keep the doors & glass?

Do it!

In reply to ProDarwin:

because the rally project has 90s white mazda paint, so it's down to bare metal, and needs a new windshield as well. Swapping doors and the hatch cuts down on the amount of paint work needed as I can scuff and spare the pieces from this car.

captdownshift wrote: I may have a spare BG chassis with front end damage fall into my lap for free. I have an immediate use for the doors, hatch and windshield. The remaining working lights and non-damaged fender would join the spares pile. All of that being said, the spares pile has an extra rad support, radiator, all the front suspension bits, hub, etc to make this car run again. With scrap currently being so low, there's nothing but time and the cost of fluids to lose. I'm wondering how flexy a BG chassis would be without doors, a hatch or glass. And how much lift off over steer welding a piece of rebar to serve as a massive rear sway would cause. Weight wise without doors, glass and hatch, with the carpet, speakers, rear seats, sound deadening it should easily come in under 1700lb. How incredibly dumb is this? (Please note even this would not see the street nor any sanctioned track days), but it could be fun here: secret PA "track" location

The answer to this is clearly "hold my beer and watch this".

It should be driven from Chicago to Miami. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/chop-top-challenge/108029/page1/

In reply to JohnRW1621:

I think they frown upon no doors and/or no fenders, (not to mention no lights, although DOT approved LEDs could be configured to run off a switch and be used later on another project) otherwise it'd be close to perfect!

Yes.

I have some trays for under the rear wheels as well...

Channel your inner Red Green and go for it.

If you aren't going to cage it I'd keep the doors, stripped to nothing but the impact beam structure.

Also FWIW, A Protege weighs about the same, maybe a bit more than a Saturn. There is a car on sixthsphere right now that's weighing in at 1600lbs. It still has doors, windows, and body panels (although some are replaced with lighter stuff). Its not a high-budget build.

If you really want to go crazy with a protege and remove all that stuff, I would think you'd aim higher (lower). Lets see 1300lbs!

In reply to ProDarwin:

I was being pretty conservative with the weight estimate, my 323 (this car is a 323 as well) comes in at 2080 with lexan replacing the 1/4 glass, sparco sprint front seats and stripped interior (speakers, rear seats, belts and anchors, headliner, carpet, sound deadening). I'm sure with no glass at all, no doors, hatch, hood and pierce motorsports control arms, rear subframe and other bits it could see in the 15xx range.

captdownshift wrote: In reply to JohnRW1621: I think they frown upon no doors and/or no fenders, (not to mention no lights, although DOT approved LEDs could be configured to run off a switch and be used later on another project) otherwise it'd be close to perfect!

Put a JEEP sticker on it and you're golden.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

If it proves too much fun it would possibly see a cage and KLZE swap and Pierce bits for hillclimb duty, but I'm not holding out on the thrill and capabilities being impressive enough to warrant that type of development and investment.

A stock, unbraced (no strut bars or weld-in cage) BG is twisty enough to crack the windshield with R-comps and full up racing stiff springs/dampers after a few corners at max G. Ask me how I know...

In reply to WildScotsRacing:

Good thing no windshield

things get really interesting now

I'm betting that a trip with a trailer and 100 collects that BP powered lawn art. The BG chassis was running until 3 weeks ago, so swapping the BP from the escort into that chassis would cure most of the fuel system ills from sitting for years. It would also provide another rad support. The biggest question is are the clutches and flywheels for F series and G series Mazda manual transmissions compatible?

captdownshift wrote: things get really interesting now I'm betting that a trip with a trailer and 100 collects that BP powered lawn art. The BG chassis was running until 3 weeks ago, so swapping the BP from the escort into that chassis would cure most of the fuel system ills from sitting for years. It would also provide another rad support. The biggest question is are the clutches and flywheels for F series and G series Mazda manual transmissions compatible?

Read this: http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-21451.html

In reply to WildScotsRacing:

Excellent

I still haven't heard back from the seller

But the above is the candidate. I'm trying to get him down $200 in exchange for keeping the wheels and tires to resell on his own, as I have no need for them and it seems to be where they think the value is based on the ad. The door, hatch and windshield alone would make the purchase worthwhile on my end to utilize as parts for my 323 rally project.

I have a full set of strut/spring assemblies with low miles I've been trying to give away before they go to the land fill.

In reply to iceracer:

Even if I don't end up getting this one I'd have a use for them. If you'd like PM the price with shipping to 21222. Our I could arrange a post new year's road trip.