I really like the Opel body vs the Pontiac/saturn
I really like the Opel body vs the Pontiac/saturn
Didn't somebody build a series of V8 cars? The car is a parts bin exercise, so the transaxle is the Corvette unit. I'm almost sure the local Pontiac store had a V8 one that still had GM warranty.
Off to google...
In reply to Streetwiseguy :
No transaxle. Traditional engine/trans/driveshaft/rear differential.
IIRC the chassis was supposed to be used for a new generation of Camaro but that didn't pan out.
Mallet did a few. Seen one in person.
These guys do a very professional V8 swap on the Solstice. In this case just using a crate LS3. Not a coupe, but they do those as well.
So aside from the excessive NVH, no trunk space, poor ergonomics, and prebail-out GMieness, how are the mechanics and dynamics?
As Fatallightning already pointed out you can find the convertible versions cheap, there are several in the $5K range and a couple <$3K on FB Marketplace. I've watched some Solctices & Skies with what looked like mostly cosmetic damage go for <$2K on insurance auction sites.
I had in my head one of these would be a great candidate to give my little Metropolitan the "Nohome treatment." Using the drivetrain, suspension, and what not, similar to how Nohome grafted a P1800 and Miata together.
If you swap into a Metro I assume that you are just talking about driveline as installing the suspension would be pretty challenging. And the Kappas are a foot longer than a Metro. But the suspension is very good, although a tad soft in stock form (they understandably shoot for the average driver and anticipate that they would opt for a comfortable ride). Easy to retune the suspension, though. You might want to opt for an NA donor rather than the turbo for a swap like that.
The coupes have more luggage space than the converts do but I agree that it isn't all that much. Rear visibility sucks - I drove nose into my driveway just once and immediately discovered that backing out blind into a street wasn't a bright idea. I also installed a proximity alert (that beeps with increasing frequency as it nears another car - invaluable in parking).
The drivelines have already been taken from wrecked cars (normally the inexpensive converts) and swapped into cars like Triumphs and MGs and make very nice end results.
If you really want more power, it is easily available. Thought it might be fun to find a C2 or C3 Corvette and swap in a 500 bhp turbo modded Solstice engine and go to a Corvette show, but rightly figured that I'd probably get lynched.
The AR5 manual transmission seems to stand up well to a V8 swap into a Solstice; not so sure how well the stock automatic does.
Here is how an Ecotec slides into a TR-6
I'm also intrigued that they fit giant tires stock (275/285 square?) and I'm pretty sure the Cobalt SS Brembo package is a bolt on, at least the front. And they cost GM pricing, and not aftermarket Brembo prices. ($180 a corner at Rock)
The stock tires are 245x45-18 all around. I run Michelin PSS and they are really excellent; the stock supplied tires were dismal!
Yes you can swap with the Brembos IIRC, but the stock brakes are adequate. I switched to an EBC pad compound and they work just great. I think that on cars like the Solstice where brakes are adequate in stock form with a suitable pad choice, fitting big brakes is more for show than go (or rather stop).
Chassis tuning consists of uprated sway bars and shocks (I use BC Racing) and a few chassis stiffeners that are easy to install. They make a readily perceptible improvement in feel.
If you are interested in my personal path of modification/optimization, see https://www.solsticeforum.com/threads/coupe-378-mod-thread.102178/
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