Would this be a good challenge car?| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

Mazdax605 UltraDork
6/26/17 3:58 p.m.

Hey guys,

I've wanted to go to the challenge for many years now, but don't know how to build a race car, or anything fast or to handle good. I have had a one owner 89 RX-7 TII in my back yard for 2+ years now. I had the owner drop it off for me to fix a few things for him. Turns out the "frame rail" is rotted pretty badly. I've finally convinced him to sell it to me for a good price. I really don't know what to do with it, or how to fix the rot, but maybe if I can, do you think I could make it into a challenge car? It runs well, only has 50k miles on it, but has the rot. I don't care that I'm competitive, but could it be possible to make into a challenge car?

Thanks,

Chris

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
6/26/17 4:02 p.m.

The chassis has won the event, so, yes.

Also, even if it was a different car, answer is still "yes."

wvumtnbkr UltraDork
6/26/17 4:11 p.m.

JG is wrong.

The answer is berkeley yes.

It's just steel. Cut it out and box it back in with new steel. It's fairly easy.

Nothing bolts to it there anyway.

Good brakes, goodish suspension.

Just add fuel and then boost.

bmw88rider SuperDork
6/26/17 4:11 p.m.

Box the frame in and weld some bracing in there and go to town. That sounds like the perfect end to that car if it's the same one I remember you asking about a few months ago.

Keith Tanner MegaDork
6/26/17 4:17 p.m.

I have nothing to add other than the usual enabling comments. Consider yourself enabled.

Also, I'm digging bmw88rider's new avatar.

AngryCorvair UltimaDork
6/26/17 4:40 p.m.

JG Pasterjak wrote: The chassis has won the event, so, yes. Also, even if it was a different car, answer is still "yes."

2 different versions of this chassis have won this event, one SBF/T5 and one SBC/auto.

Wall-e MegaDork
6/26/17 4:47 p.m.

In reply to AngryCorvair:

So he needs to find a small block Chrysler and a CVT?

Mazdax605 UltraDork
6/26/17 5:22 p.m.

I'm not interested in doing a V8 swap which is what seems to be the recipe for a win /showing. I just want to make it to the challenge and have fun, but I suppose I don't want to get embarrassed at the same time.

Mazdax605 UltraDork
6/26/17 5:26 p.m.

wvumtnbkr wrote: JG is wrong. The answer is berkeley yes. It's just steel. Cut it out and box it back in with new steel. It's fairly easy. Nothing bolts to it there anyway. Good brakes, goodish suspension. Just add fuel and then boost.

Actually where this rot is there are a lot of things that bolt there. Like the whole front sub frame and suspension bolt right in that area. I would love to learn how to weld and fix this but I'm afraid it's above my abilities.

Chris

TurboFocus Reader
6/26/17 7:00 p.m.

it won't take long to learn how to weld good enough to fix it imho. i weld on and off for a few years doing only a couple exhausts and other small projects.

look up the metal patch pieces to fix it, im sure someone makes them. then you just gotta fix, cut, mock up and weld!

mndsm MegaDork
6/26/17 7:09 p.m.

Wall-e wrote: In reply to AngryCorvair: So he needs to find a small block Chrysler and a CVT?

6bt and a twin stick.

Wall-e MegaDork
6/26/17 7:11 p.m.

Mazdax605 wrote: I'm not interested in doing a V8 swap which is what seems to be the recipe for a win /showing. I just want to make it to the challenge and have fun, but I suppose I don't want to get embarrassed at the same time.

I've found the best way to avoid embarrassment in most situations is to keep your pants on. Do that and you should be good.

GTXVette Dork
6/26/17 8:18 p.m.

Oddley enough there is likely someone here that is in Your Hood That CAN weld and will Help, Just ask. Do the engine Swap Next year.

SVreX MegaDork
6/26/17 8:54 p.m.

Why am I fairly certain that Wall-e HAS in fact been caught out in public with no pants, and am now morbidly curious if he has actually done welding with no pants??

SVreX MegaDork
6/26/17 8:57 p.m.

In reply to Wall-e:

This may come as a surprise to you, but there actually are some images I'd rather not have in my head.

You welding with no pants on ranks pretty high on that list!

GVX19 Reader
6/26/17 9:09 p.m.

Mazdax605, Don't tell anyone that I'm bringing a Prius. So just consecrate on being faster than one of those. And you will do grate!

Gearheadotaku PowerDork
6/26/17 9:18 p.m.

Just fix the rust, get it driveable and bring it. Don't worry too hard about being competitive. Join the party, drink the kool-aid and you'll have a plan for the following year before you know it!

John Welsh MegaDork
6/26/17 9:40 p.m.

Did not win. Had a great time.

Patrick MegaDork
6/26/17 9:43 p.m.

SVreX wrote: Why am I fairly certain that Wall-e HAS in fact been caught out in public with no pants, and am now morbidly curious if he has actually done welding with no pants??

Have welded in boxers after a late night brainstorm. Can confirm it is indeed not a good idea.

MrJoshua UltimaDork
6/26/17 10:02 p.m.

Yes! They have won twice because they drag AND autocross well. A Miata may have a slight autocross edge but a 7 beats up on it in the drags. The 7 also shares a bolt pattern with mustangs so lots of cheap options for wheels that will hold decent sized rubber.

Vigo UltimaDork
6/26/17 10:15 p.m.

V8 swap which is what seems to be the recipe for a win /showing

Eh, i'd say going fast all the way around or to the end of the track is what's earning the points there, not that it's a v8 doing it. Anything can make power, and a lot of ways to add power are actually easier than engine swaps anyway.