Your bench build of the week.

Scirocco S1, with no power anything plus 2.0L 16V engine, rear cage/roll bar. Full interior trim but no sound deadening etc. Looks stock but super light weight.

JoeyM wrote: street legal cycle-cart replica of an early boat tailed bugatti for use as a fuel sipping DD with a lot more class than a prius/insight. With my tiny commute, this is actually do-able....if I want to tackle another scratch built replica.

Getting tired of patching rusting hulks. Next one starts fresh. I've been thinking of something like this - but maybe old alfa or mercedes styled body. Motorcylcle power - I'm in love with the sound of a triumph triple so perhaps a 955 or 1055 engine mounted longitudinally with a small drive shaft to a light weight IRS - was actually thinking modified spitfire rear. For the front, thinking of using a leaf spring as the upper mount...modeled from the cycle kart site after the alfatinna - street license from the donor bike maybe.

oldtin wrote:

Anyone else notice the drum brakes on this thinking-out-of-the-box '60s Indy car?

Those look like Buick finned aluminum drums

Hot Rod guys love 'em, but you can hide discs inside fakes, too. The scoops bolt on.

Woody wrote: I've been wanting a Bugatti 35 replica myself for a long time, but the current idea swirling around my head is an LSx powered Ferrari 400i.

Sir get out of my head.

I think the California Smog crazies will not let me do it though.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

LSx is smog legal! Just by the GM E-Rod LS3, comes with a CARB sticker!

Javelin wrote: In reply to wearymicrobe: LSx is smog legal! Just by the GM E-Rod LS3, comes with a CARB sticker!

enabler!

JohnInKansas wrote: Seriously considering buying a local TR6 weed-dweller for the wife.

Buy GRM staffer Joe Gearin's car. It'll be cheaper even if you get the weed dweller for free.

I'm with JTw8. With all 8 cars in need of something, one house under construction and another waiting for renovation, I have too many projects going on right now to really risk bench dreaming...

...but that doesn't mean I don't...

The current silly dream floating in my head is a "pro-touring" Spitfire: Turbo rotory w/ 5 spd and reworked suspension. The "pro-touring" part comes from my desire to weight the car down with comfy stuff like a/c and a nice stereo... The recent hazy, hot & humid weather we've been having lately can dull one's desire for a bare-bones sports car and with the sale of our '07 MINI 'vert, I've been missing having a non-classic convertible.

I can't get the black, low-mileage '99 Carrera 4 at the Lotus dealer for sale out of my head either.

The Radical is spread out on 2 benches in the machine shop and a 2x8' temporary bench in the garage, while it's going back together.

Javelin wrote: In reply to wearymicrobe: LSx is smog legal! Just by the GM E-Rod LS3, comes with a CARB sticker!

I know, but its 10x the cost of a salvage car motor and 6 speed manual transmission. I need more space, cash and time are not the problem.

Almost better to buy this and try to get it to fit under one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-C6-Corvette-LS2-Engine-Auto-Rolling-Chassis-39K-LS3-LS1-COMPLETE-KIT-TO-RUN-/280928651617?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4168a70961&vxp=mtr

wearymicrobe wrote: Almost better to buy this and try to get it to fit under one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-C6-Corvette-LS2-Engine-Auto-Rolling-Chassis-39K-LS3-LS1-COMPLETE-KIT-TO-RUN-/280928651617?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4168a70961&vxp=mtr

I'd like to know the story behind that one.

BMW 7 or 8 series. GM 4.8 + (lots of) boost + built auto trans + huge fuel tank + creature comforts = DD/road trip/etc car.

Woody wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: Almost better to buy this and try to get it to fit under one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-C6-Corvette-LS2-Engine-Auto-Rolling-Chassis-39K-LS3-LS1-COMPLETE-KIT-TO-RUN-/280928651617?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4168a70961&vxp=mtr

I'd like to know the story behind that one.

I dunno, but that's the cleanest berkeleying junkyard I've ever seen!

For a few years now I've thought an old European sports car moderized with all the modern conveniences would make a cool DD. Something like an MGB GT with a V6, updated suspension and modern conveniences inside like better seats and an AC system that actually works. The latest thought is based on my toy, an Opel GT. I like the looks of the GT but it's not the performer it looks. Suspension based off an economy car - the Opel Kadette and the same motor that is used in the Manta and Kadette. Haven't taken measurements to see how close they are but Miata's are known for their handling, fit the Miata suspension and 4-wheel disk brakes under the GT uni-body. For power, the Miata 1.8 would be an increase over the original 1.9 but think a rotary might be the way to go. Maybe even the twin-turbo out of an FD RX7. Small package would keep it behind front axle for mid-engine weight distribution. The AC/heater from the Miata should fit where the existing Opel heater is and use the existing heater/vent ducts. Fit the appropriate gages (ie: Miata/RX7) into the Opel dash. Might have to narrow the Miata chassis a bit and add flares to the Opel but that would be fine as the GT looks great with flares. Would never do it to the GT I have but there are other donors out there. Probably more fabrication than I can handle and have enough projects and ideas as it is so won't ever get around to it.

4.2 V8 from a Phaeton. Beefy rods and pistons. Adapt it to an R32 Skyline GT-R transmission. Put an M90 supercharger on the engine, hang a GT30 turbo with the largest exhaust housings available off of each side with VW 16v turbo manifolds.

Sling this twincharged monstrosity backwards in a Rabbit. Not the new minivan-sized turd, an '83-84 Rabbit. Big ducts behind the doors for a huge intercooler on each side, airflow out of which helps to ventilate the engine. Big fugly snorkel on top for air induction, pull air from just behind the windshield. A water/air intercooler goes after the blower, its radiator sits in front of the biggest, baddest, mamajammanest radiator and fan combo that could be made to fit in the nose, which will be a fiberglass tilt style onesie with easy-off slotted hinges.

Suspension will be simple long-travel Bilsteins at all four corners. Differentials are TBD, suspension uprights same. Center "differential" to be controlled by a custom controller that takes into account yaw rate, throttle position, and handbrake position, which will be useful since the clutched output is now the rear output, instead of the front like in the Skyline.

Make the car as absolutely light as possible.

Enter in Mod 4 at the Rallycross Championship, take VW contingency money for winning the class with a VW engine in a VW car.

Trying to decide between 302 swapped 240sx/RX-7/E36 sedan. Limiting factor seems to be people willing to be lowballed for their chassis. $500 RX-7s abound, but I'm really not keen on the looks...

Fantasy:

1934 Packard 1107 chassis (short wheelbase), Packard V12 with dual Cord superchargers, boat-tail speedster body.

Reality (most of which is in my garage):

Modified model A frame with spring-behind beam axle and suicide perch. Chevy 261 I6 dressed to look like a 216 with dual Holley 94's on an Edmunds intake, Mallory dual-point distributor with Echlin lightbulb ballast coil and split exhaust. Homebuilt speedster body.

Ground up tube frame B Mod/ Regional DSR/ track day car

Tube frame TR-6 w/ Stang driveline

Mine are bench builds right now, but I'm actually doing them piece by piece as I can afford it.

66 Bonneville, 10.5FF rear, matching front spindles and brakes, Duramax swap, yadda yadda. I already have the chassis mostly done, its at the body shop now, and then its just down to the last $15,000 worth of drivetrain.

67 LeMans, LS1, T56, full road-race prep but street legal. I have the T56 and the rusty car.

65 Scout 80, OM617 diesel, flatbed, topless, and leave the rust holes in the floor for drainage. I have the Scout and the rust holes, but nothing else.

Dreaming of building a daily driver one of these.

EFI swap the 351w, install a much more modern auto-trans (or t-56 swap), upgrade the air-con.

Either that or LSx-t56 swap...

Trans_Maro wrote: Modified model A frame with spring-behind beam axle and suicide perch. Chevy 261 I6 dressed to look like a 216 with dual Holley 94's on an Edmunds intake, Mallory dual-point distributor with Echlin lightbulb ballast coil and split exhaust. Homebuilt speedster body.

Awesome! This needs a build thread....

Oh, I've also been wanted to drop a full Miata drivetrain into a Lotus Elan. This one would do:

JoeyM wrote:

Trans_Maro wrote: Modified model A frame with spring-behind beam axle and suicide perch. Chevy 261 I6 dressed to look like a 216 with dual Holley 94's on an Edmunds intake, Mallory dual-point distributor with Echlin lightbulb ballast coil and split exhaust. Homebuilt speedster body.

Awesome! This needs a build thread....

+1000