has anyone road raced an fc with a v8 in it?

 

I remember seeing someone's conversion once. I'll bet if you search for V8 and constrain it to the race car tech forum alone you would find something on it. Why would you road race an FC with a V8 in it though. That would defeat ALL purpose of the car. Whatever you're into I guess.

 

One ran up here in Canada, (Canada GT Challenge Cup) driven by Mark Swain a few years ago. Ran a small block Ford in GT1 Class. Car was fast but a little unruly Mark got the most out of the package. I doubt any faster than a late model Mustang. After 2 seasons car was sold less motor. I hear it is being converted back to a TurboII so that it will go almost as fast but with better handling. Motor is up pretty high and really effects CG and Roll Centers.

 

Talk to Mark(GNX7), or Hank Terry, both have grand national motors in their cars. A little lighter, with power to spare. Carl

 

Chris Vetter when he lived in OR raced a 302 powered (400hp approx) FC with 4 speed automatic. Car was an original '87 sport model with 5lug and LSD out back. He said the car handled no worse than with the 13B and he turned faster lap times even with the automatic. There were a few old school late 60's/early 70's TransAm series racers that ran automatics with manual valvebodies that were essentially a cheap sequential setup.

Don't believe everyone that says a V8 will kill the handling of an RX-7. 302 is a featherweight compared to a big block Chevy. The blocks are very light. They are also about 75-100lbs lighter than an all iron Chev 350. 90% of the people on this board can drive their current RX-7 to the limit anyway.

Carl- thanks for the props.... I have road race suspension in my rig but have yet to road race it on any track. I certainly do rip around corners in it with no problems in SF and can lay rubber from any speed under 40mph..... This is with a stock turbo'd V6 Buick GN engine making around 350hp/400ft/lbs tq. Spring of 2004 will net about another 350hp to somewhere in the 700hp range. At the machine shop currently eating my wallet alive.

There was also a 1st gen with small block V8 (not sure make) but it apparantly did very well. It is on the Granny's Speed Shop website.

-GNX7

 

Sounds good Mark, I am playing with some turbos currently as well. we shall see, my goal is ~500rwhp with a powerband from 4000-8000rpm. I too am building a 700rwhp+ car, My 97 Supra will be recieving a Q trim T66 shortly, see ya at the track