Hi everyone, new to the forum and thought I would post up my current project.

Myself and a couple of friends are building this car for the Grassroots Motorsports $2008 challenge that will be going on sometime in October. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this event, it consists of three events: car show, auto-cross, drag strip. Points are awarded for each event, and the overall winner, uh... wins. You have to build a car with a budget of $200X dollars, and it increases by one dollar each year.

Here is our entry:







We picked it up last Thursday, and I took advantage of a 3 day weekend and got it stripped down to basically nothing. The only thing left on the shell is the passenger door, windshield, rear hatch and steering column:





We found the car on CraigsList, and picked it up for $600. The wiring was a mess, so we didn't hear it run. We were told the motor only had 26k miles, but...





...so, we're going to rebuild it with a 306ci kit, add a cam, and a Demon 725 carb. Goal is 300whp. The previous owner told me the carb was a Holley 750, but its a really just a junk 600...isn't worth rebuilding.

Plans include an aluminum radiator, chrome moly roll cage, aluminum dash with minimal gauges, some sort of adapted coil-over, rear disc brakes + LSD, and not much of anything else. I spent all day Sunday stripping out everything unnecessary from the interior, including the heater core (won't be street legal, don't need heat...), steering column accessories, and chipping the sound deadening off the floor pans.

I will update as progress continues. We have until October, so we're going to take it slow and do everything right. Not to mention, work will only get done on the weekends. Car is in High Point, but I have class in Boone at ASU during the week - 100mi away.

If you are looking for any 1st-gen interior parts, PM me or keep an eye open on the FS board- I am going to be getting rid of the original dash, cluster, center console, heater core parts, POWER windows, rear hatch, etc etc...

If anyone has some directional advice pertaining to suspension/brakes before I start searching, it would be much appreciated.

 

Beware of the flames this will cause......

I have a similar project for the GRM Challenge so I understand what and where you're coming from

Steve

 

You can use a coilover kit for a miata (first gen), on the front, and adapt the rear coilover springs.

Here's where I got the idea...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2105457/6

 

not a bad idea. A v8 rx-7 has won twice in the past right?

Best of luck!

 

I see no need to get all bent out of shape about this 1st gen having a V8. I think it looks like a great project, and would love to see a quality first gen build showing up in my GRM magazine. Yeah yeah, I know it doesn't have a 13B in it but don't jump on this guy for it. He is taking what appears to be a half hearted job at swapping this first gen, and fixing someone else's mistakes. I say to you for having the patience and interest to do this swap the way it was meant to be done. I wish you the best of luck and hope to see this car in GRM.

It's nice to see someone entering a first gen and actually look like they know what they are doing from the get go. I don't know how many GRM $2008 threads I've seen around here lately about first gens where the OP doesn't have any idea what they are doing. What's an engine? Can I swap the engine in this car? Where can I buy wheels at? The $200X challenges have gotten too competitive and interesting for someone who doesn't know what they are doing. It's nice to see someone with a first gen who appears to have a sporting chance. However, if there is more stuff like last years "Cheapparral" you are all going to be in big big trouble....

I'm definitely staying tuned to this thread....

 

Thanks for the kind words. I'm not going to be too caught up with winning. Just being a part of it and experiencing it will be enough for me - and hopefully I will have a fun auto-cross/track-day car left when its all said and done.

Flame on flamers, can't hurt my feelings

Thanks for the info - thats good to hear. I was thinking about trying to adapt some Miata suspension parts.


On another note, how common are clutch-pack equipped GSL-SE rear ends? I found one at a local Pull-A-Part type place for $200, and at the very least I think I'll get it for the disc brakes... I may go snag it up this weekend.

 

granny's speed shop has everything you need to swap a v8 into a 1st gen. plus they have any info you need to assist you in your project. gool luck in the challenge.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out...but I don't really need any help getting the motor in. The previous owner had bought a kit (but he couldn't remember the name of it). I'm not too crazy about the tranny crossmember....its just a squished pipe with two grade-5 bolts holding it to the floor. I think I'm going to build something else for it.

 

Good luck to you man! I think it is a sweet idea for a V-8 swap especially on a tight budget with the rules and all. I might do it next year but it all depends if my home improvement projects are completed in time. If you lived a little closer I would volunteer a little time to help you out.

 

Thanks. You should def. try and do it. I hear next year they might move it to the southwest.

 

I thought about entering that a few years back. Sounds like a lot of fun. Good luck, and we'll be keeping tabs on this one..

 

Why in the world was this moved to "Other Rotary"? It's a first gen, so it's not an "Other" and (not that I mind) it's not a rotary. This belongs back in the FB tech or non-tech forum, as he'll be putting a good deal of work into the car.

 

I'm sort of wondering the same thing

 

Feel free to post it on my forum.
I won't move it.

 

Yeah, needs to be move in the "other engine conversion forum".

 

I was thinking race car tech

 

I am also building a 1st gen for the challenge this year. I have a bunch of parts on my parts car let me know if you need anything. I need to sell some of the stuff I don't need to get some extra money for my turbo.

 

man i like the build...that thing this is going to be fast

 

Thanks guys,

progress has been kind of slow the past few weeks. I have been busy with school and haven't been able to get away to work on it-

the engine is still at the machine shop, but it should be back in the car in a few weeks. One of my teammates picked up a set of aluminum heads for $50, so that should help nicely with keeping the weight down and f/r balance in check.

We have also ordered the cage materials; hopefully, that will start to take shape in a couple of weeks as well.

 

Hey dude, you gotta let me know everything you're planning on doing to this car, so I can 1-up you.

 

so wtf kinda motor is that anyways?

302?

 

yes

 

Yes, its a 302.

I was just thinking I should update this thread. Here's some new info:

I personally have not been around the car for the past month but my faithful team mates have been working a bit.

We got a full set of brakes from an FC. That includes the 4-piston front calipers...should be quite an improvement once we figure out how to adapt them. All four have been rebuilt and have new pads/good rotors.

The rear end was welded up and put back in the car. I'm not sure a welded diff is going to be the most usable thing on an auto-x, but it should make for some interesting driving...

The cage materials should be at the shop in a week or so, and they bought a tubing notcher, and borrowed a tig-welder as well as a bender from a co-worker. The cage should be in the car within the next month.

The engine is still at the machine shop, though we should have it back in a couple weeks. We got a set of aluminum heads for $50...I dunno the specs yet, haven't personally seen them. The motor is going to be a 306ci and have new 10:1 alum. pistons, new rods, stock crank. We are getting a Demon 725 carb from a friend of a friend, but he needs to send it down from Indiana.

Suspension is the last thing we're going to tackle. The current plan is to use ebay Miata coil-overs for the front with a modified spring perch on the strut housing, and Mazdatrix springs in the rear. Shocks...whatever we can find at a reasonable price.

Sometime while the rest of this is going on, the dash will get fabbed up, but that'll probably wait until the cage is in. We have some gauges that my friend was able to ****** up from work: water temp, oil press, fuel and one other...can't remember at the moment. I need to find a tach...

Have not decided between lexan rear hatch or just no rear hatch. also still need to locate manual window regulators. Anyone want power windows?

Whew...Thats about it. Any questions

 

Also been thinking about possible paint schemes; here are a couple examples of quick/ugly p-chops I've done in my spare time:

 

To give you an idea, the 2nd local auto-x event of the season is April 13; we're shooting to have the car running for that event- though, not nearly finished.