I get my bias ply slicks from Dave Lind Motorsports in Norfolk, MA. They're the front tires for a Super Modified circle track car. The Hoosiers I buy next year will just be a TireRack purchase - and three times the price.

It's not readily apparent, but my seat is set about 7" further back than normal. This is for weight distribution. This meant I needed to move controls back as well. Since the ported 13B doesn't produce a lot of vacuum, I was going to go with manual brakes anyway, so I went all the way and bought a full Wilwood setup that allows for a lot of adjustments.

The car is geared way too high and Mazda wants wayyyyy too much money for a better rear ratio. Add that to the bagged out rear LSD and my efforts to make everything as reliable as possible, the Ford 8.8 IRS setup is the best match for the budget. Very strong, lots of gear ratios at reasonable prices and nice LSD setups that don't cost a ton.

 

I would suggest reading the entire 8.8 swap thread on norotors. There is a ton of good info in it.

Make sure you get a small pinion flange. There is a guy on norotors that can source nice 626 turbo outer CVs to use too.

I'm running 5.13s with a torsen T2R and like it a lot.

 

Yep if you have any 8.8 questions we can help you out on NoRotors. I run 3.73s with a truetrac.

 

Can you hit me up with a link to the thread?

 

No rest for the wicked. The rear of the car is stripped down and work on the new rear frame will commence once I get the new fuel cell.

 

http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=5084.0

 

While I wait for my budget to recuperate, I'm knocking out a couple other projects. One is quite special, since it's for a friend.

First off. I need space in the shop so the LeMons RX7 needs to get out for a couple weeks. After 10 months of sitting she fired right up and pulled out.

Surprising what $500 can get you these days.


Lots of space now - especially once I get the lawn equipment put away



So what's the project? That's going to be a surprise. But here's a teaser:

 

STOP IT! Is that an awd or fwd trans?
I would kill for a steet FC right now, race car has me hooked.

 

OK enough teasing. It's going in this:



Plenty of room in there once we got the boat anchor removed. 30hp? Please. This bridgeported 13B should help motivate the Beetle better.

 

And then this happened.

 

Whats the transmission lifted from? How much trouble was it to adapt it to the 13B? That beetle is going to be a rocket!

 

It's a built 4-speed from a Beetle. Should be able to handle more power than we'll be producing.

Adapter is from Kennedy engineering. Worked pretty well with just a little massaging with an angle grinder.

Engine is a 13B 4-port from a REPU with a bridgeport. Should be quick.

 

Somebody posted a couple photos from an event earlier in the summer:

 

Meanwhile, work on the Beetle continues:

 

Not all has been still with the RX7. I got a special package today.





Four 2-foot sections of lovely CNC hot wire cut foam with my own profile based on a STOL aircraft design. Now I need to order up some carbon fiber fabric and some more vacuum bagging supplies.

 

I'm anxious to see the goodies produced with the foam!

 

nice, I bought a two huge 70" foam wing elements from a model plane place to do the same thing (flyingfoam.com). but my friend who does CF stuff wussed out so I ended up just getting a semi-custom APR GT-1000...

Looking forward to seeing some fun composite work :-)

 

These blanks come from flyingfoam, but they're my own profile. Great product.

 

We took a brief walk through pits when we got there saw the car but not the driver & engineer.





Snapped a few on the line.....3....





.2....1





GOOOOO

Snapped these photos at Okemo.

 

Very cool build, glad to see another FC hillclimber! How high are you planning to mount the rear wing? I suspect you will be getting some turbulent air back there based on the rear hatch glass having been removed.

 

So bummed I missed you at Okemo!

The wing will be roof height per NASA time trial rules. The rear hatch will be re-developed with side-scoops to help clean up flow for the wing.

 

Tis the season for more deliveries. Been waiting on this one so I can begin mocking up the new rear sub-assembly for the fuel cell, radiator, wing/diffuser mounts.





15 gallons in an aluminum case.

 

So clean, so pretty. What did you say you were doing with the old one? The Datsun needs a fuel cell, but it only needs to pass NEHA tech.

 

No plans for the old cell. I could sell it for $200 - half what I paid 9 months ago (DOH)

 

Things are proceeding nicely. 2016 will be a good year.