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Post by cardo on Jun 27, 2019 10:56:11 GMT
The S1 I had was a riot on tight,twisty B roads and single track stuff in the dry.however,it was physically draining for any more than an hour.The combination of noise along with the radiated heat from the rear bulkhead and drivers sill made the drive home after a day out a feat of endurance!
I made the mistake of taking the girlfriend out on a tour of the West coast of Scotland on a warm and sunny day.She eventually forgave me a few days after the car sickness,sunburn,heat stroke and tinnitus wore off š She point bank refused to get in it again....
They're too compromised as a road car in my opinion and if I was to have something solely as a track car I would go back to a Caterham as I prefer the front engined layout.
It was a box ticked and I sold it after a couple of years for more money than I paid for it so can't complain I guess š
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Post by atlex on Jun 27, 2019 12:37:50 GMT
vindi-cator! Now I understand.
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Post by carl4x4 on Jun 27, 2019 14:50:40 GMT
The S1 I had was a riot on tight,twisty B roads and single track stuff in the dry.however,it was physically draining for any more than an hour.The combination of noise along with the radiated heat from the rear bulkhead and drivers sill made the drive home after a day out a feat of endurance! I made the mistake of taking the girlfriend out on a tour of the West coast of Scotland on a warm and sunny day.She eventually forgave me a few days after the car sickness,sunburn,heat stroke and tinnitus wore off š She point bank refused to get in it again.... They're too compromised as a road car in my opinion and if I was to have something solely as a track car I would go back to a Caterham as I prefer the front engined layout. It was a box ticked and I sold it after a couple of years for more money than I paid for it so can't complain I guess š Strange you mention heat-stroke, I managed to do the same by spending an entire hot day in the Elise at Abingdon airfield with no shelter sitting in the tin box that is an Elise's interior wearing race suit & helmet. Won't do that again... |
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Post by Vindi (Russell) on Jun 27, 2019 17:14:12 GMT
vindi-cator! Now I understand. Ha ha, yep ... when I started out on car forums about 20 odd years ago, I had a Vindicator Sprint 7 type kit car, so on the forums I was vindi and the name kind of stuck Russell |
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Post by V6 on Jun 27, 2019 18:47:24 GMT
Yep. By the time you man maths the logic... you may as well buy a Ā£3k superbike and blow everything away. About as practical and safe lol.
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Post by V6 on Jun 27, 2019 18:58:58 GMT
I'll try to make it happen ... would be fun! The hard part is importing an engine.
It's only hard in your mind. The reality is... it's the easiest part. But don't tell anyone or there will be loads of 'em 
The hard part was gaining some patience. Then paying for it. Endless waiting for parts! Excitement, followed by endless boredom. Two months wait for two engines. Another year to save up for all the other parts... swap kit, engine tuning mods, little bits which add up, ECU, custom loom.
For more torque than mine...?... you will maybe need upgraded custom or import center shaft, rear shafts, different diff and gearbox, rear sub frame kit to mount the diff, upgraded hubs... all import shipping and tax from USA and likely doubling the overall cost. Check out Flyin Miata or V8 Roasters etc. The maths scared the hell out of me. I cut my losses at a smaller sensible engine, on the safe side of 300bhp. The torque of larger engines can be a killer for mazda parts. Look at the output of the Lexus V8 as one example and see how many parts they snap. Too rich for me in the UK.
Then again... if you want to be different and get something cool... the price to pay I guess.
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Post by Vindi (Russell) on Jun 27, 2019 19:12:18 GMT
I'll try to make it happen ... would be fun! The hard part is importing an engine.
It's only hard in your mind. The reality is... it's the easiest part. But don't tell anyone or there will be loads of 'em
The hard part was gaining some patience. Then paying for it. Endless waiting for parts! Excitement, followed by endless boredom. Two months wait for two engines. Another year to save up for all the other parts... swap kit, engine tuning mods, little bits which add up, ECU, custom loom.
For more torque than mine...?... you will maybe need upgraded custom or import center shaft, rear shafts, different diff and gearbox, rear sub frame kit to mount the diff, upgraded hubs... all import shipping and tax from USA and likely doubling the overall cost. Check out Flyin Miata or V8 Roasters etc. The maths scared the hell out of me. I cut my losses at a smaller sensible engine, on the safe side of 300bhp. The torque of larger engines can be a killer for mazda parts. Look at the output of the Lexus V8 as one example and see how many parts they snap. Too rich for me in the UK.
Then again... if you want to be different and get something cool... the price to pay I guess.
I 100% know you're right, but my thinking is, if I'm going to do this then I want to do it as well as I can. The reality is, I'm looking at 2 or 3 years to afford the parts and put it together. Anyone that knows me, will know I'm not patient ... so this may well be done in stages, or it may change direction again part way through. Not really sure at this point, but that's half the fun to me! Rough breakdown of parts needed is ... Engine Ā£1500 Gearbox (6 speed manual off the chevrolet) Ā£1500 Cadillac CTS-V LSD Ā£500 After that, I can just get a complete LFX kit from V8 roasters to slot it all in ... but that's insane money, so I'll most likely get some of the more specialist parts from them, and source some of the more generic parts here or make them myself. As an example, the subframe and engine mounts are Ā£1800! I can get a subframe from Crapengineering, and then get the shell with engine & box over to her, for fabricating the mounts etc. More leg work for me, but probably half the cost Russell |
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Post by V6 on Jun 27, 2019 19:16:40 GMT
My original plan was six months from starting to finishing. Started off ok. Engines and kit here in a few months. Then work slowed down. Life got in the way. Started the instal one year later than planned. Then the instal took WAY longer than planned. Issues to solve, other cars getting in my way etc. More issues to solve, more down time, etc. So... may be finished 1.5 years later than planned. Your timeline may be more realistic!
I agree on doing things properly. It's just because I limited my power / torque from the outset it meant I could make some huge savings and cut saving up time drastically. If I ever want to add forced induction though, thats something I'll still have to do down the line. This way I can get it running sooner, get used to the power, then save up... if I ever feel the need for it. Although to spend that much money on top... I may as well double the power mine will have. But will it even be useable? The HellKitty videos suggests its not too sensible |
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Post by Vindi (Russell) on Jun 27, 2019 19:26:28 GMT
Your plan is a lot more logical, and if I was even slightly sensible it's what I'd do as well ... but I've had a bunch of 250bhp cars before, so for me it feels like it's time to really push it and see where it goes.
At this point, it's all theory. I need to get my head around the costs, and see how much I can save realistically. If I don't think I can do it for significantly less than V8 roadsters are quoting, then I'll find another direction to go in. The reality is, I work part time in a lowish waged job so this is going to take all the money I can free up for a decent amount of time
Russell
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Post by V6 on Jun 27, 2019 19:37:07 GMT
I was lucky I broke the back of my costs in a good run of a few months work. Then it slowed right down to a trickle. Amassing bits and pieces here and there. It was a very slow year and a bit. If it were to have taken double that time or more... the danger may be losing the will to finish it. That would be a shame and easy to happen I think, with life getting in the way.
I also did a reality check a few times. I never set out to make the fastest car or anything. Otherwise I'd have bought an evo and upped the boost. That wasnt what this was about at all. I wanted the best bits from all my past cars in one package. The modified mk1 was the best fun handling car for me personally. I also wanted the sound of past cars like my R32 Golf / GTA Alfa with V6. Sure a V8 would be cool too, but I've owned some and the fuel cost is staggering compared to a V6. Plus the extra weight and other parts needed. Add in retro looks, simple parts... easy to live with and have fun. 300bhp should be plenty anyway. Just like mk1 Escorts... what more could you want really?
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Post by V6 on Jun 27, 2019 19:39:48 GMT
RWD, 300 NA... all you need? 
Sure you COULD turbo the above as many do. But they may lose something also. Constantly stepping out, twitchy bastard, less revs, massive handfuls to deal with. Impressive numbers, but too much?
Too much? Possibly. I think it can easily ruin what was perfect.
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Post by wannabe on Jun 28, 2019 9:40:42 GMT
RWD, 300 NA... all you need? Sure you COULD turbo the above as many do. But they may lose something also. Constantly stepping out, twitchy bastard, less revs, massive handfuls to deal with. Impressive numbers, but too much? Too much? Possibly. I think it can easily ruin what was perfect.
I recall that vid you found of the 500bhp?? Miata getting it sideways at 100mph on a freeway... lol I'd like to be able to sneeze unexpectedly and not fear being catapulted into oncoming traffic! |
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Post by V6 on Jun 28, 2019 12:37:59 GMT
True, you could end up going through a hedge backwards on fire. But... Death bed BHP bragging rights |
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Post by Zed. on Jun 28, 2019 12:39:53 GMT
I'd like to be able to sneeze unexpectedly and not fear being catapulted into oncoming traffic! Don't drive if you have a cold?  Rich. |
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Post by V6 on Jun 28, 2019 12:53:31 GMT
I think being semi sensible... My dream build would probably be somewhere from 300 to 350 absolute max NA. Just enjoy the overall balance, exhaust noise, crisp throttle response. Probably far safer, easier on the car and the wallet.
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le sigh