starting the tube V8 car, no turning back now Options

[byndbad914]

Disassembled the beast over the past couple of weeks in Orange and then AJ (the guy building the tube chassis) did some minor cutting (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) I am getting pretty excited about the project though, should be cool if every crazy idea I have works out... never really know until you start piecing the puzzle together.

All things work on paper, only some things work in reality (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

If anyone really cares I will continue to post pics as the progress moves along... here is some starting pics.

BTW, more pics are on my website in the chassis link I have started.

Here is a shot of week1

[byndbad914]

QUOTE (racerx7 @ Mar 27 2006, 04:18 PM)

For what your doing, you could have made anything. Why did you choose a 914? Was it just for the serial # so it would be easy to register and not have to smog it?

Joe - nice. Small world eh? I think I might have met him actually, I was working on the car a couple weeks ago and a guy asked if I would mind him taking some pics periodically to show a friend with a 914... that must be you (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

racerx7 - sorry for the late response, didn't catch this question when you posted... the question is a little unclear to me. I think you are specifically asking why I chose a 914 moreso than model year v. smog. I chose the 914 because

- number one is the mid-engine configuration
- I kinda like how they look, especially flared out with some big tires
- lightweight and compact v. a Pantera, which I was also heavily debating
- you can shoehorn V8s in them and they don't look butchered when you are done - more like it coulda been an option.
- there are lotsa aftermarket goodies out there for these cars, and what you can't find, 911 stuff will probably fit, then you have a whole other library of parts catalogs to rummage through on the toilet
- the power to weight ratio when this is all done with be just over 4lb/HP, which is insanely low and makes for an unreal driving experience. I would have a hard time getting that in a Pantera.

Originally I wasn't planning to go full tube chassis btw. In terms of smog and registration, I already had a 72 car, but even if I didn't, I would have been certain to buy a smog exempt one for easy registration. It is nice to be registered for the street as the car insurance is easier to obtain without a lot of questions asked about the car itself.

For the next car (yes, I have a short attention span and will probably be "over" this car within a few years) I will probably build a 1970 Mustang Fastback in similar fashion - tube chassis front to rear with stock doors, dash, all the working lights and such, but with a more streetable 462 cube small block (4.185" bore/4.2" stroke) hyd roller cam motor as a daily driver. Easy 500HP/550 lb-ft setup with full Nascar front and rear clips with a 3-link quick change rearend. Yes, I said daily driver.

Can you tell how short my attention span is yet? Not even done with one car and already laying out the second one...