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What is the lightest RWD car for my hybrid? Give me some ideas please.

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Old 04-28-2004 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by pjtimmer
maybe you can find a stranded cobra project or something similar with the tube frame and fiberglass body, it will be very lightweight....
You want to add all the money to the drive train, but with a cobra you allready have a nice suspension setup, which will be very nice too.
Another budget though
just a thought.
I wish I could find someone that had a cobra kit to get rid of, that would be perfect.


Noticed you are from the Netherlands and you have a 2nd generation F-body in your signature......Well, what is the price for parts like there? Also how good is the availability?

Later,
Bart
Old 04-29-2004 | 05:03 AM
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There is also a car that was done on here awhile ago, called (I believe) the Ultima....it's been in a few car magazines and it might just be what your looking for:-)
Old 04-29-2004 | 06:23 AM
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he Speedfreaks101,
a cobra is probally hard to find, how about all those chesterfield race cars, they have the alot in the UK, don't know about the US.

Nowa days it is easier to get pasrt, online in the US, most US companies deliver to the Netherlands too, unfortunedly there is always a high shipping rate + customs + taxes.
Overal there are not many US cars driven overhere(maybe the gas price too, about $4,10 a gallon or more...
a camaro of any generation is unique overhere, as well as mine, I love it.
Nothing beats american muscle..you can see more about my car on my website.
thanks for your intrest.
goodluck finding a light weight car.
Peter
Old 04-29-2004 | 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 67pete
There is also a car that was done on here awhile ago, called (I believe) the Ultima....it's been in a few car magazines and it might just be what your looking for:-)

I actually did look into the Ultiama GTR awhile back because it was perfect, except one thing.........it is 27,821 without a roll cage, engine or drivetrain. Add 1622.00 for the cage.

Just a little ot of my league.

Later,
Bart
Old 04-29-2004 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by pjtimmer
he Speedfreaks101,
a cobra is probally hard to find, how about all those chesterfield race cars, they have the alot in the UK, don't know about the US.

Nowa days it is easier to get pasrt, online in the US, most US companies deliver to the Netherlands too, unfortunedly there is always a high shipping rate + customs + taxes.
Overal there are not many US cars driven overhere(maybe the gas price too, about $4,10 a gallon or more...
a camaro of any generation is unique overhere, as well as mine, I love it.
Nothing beats american muscle..you can see more about my car on my website.
thanks for your intrest.
goodluck finding a light weight car.
Peter

What exactly is a Chesterfield race car? I am pictureing something like a Lotus 7 or a Caterham...am I correct?

Later,
Bart

Ch
Old 05-01-2004 | 01:07 PM
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ideed, but they have more different kit cars.
they probally have a nice website, couldn't find it right away.
Not sure that the cars are also still called this way.
They look alot like donkervoort cars and weight nothing.
suc6
Peter
Old 05-01-2004 | 10:39 PM
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Its funny you mention these cars because I purchased a book entitled "Build Your Own Sports Car" by Ron Champion. The cars in the book are called "Locost". Apparently the idea did quite well and they even have their own racing series. Are you familiar with them?


Later,
Bart
Old 05-03-2004 | 07:08 PM
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My vote goes for the 2nd gen RX7. There is someone local with a pretty stock turbo buick motor in one and it runs easy 11s at 120ish, not stripped.
Old 05-04-2004 | 07:26 PM
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Default Best rear drive car for swap

My vote would go to the Chevy Monza. It came with a V8 stock so it is beefed up in the right areas, The car can be lightened to about 2300 to 2500 with the LS1. The suspension is the same as the camaro in the back and big brakes can be added from an S10/Monte Carlo pretty easy. I belong to a club were a guy is putting the LS1 in a vega wagon, pretty slick.

Monza 355
Old 05-08-2004 | 01:25 PM
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Porsche 944
I have a friend who is doing a Mopar 500 ci motor in one. There is quite a bit of room under the hood. If you cut the firewall back a bit you can fit anything in it. It has an aluminum K member already in place as well as alot of other lightweight Porsche stuff. Very aerodynamic and you can pick one up for 1500-5000 depending on condition.
2637Lbs from the factory...you could easily get that down further.
Old 05-08-2004 | 03:31 PM
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if you REALLY want light, you could build a Lotus 7 type car, but good luck getting traction
Old 05-11-2004 | 12:29 AM
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My vote goes for the 1st or 2nd gen RX-7. If you plan drag only the 1st gen FB RX-7 is easier as it has a solid rear end already. 8.8" Ford is very easy to install out back. They are about 200-250lbs lighter than the FC RX-7 ('86-91). Earlier year models (2350-2400lbs approx) weigh less than later year due to increased mandated safety equip and more structural bracing.

2nd gen FC RX-7: '86-88 is the lightest years at 2600lbs for the base model. Getting it to 2000lbs post conversion is pretty unreasonable even fully gutted and lexan everything. I've heard of full on road race cars with gutted everything weighing 2100lbs. Figure on 2200 or 2300lbs. You can buy fiberglass doors and lexan rear hatch, remove all crash bracing, lightweight wheels, gutted interior, no dash and maybe meet your goals. Don't expect a/c or p/s either.

100lbs is worth 10hp... it would be better to increase your power level and have a more driveable/friendly car IMO.

Mazda had 2 engineering teams working to shave weight on the car. Lots of cool tricks they employed. The Turbo 2 model is actually .29cd aero rating. Better than the C4 Vette and as good as the new C5. Smaller frontal area also.

BTW- RX-7's won their class in IMSA road racing for 6 straight years or so. If you want some handling it is a good choice. Factory aluminum hoods (on some models), aluminum control arms, aluminum spare jacks, aluminum 15x4 and 16x4 spare tires, convertible rims are 15x6.5" and weigh only 13lbs or so. Good factory brakes on 5 lug models (GXL/T2).

Stock Turbo 2 rear end can handle lots of power. Someone with a SBC and NOS ran some 9.50's@140mph+ repeatedly in his RX-7 with stock axles and no failures (that he reported at least). They are 8" ring gear and 4:10's. '86-88 is the preferred year diff as it is a rebuildable LSD with clutch packs ($50).

Nash Metropolitan would need completely new brakes, is very short unstable wheelbase, and not aerodynamic. They are cool as hell though.

Good luck,

-Mark
Old 05-11-2004 | 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Monza355
My vote would go to the Chevy Monza. It came with a V8 stock so it is beefed up in the right areas, The car can be lightened to about 2300 to 2500 with the LS1. The suspension is the same as the camaro in the back and big brakes can be added from an S10/Monte Carlo pretty easy. I belong to a club were a guy is putting the LS1 in a vega wagon, pretty slick.

Monza 355
That might be me

I am Putting a 99` C5 LS1 w/00` Camaro T56 into my custome Vega Wagon shold be around 1200kg.

Right now the project has stalled because I lost my jobb and that means no money so I am working on finding a new jobb.

Here are some pictures and some info http://www.drive4fun.net/users/era/v...S1%20pages.htm

There has been some progress since the last pictures were taken.
The engine w/trans are now sitting in the car on it`s new urethane mounts.

But there are still lots to do finish of the rear part of the trans tunnel, make the rest of the exhaust manifolds, shorten the prop shaft, fit a new clutch pedal will be Wilwood tripple master brake and clutch pedal assambly.
And loads more..

Erik A
Old 05-12-2004 | 03:13 PM
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maybe a BMW 2002 or 1600
Old 05-13-2004 | 07:49 PM
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Erik Norway,
Love your car and how you used the LS1 with the Jag rear suspension. Good luck getting a job and I'm looking forward to more pics of you dusting the competition.

Monza 355

See ya on V8Monza.com
Old 05-14-2004 | 11:46 AM
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you 'd be suprised with how much aluminum is used on the FC's
a friend of mine has a '88, and when he restored it, he polished all the aluminum suspension pieces to a mirror finish
Old 05-25-2004 | 04:17 PM
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go with the third gen rx7... best looking and most aerodynamic.. as for weight, its easy to get it down to the lower 2k lb range. plus its not that short of a wheelbase which is easy to get it down the track if traction is an issue.. if you go with a second of first gen seven beware, they may be difficult on the top end.

3rd gens are stable like a rollerskate well above 170 (i know ive proved it)
Old 05-27-2004 | 04:08 PM
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what exactly is the wheelbase on a 3rd gen Rx-7?
Old 05-27-2004 | 09:52 PM
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ill check into that, its inbetween my fox body mustang and a formula though.
Old 05-28-2004 | 03:56 AM
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I would go with a early 70's vega, they are light, look decent, and there are tons of fiberglass body parts for them.



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