Sunbeam Alpine - Sabertooth
10-09-2016, 10:04 AM
#1
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Sunbeam Alpine - Sabertooth The stars finally aligned yesterday and I pulled the trigger on a new project.
60 Sunbeam Alpine. You have all seen a Sunbeam Tiger. With an LS1 and T56 I feel Sabertooth is a fitting name.
So here is what I have so far:
60 Alpine body - Tons of metal work including 3" steel flares at all 4 corners.
Narrowed 9" with 4.11 gears, Aerospace brakes.
Mustang II front suspension with tubular control arms.
Ladder bar rear suspension, converting to 4 bar with QA1 coil overs.
Many boxes, crates and buckets of spare parts.
I have also been shopping, so far I have acquired:
99 Corvette LS1, complete with all FEAD, pedal, tac, complete wiring and starter.
CTS-V t56.
There is so much extra stuff that I haven't been able to even start sorting through it. It even came with 2 5.0 HO ford engines and a WC T5 that will be for sale soon.
So here is an outline of the overall plan.
Must be Reliable so no big engine mods planned right away.
Light weight, target of 2500 pounds. A Tiger weighs 2554, so should be possible.
Fun, how can about 400 hp, 6 speed and 2500 pounds fail here.
Open Air of course it is a convertible.
Wheels and tires, 17x8 front with 245/45x17 and 17x10 with 295/35x17 rear. I really like the American Racing VN427 http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/...7-shelby-cobra
Interior will be red with black carpet, not sure of seats, but they will need to be narrow. I want to try to incorporate Z3 or Mazda 5 roll bars.
Exterior must be either black or a dark charcoal. Still in the air on that one.
No bumpers front or rear.
Gotta have AC, this is Atlanta after all. Gotta see what will fit under the dash area.
I have been having trouble getting the pictures to post correctly, but here goes.
The white one is the inspiration photo.
60 Sunbeam Alpine. You have all seen a Sunbeam Tiger. With an LS1 and T56 I feel Sabertooth is a fitting name.
So here is what I have so far:
60 Alpine body - Tons of metal work including 3" steel flares at all 4 corners.
Narrowed 9" with 4.11 gears, Aerospace brakes.
Mustang II front suspension with tubular control arms.
Ladder bar rear suspension, converting to 4 bar with QA1 coil overs.
Many boxes, crates and buckets of spare parts.
I have also been shopping, so far I have acquired:
99 Corvette LS1, complete with all FEAD, pedal, tac, complete wiring and starter.
CTS-V t56.
There is so much extra stuff that I haven't been able to even start sorting through it. It even came with 2 5.0 HO ford engines and a WC T5 that will be for sale soon.
So here is an outline of the overall plan.
Must be Reliable so no big engine mods planned right away.
Light weight, target of 2500 pounds. A Tiger weighs 2554, so should be possible.
Fun, how can about 400 hp, 6 speed and 2500 pounds fail here.
Open Air of course it is a convertible.
Wheels and tires, 17x8 front with 245/45x17 and 17x10 with 295/35x17 rear. I really like the American Racing VN427 http://www.americanracing.com/wheel/...7-shelby-cobra
Interior will be red with black carpet, not sure of seats, but they will need to be narrow. I want to try to incorporate Z3 or Mazda 5 roll bars.
Exterior must be either black or a dark charcoal. Still in the air on that one.
No bumpers front or rear.
Gotta have AC, this is Atlanta after all. Gotta see what will fit under the dash area.
I have been having trouble getting the pictures to post correctly, but here goes.
The white one is the inspiration photo.
10-13-2016, 05:40 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
As I said I have been shopping.
Here is the complete LS1, even has new MSD coils and wires. A bit dirty, but my LQ4 in the GTO was a total pile of rust scale.
The T56, out of a CTS-V I am told is like a T6060.
The Ford 9" with aerospace brakes came with the car. It has some sort of locker that I need to investigate. The gear set is 4.11, which is way too steep.
Can anyone give me an idea why the pictures post upside down?
Here is the complete LS1, even has new MSD coils and wires. A bit dirty, but my LQ4 in the GTO was a total pile of rust scale.
The T56, out of a CTS-V I am told is like a T6060.
The Ford 9" with aerospace brakes came with the car. It has some sort of locker that I need to investigate. The gear set is 4.11, which is way too steep.
Can anyone give me an idea why the pictures post upside down?
10-13-2016, 03:00 PM
#6
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
That looks like an older CTSV trans, so it is not a TR6060...It does have some improvements over the f-body T56, like double cone synchronizers for 1st and 2nd gears.
Andrew
Andrew
10-13-2016, 07:01 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
What I have read so far is that the shift rail style makes it a 6060 style while still being basically a T56. All I really know for sure is that it looks like the shifter should work in the location I am hoping for.
I have also been really trying to figure out a better rear suspension. The car has some really short ladder bars and coil overs right now. I think I will make use of the original front spring pockets and create a triangulated 4 bar based on the Ride-Tech kit.
It's all speculation right now. I drag the tub home Sunday.
I have also been really trying to figure out a better rear suspension. The car has some really short ladder bars and coil overs right now. I think I will make use of the original front spring pockets and create a triangulated 4 bar based on the Ride-Tech kit.
It's all speculation right now. I drag the tub home Sunday.
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10-14-2016, 05:22 AM
#9
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This is the video that made me realize it was possible. I have a plasma cutter a welder and a BFH. I can do anything!
Last edited by oldgoat69; 10-14-2016 at 05:23 AM. Reason: complete the thought
10-18-2016, 05:41 AM
#12
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Here is the exposed underbelly. My first rough measurements show that the engine will just barely clear the inner fenders and frame rails. The plan is to cut out the rails and replace them with 2x3 tubing eliminating the pinch at the crossmember.
The rear will change substantially as well. I am going to ditch the ladder bars and use the existing front spring pockets as pickup points for a triangulated 4 bar. I have a ready to go 9", but will probably narrow an 8.8. The 9" has Aerospace brakes, 4:11 gears and a spool. Not the auto cross focus I really intend.
The rear will change substantially as well. I am going to ditch the ladder bars and use the existing front spring pockets as pickup points for a triangulated 4 bar. I have a ready to go 9", but will probably narrow an 8.8. The 9" has Aerospace brakes, 4:11 gears and a spool. Not the auto cross focus I really intend.
10-21-2016, 05:32 AM
#14
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Tomorrows project is to go shopping for more parts, then level up the body and start removing the front frame rails. I hope to at least have mockup's done in the next few days.
10-21-2016, 05:53 AM
#15
Looks like the PO did some nice metal work on that car. Kinda hate seeing someone abandon a project they put so much time into, but guess you are going to fix that.
Any chance of an IRS rear? Would make that thing handle like a go kart.
Any chance of an IRS rear? Would make that thing handle like a go kart.
10-22-2016, 06:42 AM
#16
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The PO was severely injured in a car accident a couple of years ago. He was really going strong on the project until that occurred. He had the project on CL for a super low price. He said his phone was ringing off the hook. When I showed him what I had done with the GTO he took the ad down and held the car for me since he thought I stood the best chance of actually finishing the project.
I did think about an IRS. I really haven't seen one that is compact enough to fit and still handle the power. I am interested in possible options that I may have overlooked.
I did think about an IRS. I really haven't seen one that is compact enough to fit and still handle the power. I am interested in possible options that I may have overlooked.
10-22-2016, 02:54 PM
#18
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The PO was severely injured in a car accident a couple of years ago. He was really going strong on the project until that occurred. He had the project on CL for a super low price. He said his phone was ringing off the hook. When I showed him what I had done with the GTO he took the ad down and held the car for me since he thought I stood the best chance of actually finishing the project.
I did think about an IRS. I really haven't seen one that is compact enough to fit and still handle the power. I am interested in possible options that I may have overlooked.
I did think about an IRS. I really haven't seen one that is compact enough to fit and still handle the power. I am interested in possible options that I may have overlooked.
These guys make kits to mount the Ford diff in a FC RX7...
http://www.roninspeedworks.net/index...product_id=104
I bet if you contact them, they will sell you just the portion that hangs the diff. One of the guys that started the company is an actual engineer, as in a PE, so the stuff works well. His name is Joel...tell him I sent you.
The Driveshaft Shop will make you axles.
Andrew
10-23-2016, 06:34 AM
#19
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I hadn't even considered the RX7 as an option. That 8.8 kit is pretty nice. It all comes down to space and $. I only have a total of 65" from fender to fender so things are pretty narrow. I will try to get my hands on an actual RX7 to take some dimensions. I am even now toying with just modifying the Explorer rear suspension. I am trying to avoid making things too complex which leads to heavy. Keeping weight to a minimum is one of the prime directives.
10-27-2016, 05:45 AM
#20
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So I have no self restraint. After the last few replies talking about going IRS, my mind has been running wild. I found this . I think this is far better than trying to patch the thing together. Saturday will be spent scouring salvage yards with my camera, tape and plan book.
This particular effort uses an M3 rear assembly. I will look into that as well as 02-05 Explorer and who know what else.
This particular effort uses an M3 rear assembly. I will look into that as well as 02-05 Explorer and who know what else.