EvasiveEF9
10-05-2007, 09:50 PM
It's something I've done alot of dreaming, thinking, and conjuring up of ideas, blueprints, plans, how I want things to work, and how to make them work...but I'm halfway seriously considering building my own car. Think about it...
I've got nothing but time waiting to get into the military.
I've got a garage full of parts and crap for cars.
I've got access to any part I may need.
I've got full access to a collision center, and all of it's goodies.
I've got the knowledge on how cars work, etc.
Plus, it's MAD bragging rights! Picture it...someone walks up, and they're like "Dude, I know more about cars than you" and I'd be like "oh yeah? yeah? I...built a ****ing car. Fromt scratch. Thanks."
Yes...I know I'm possibly thinking ahead of myself and getting in deep, and there's alot to consider in doing something like this...but how badass would it be to actually do it?
It would look something along the lines of the Ariel Atom/Atom 2...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/397256895_b2efb7b2f0.jpg?v=0
It would be a basic setup. I would take one of the engines I have in the basement and do some building to the tune of...throw a number out...200hp. The atom consists of 300hp using a supercharged cobalt SS ECOtec motor in the states, and a K20 over in the UK (where the car originated) Once the engine was complete, a subframe and mounts would be built around it...a cage, almost... The axle mounts would then be mounted, and then the rear suspension (independant, obviously) with brakes, and finally axles added in. Exhaust would be added, and I would have my drivetrain completed.
Next would come the 2 seats which would be mounted immediately in front of the motor. The intake would be set for the motor just up and back of the two seats (similar to the indy cars). The seats would be mounted to frames/sliders from...say...a civic or integra, and they would be customized to mount to part of the frame (similiar to that of the lotus elise). The cage and subframe would be extended further, and pedals and a steering columb would be mounted. The shifting setup would have to be customized and re-done in order to shift properly (seeing as the honda tranny-shift nubs aim towards the back of the car) and the shifter would be reversed (IE, pull for first, push for second, and so on and so forth) Being a cable tranny, the clutch would be easy. A master cylinder could be mounted to the pedal assembly. Lines would be run later...
The frame would then be extended again to mate the steering rack to it's column and frame, and pushed out to either side of the car. Upper control arms and lower would be mounted, and the front wheels positioned at the ends of the steering rack. Brakes would go in, as well, and the brake lines would be bent and run.
At this point, aside from lights, I would have a fully functional vehicle with power, brakes, and tracking at the tune of say...1200-1500lbs and RWD.
Lights would be easy to run and would be hard mounted to the frame.
Now the body. The body would probably have a sheet of sheetmetal placed for the floor. Fiberglass would be formed around the body (where I wanted it) and I would steal a motorcycle windshield to place for wind deflectors.
At this point...I would have a fun-ass car that could be street legal, and still taken to the track. Lightweight, and plenty of power to back it. It would be open cockpit...so AC isn't neccessary.
Basically, I've seen the way Panteras, Elises, and Atoms, and I've got a good understanding of how to do it. It's just having the geometric shapes, angles, and placements with proper structural support and braces. As for the shape and body, the look of it would be VERY much similar to that of the Atom...just...different body panels. But the front would still come down to angle similar to the atom.
Being that I've got access in the shop, and plenty of connections, I don't think many would have a hard time helping me out to perfect it...so long as they got recognized. No...not looking for freebies. But a car that's hand-built, hand-made...if done properly...is going to turn a butt-load of heads. I'm not doing it for recognition and attention. I wanna build it because I love cars...and it'll be my masterpiece to prove I can build a car...and to prove my knowledge. Plus...it's a challenge. A challenge I think I can accomplish...
Thoughts, ideas, suggestions...wanna help? Wanna donate? Parts, cash, beer?
Get talking. I think it'd be fun as ****.
I've got nothing but time waiting to get into the military.
I've got a garage full of parts and crap for cars.
I've got access to any part I may need.
I've got full access to a collision center, and all of it's goodies.
I've got the knowledge on how cars work, etc.
Plus, it's MAD bragging rights! Picture it...someone walks up, and they're like "Dude, I know more about cars than you" and I'd be like "oh yeah? yeah? I...built a ****ing car. Fromt scratch. Thanks."
Yes...I know I'm possibly thinking ahead of myself and getting in deep, and there's alot to consider in doing something like this...but how badass would it be to actually do it?
It would look something along the lines of the Ariel Atom/Atom 2...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/397256895_b2efb7b2f0.jpg?v=0
It would be a basic setup. I would take one of the engines I have in the basement and do some building to the tune of...throw a number out...200hp. The atom consists of 300hp using a supercharged cobalt SS ECOtec motor in the states, and a K20 over in the UK (where the car originated) Once the engine was complete, a subframe and mounts would be built around it...a cage, almost... The axle mounts would then be mounted, and then the rear suspension (independant, obviously) with brakes, and finally axles added in. Exhaust would be added, and I would have my drivetrain completed.
Next would come the 2 seats which would be mounted immediately in front of the motor. The intake would be set for the motor just up and back of the two seats (similar to the indy cars). The seats would be mounted to frames/sliders from...say...a civic or integra, and they would be customized to mount to part of the frame (similiar to that of the lotus elise). The cage and subframe would be extended further, and pedals and a steering columb would be mounted. The shifting setup would have to be customized and re-done in order to shift properly (seeing as the honda tranny-shift nubs aim towards the back of the car) and the shifter would be reversed (IE, pull for first, push for second, and so on and so forth) Being a cable tranny, the clutch would be easy. A master cylinder could be mounted to the pedal assembly. Lines would be run later...
The frame would then be extended again to mate the steering rack to it's column and frame, and pushed out to either side of the car. Upper control arms and lower would be mounted, and the front wheels positioned at the ends of the steering rack. Brakes would go in, as well, and the brake lines would be bent and run.
At this point, aside from lights, I would have a fully functional vehicle with power, brakes, and tracking at the tune of say...1200-1500lbs and RWD.
Lights would be easy to run and would be hard mounted to the frame.
Now the body. The body would probably have a sheet of sheetmetal placed for the floor. Fiberglass would be formed around the body (where I wanted it) and I would steal a motorcycle windshield to place for wind deflectors.
At this point...I would have a fun-ass car that could be street legal, and still taken to the track. Lightweight, and plenty of power to back it. It would be open cockpit...so AC isn't neccessary.
Basically, I've seen the way Panteras, Elises, and Atoms, and I've got a good understanding of how to do it. It's just having the geometric shapes, angles, and placements with proper structural support and braces. As for the shape and body, the look of it would be VERY much similar to that of the Atom...just...different body panels. But the front would still come down to angle similar to the atom.
Being that I've got access in the shop, and plenty of connections, I don't think many would have a hard time helping me out to perfect it...so long as they got recognized. No...not looking for freebies. But a car that's hand-built, hand-made...if done properly...is going to turn a butt-load of heads. I'm not doing it for recognition and attention. I wanna build it because I love cars...and it'll be my masterpiece to prove I can build a car...and to prove my knowledge. Plus...it's a challenge. A challenge I think I can accomplish...
Thoughts, ideas, suggestions...wanna help? Wanna donate? Parts, cash, beer?
Get talking. I think it'd be fun as ****.