Can't get this thought out of my head

[1970camaroRS]

I stumbled across this interesting machine a few weeks ago:



It's a Miata with an Exomotive exoskeleton chassis replacing the body. It think it's friggin awesome, weighs 1,500lbs and is street legal in most non-repressive states. And yes, people are putting V8s in them:



What got me think was: Is the Miata really the best dollar-to-horsepower idea for something like this? Basket case Miatas go for more than $1,000 these days and the kit from Exomotive is $7,000 before shipping. What else is out there? What about the C4 Corvette? With its sub-chassis under 'birdcage' structural design, it's essentially the same thing, just a bit bigger. Strip it down to nothing so it looks like this, minus the windshield:



Add a few bars for strength/safety, add a cammed LS1 + T56 combo, wide sticky meats and go auto-crossing. With the current price of C4s and LS1 take-outs, this wouldn't be a very expensive project. It wouldn't weigh 1500lbs, but it would get under 2,000lbs I'm sure!

Think Vette-hack done right and to an ultimate conclusion.

http://bangshift.com/blog/video-hot-rod-magazine-s-vette-hack-the-full-story.html

Alas, I have two too many projects as it is right now!

Who wants to buy my Thunderbird?

[1970camaroRS]

Guess I'm alone on this...

[SuperBuickGuy]

a scaffolding car in Seattle? you do remember it rained 4" last night?

[Deaf Bob]

a scaffolding car in Seattle? you do remember it rained 4" last night?

That is one..
Two is rear looks to be IRS?
Is it FWD??
Something like that with a solid rear end and wide tires all 4 corners, manual tranny, would be fun..
As a daily runner around here?.. No.. I don't like 'verts or T-tops here..
Like the Idea tho... Realistically... PNW..needs body work and a top... Says the bike rider... Man! I sound like a freaking hypocrite!
If...if I were to make the plunge.. The black one looks like the ticket...

[Deaf Bob]

Tubular front A-arms up front... No engine cradle between them.. Wide tires up front determines how narrow the spindles are located.. Or the radiator and/or intercooler...
Seats located where you comfy sit to shift the tranny.. Engine behind the A-frames
Rear end width determined by wide tires
Rear end location is the tire at least a foot from your back/ass.. The black one seems to have the rear located pretty good..
I'd just stretch it at the A-frame/firewall area and move the radiator back.. Merely for weight bias.. Help put some weight over the rear besides a spare tire and a small locking box..
Everything else can be made to work from those locations

[1970camaroRS]

a scaffolding car in Seattle? you do remember it rained 4" last night?

How often do we autocross in the rain? I'm a fair weather hot-rodder...in Washington...yeah...

[1970camaroRS]

That is one..
Two is rear looks to be IRS?
Is it FWD??
Something like that with a solid rear end and wide tires all 4 corners, manual tranny, would be fun..
As a daily runner around here?.. No.. I don't like 'verts or T-tops here..
Like the Idea tho... Realistically... PNW..needs body work and a top... Says the bike rider... Man! I sound like a freaking hypocrite!
If...if I were to make the plunge.. The black one looks like the ticket...

It's RWD, just like any other Miata: http://exomotive.com/exocet/

We're not talking about daily driving this thing...and it's a bench race anyway, my garage is more than filled with things that need to get done.

[Deaf Bob]

It's RWD, just like any other Miata: http://exomotive.com/exocet/

We're not talking about daily driving this thing...and it's a bench race anyway, my garage is more than filled with things that need to get done.

Oh. Kit car... That actually improves the base car...

[racingsnake440]

Guess I'm alone on this...

No I think it's a great idea too. I'd actually contemplated getting a C4 and putting a gutted subcompact body over the top as a fun track day/auto cross car but I've got too many projects already as well ...

[DanStokes]

A couple of thoughts:

Why does everyone hate on the Miata? I see it a sort of modern MGB and nobody disses them. It's just a great little basic sports car. A bit underpowered I know - but so was the "B". Somehow it was decided that the Miata was a "girls car" but I just don't see it that way.

And what's wrong with the C4? I think they are the sports car bargain of the century right now. An engine swap and bolt-on brakes and suspension away from a Ferrari (and I LOVE Ferraris). But like the Miata, they get no respect either.

I think either the Miata exoskeleton or a similar C4 version would be a ton of fun, especially here where we have a LOT of sunshine.

Dan

[1970camaroRS]

If this was closer to me, I might be in trouble!

http://www.racingjunk.com/Susp-Chassis-Steering/181963431/1986-C4-Corvette-Rolling-Chassis-Frame.html

[68 Valiant]

Interesting. Probably could build it a lot cheaper with a tubing bender and some steel.

[Beagle]

I'm glad I'm not into this idea, that bastard is about 30 miles from me. I'd do the tubing and a 'busa mill route.

C4's rode like a brick, the C5 rode like a Cadillac in comparison. I think you'd be money ahead to steal some geometry off of it or the Ariel Atom and go with the tubing like 68 Valiant mentions.

[Beagle]

by "not into this idea" I mean I wouldn't want to do it with a 'vette... your MGB I get. I would do that...

[Thumpin455]

plans in motion to build something like that during my stay in Nebraska, not with a freakin miata though