Homeschooler SVX racer - Page 4

Aredubjay · #46 01-03-2004, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by svxhunter
can you imagine what a few teenage boys with hole saws and sawzalls could do??

<Spin> GASP! <Thud>

Chicane · #47 01-04-2004, 12:35 AM

I think you misunderstood my intentions. The SILVER BULLET, a famous drag car, looked fairly stock with the doors closed and glovebox shut. THe same with the SVX. Cut holes where they won't be seen.

- Rob

NomadTW · #48 01-06-2004, 01:20 AM

i agree on the hole saw/drills idea

do it in places that you can't see, all the bracing in the doors trunk floor trunk panels the pan under the rear seat...

shame that there's a style competition, or you COULD leave the roof alone but there is and your going to have to do something about it...

there are a lot of structural places that if any of you were structural engineers you could figure out where you can and can't drill holes in the structural parts of the car as well

oh and post pictures of the whole process

Mr. Pockets · #49 01-06-2004, 01:59 PM

Yet another cool thread I missed for the first few days. Hmph...

Anyway, this is a very cool project. I'm a stock purist like Randy, but I still dig this - mostly, I think, because you have a lot of respect for the car and the work put into it. You should have met the engineers at the 10th Anniversary Meet last year. Feel the love...

I don't suppose a swap to a 5-speed would fit in your budget.

Please keep posting photos. If you use your locker, you don't have to go through the tedious process of posting a new message for every image.

NomadTW · #50 01-06-2004, 10:51 PM

5mt can be done by the experienced, i'm sure you could find someone willing to donate labor to help such a worthy cause
get a used trans from junkyard for 300 bux
will deffinatley make the car faster

svxhunter · #51 01-07-2004, 05:43 AM

Actually, the 5-speed swap was the idea we started with. The front diff was shot when we bought the car. Jason Porter convinced us that suspension tuning would pay off more for autocross, which is the area of the competition we want to focus on. A donated broken trans that had the front diff parts we needed got our 4EAT running again. We will be spending the majority of our budget on the suspension. I have a 5 speed, and will do the conversion someday, but maybe not to this car. Depends if it survives the challenge! Maybe the 5 speed will end up in my driver!

Meeting the engineers would have been completely over the top!

Unfortunately, I only discovered SVX's a couple of months ago. Anyone know if there will be another upcoming opportunity to meet the engineers? Some of these kids would love that!

Regarding holes: this car will not win on the dragstrip. We are not fighting for ounces. We are looking for an overall balanced ride which can fly through the autocross. I am more concerned with weight distribution than weight. Considering the potential structural issues, and safety issues, and the fact that we need to compete for appearance also, I am going to hold back these students from making the car like a piece of swiss cheese. Thanks for the ideas, but the payoff isn't going to be enough to warrant the effort.

Our suspension swap out was supposed to be this weekend, but has been postponed 'till the 31st.

Keep SVX'n

-Paul

Mr. Pockets · #52 01-07-2004, 10:53 AM

Paul, we met a couple of the guys involved in the SVX's design and manufacturing at the SIA plant in Lafayette, IN last summer. The president of SIA, Mr. Nagano, was on the SVX staff, as was one of his employees. Mr. Nagano, as I understand it, was involved with manufacturing the SVX's body and glass and his employee managed the SVX's engine manufacturing. We had a big dinner that weekend and Mr. Nagano brought one of the first Bajas produced. We were greeted at the plant the next day with a big lunch and a tour of the facility. Apparently we were the first consumer group to be given tours.

I've said it on here several times - the looks on those engineers' faces at the sight of so many people in love with their 'failure' of a car was the highlight of the trip for me.

If you are impressed with the SVX's design, I recommend finding a copy of the Road & Track Guide to the New Subaru SVX. It shws up on eBay occasionally and one of our members hosts it online. You'll be amazed at the amount of work done by hand on this car.

http://dcss.dyn.dhs.org/svx_iw/road_track/

One of my favorite photos is the guy hand-grinding a right-hand quarter panel.

Noir · #53 01-08-2004, 02:42 PM

hey paul, mind if i drop by if i'm near americus sometime to check out your project?

svxhunter · #54 01-08-2004, 05:52 PM

Noir:

Sure you'd be welcome- we're kind of in a lull right now. Car is running, looking sad, and waiting for more attention. The holidays slowed things down.

If you're looking for a road trip, we will be doing a suspension install in a couple of weeks. That'll be a big day.

Let me know if you want to pursue it.

-Paul

NikFu S. · #55 01-08-2004, 06:10 PM

you do know everyone expects video of it running right? i mean like mobbing, not just sitting there.

svxhunter · #56 01-08-2004, 08:54 PM

You're really going to challenge my techno geeklessness!

OK, I promise.

-Paul

Noir · #57 01-08-2004, 09:38 PM

hey bub, what are you planning to do for the suspension? i'd like to come and check that out. your about 1-1.5 hours away from atlanta. i'm looking for a suspension solution to suit my driving needs. what kind of setup are you looking for? there are a few groups that will also be participating in the $2004 grassroots that will be having meetings in the near future. if you would like maybe we can sneak in and see what they have up their sleeves. i know of one vw scricco? that will be entering. possibly a subbie xt6.

NikFu S. · #58 01-08-2004, 10:55 PM

you better hope an xt6 doesnt enter. it would decrease the svx winning chance.
eh even so i still root for the svx (X). even though i love the xt6 (6) so much i no longer own one. :sad:

techno geeklessness.... heh.

svxhunter · #59 01-09-2004, 05:24 AM

A Koni ground control system with 380lb springs front, 350 lb. rear (I think). I'm confirming the specs now. Will post when design is complete. Yes, it is still a drivable street spec.

We are 2.5 hrs from the airport at the speed limit. You will need to average 160 mph to make it here in 1 hour.

A road trip to do some spying- Hmmm. Maybe I should rephrase that. A highly educational field trip.

You bet I'd be interested!

Let me know some more details!!

-Paul

Noir · #60 01-09-2004, 01:54 PM

crap it maybe today

i thought there was a date for next friday

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=480627

i'll give eric a call

and find out.