JayL

iTrader: (12)

Been thinking a lot lately about what my next project might be. Keep thinking about putting a turbocharged LS2 into my current car, but I kind of like my car the way it is. I think I should make my current car into a daily and move on to a something different.

Tonight I started looking at kit cars and thought that a Westfield with a LS2 would be a fun little project. Am I crazy thinking this? Have I just had one too many tonight?

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

Yes, you've had a few too many.



2 liter Ford Ecotec powered, 270hp. Car goes 0-60 in under 4 seconds. 0-100-0 is quicker in the R500 than a GTR... I'm all for LSx swaps but dude... No. Seriously. No.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I'm also all for LSx powered cars, but no. Not only would that be WAY more power than you would ever be able to use/ put down, but the weight in the front probably would mess up the handling to the point it would ruin the little car. I would want a good balance, maybe 250whp from a turbo 1.8 or something around that. I mean, you are talking about a car that weighs half of what ours do stock, and then adding 150whp over factory, or 2 1/2 times to power. Fun

I have also been wanting one, but can't afford one right now. As soon as I can I may. The cost the fun ratio is awesome. A car that you build yourself for under $30k that performs that well and turns that many heads...

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

If you're really wanting some LSX brute force, get an Ultima kit car. They're pretty sexy and REEK of supercar style....


Heres one with Twin-turbochargers...




This is the CanAM targa version of the GTR...

Laur3ns

R500 FTW. Ultima, yes - if you know how to handle a beast like that.

TurboRoach

iTrader: (3)

How about you drop your car off at FM. Have the LSx put in and your current motor put in the Westy. Then you get to have both! I'll even drive one of them home for you.

Laur3ns

Is that a huge catch-can?
(Lower left)

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Dry sump oil tank? If I had that Ultima, I could sit for hours and just stare at the rear. Of course when I wasn't out driving around with a raging boner from the LS7 behind my head. (or whatever is under those intercoolers)

curly

iTrader: (25)

NA6C-Guy, read up on FM's sight. Their huge marketing point for the kits is that it only adds 200lbs to the car, with only 66% of that weight over the front wheels, it doesn't mess up the balance any more than a turbo does. His current engine has 355hp, which is right where a baseline lsx kit would give him, although the power bands are obviously completely different. God I want one. I certainly wouldn't turbocharge it though, if I had the money I'd do it to escape the reliability issues of the turbo.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

I've been a cheap *** my entire life. I've saved a lot and invested a lot. We have paid off our house and with the exception of a few thousand owed on our Lava MSM (which will be paid off in a couple of months) we don't owe anyone anything. At some time I know that I must get out of the saving mode and into the spending mode. I just can't be a tight *** my entire life. I plan on using my next project car to do that. I'll officially start on my 45th b-day (Feb 2012). The two cars I am looking at: LS-1 Miata and Seven Kit car. I bought Keith Tanner's kit car book and read it cover to cover several times. I've stared at the V8 project web pages for months. I've had a really hard time deciding which way to go but I think the V8 is where I am going to end up. The main factor that is pushing me that way is usability of the car. I just sold a race car that didn't have heat, AC, top, radio, etc. The car rarely came out of the garage and I didn't get to show it off. My 1900 pound / 230 HP Miata was Westfield like compared to what the V8 Miata will be BUT I'll be able to take it to car shows on a rainy day, I'll be able to drive it to work, I'll be able to have the Metallica cranked up when I pull up beside you at a stop light, etc. No, it isn't half the car that the Westfield would be but I don't think that is what I am really shooting for now. 10 years after starting the project I'll be 55 and sitting in a hardtop LS-1 Miata waiting for my wife to come out of Walmart with some Tide and Saltines. I doubt I get that much use out of my Westfield. Of course, if I hung out at the track all weekend like some of you guys my decision would probably be different but I think I want to actually use my $30,000 toy.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

a GTM supercar would be cool









they only take a week to build :
Day-By-Day Build-up of the new GTM

rharris19

iTrader: (41)

I have never driven an LS1 miata , but i have driven a seven. The seven feels amazing. There is nothing that you could ever drive that makes you feel so connected with the road. I would say that you should find a way to drive both and see what you think. The westfield just may win you over.

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

But...... You're talking about 200 pounds added to a 2400# car, OP is talking about adding 200 pounds to a 1200 pound car..

Having never driven a Seven replica at all I can't honestly tell you how they handle first hand, but I've seen SIMILAR cars at auto-x with 500hp V8 engines and I can tell you that is WAY too much power for that small and light of a vehicle. It'd be completely useless under anything over maybe 1/2 to 3/4 throttle as you'd be living in a complete world of oversteer everywhere you went. Wet streets? Don't even wanna go there....

levnubhin

iTrader: (30)

I'd love to build one of these........

Cost with a donor car would be about 10k.
"Weighing in at just half a ton standard Focus power will give you a staggering 235 BHP per ton"




Six-River Racing
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JayL

iTrader: (12)

I've looked at a few others, but somehow I'm just drawn to this particular design. There would be no way I would do just a traditional build with it, it would have to be special. I would definitely look a bit different than any other. As for the LS2 or whatever, I'm not too worried about adding the extra weight to the front. There would be enough added to the rear to keep it balanced. Like everything that I build, it would see street duty and occasionally hit the drag strip. I've had my road course fun in the past and I'm pretty sure those days are behind me. Something a little scary is exactly what I need in this next project. My current car is starting to feel slow so I either have to start planning on something new or add more to what I have. Keep the the thoughts and ideas coming though.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

yeah, poor man's atom is definitely the coolest. When you look at tire, brake, and all the other expensive crap, light 4-bangers make more sense. Its also a bit more challenging to kill yourself in one.

leatherface24

iTrader: (10)

the poor mans atom * edit: hustler beat me to the post*. i like it.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

There's another alternative. The Stalker , which is simply a seven on steroids. Uses S-10 suspension parts, and a GM V-6, with slightly larger main frame rails to support the extra weight. A bit more power than a normally aspirated Miata engine, and weighing in at about 1400#, so not a lot heavier, either. I've seen examples with a supercharger as well. I looked into them before I got the Miata.

Lots of go-fast parts for that V-6, available cheap. Suspension/brake parts are dirt cheap too. Lots of options for wheels, too. I talked to the guy who makes them, and another one who built one, and it looks to be a fairly straighforward build. Not a lot of fabrication, but mostly wrenching.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Well how about that! I saw the homebrew one that the fellow at HMT built, but I've never seen a kit version of an Atomesque vehicle before. Kinda wondered what was taking so long.

It's not the beautifulest thing in the world (something has to be done about the nose) but the weight is right and the price is right. Slap a turbocharged 'Busa or ZX14 engine into it.

Actually, that VStorm is an interesting looking beast as well. For registration purposes, a person might stick a 60s vintage VW engine and transmission into it (so as to be emissions exempt forever) and then go wild after that.

kotomile

iTrader: (24)