hard top
 

I'm just trying to get past this week. The first step is the base car. We'll then take the interior from Lola T-70 style race interior (lightweight aluminum dimple die panels) to a more complete, road-going interior seen in the renderings. We'll probably have four rollbar options (single hoop, double hoop, single cage, double cage) which will keep us busy. The next step after that is a proper windscreen. By "proper", I mean it's not the plexiglass knuckle protector in the renderings, but still would not be tall. At all.

THEN maybe we can talk about a top...

This being mt.net, I have one thing to say.

Megasquirt that ----.

body build
 

Long time no post. It looks like in the next 10-14 days the bodywork will be made. Once upon a time this meant hammering steel or aluminum over wooden and leather bucks. No longer. Here's the process:

a) Female master--A cnc machine once owned by NASA will machine out each individual part in female. Another option would be to machine the whole car in male, set up wax sheet partitions for body panels and make a female part. Our method is a bit more complex, but should yield a better part.

b) Male plug--The female master will be sanded, epoxied and prepared to make a part. This part will become the male plug. The resulting part can be pulled from the master and put directly on the car. This is where we do fitment, final changes to the shape, and clean the male plug up to perfection.

This is an important step--the bodywork and the frame are basically two different software files. They've been combined so we can see where the bodywork is supposed to go around. As we didn't have a Miata engine drawing to drop in the frame file, we had to take general dimension. In other words, we have clearance of as little as 1/2" for some critical parts, and WE DON'T KNOW yet if they really will fit! Stressful? You bet! This is the MOST EXPENSIVE part of the build, and to screw up means a lot of money lost.

c) Final mold--The male plug will be used to make the final molds. Many of the molds will require 2 and 3 pieces to make one body part, as otherwise some of the body curves would lock a part in the mold. Not good. Did I mention EXPENSIVE?

Pictures to come...

so what your saying is no v8 swaps without bodywork modification...

I want one that makes this sound:

hopefully my business starts to pickup (early days) and I can start saving for your kit.

If you want a v8 kit car you have tons of options so personally I don't think that should be a priority here. That said, if the v8 can fit in the Miata I would think you should be able to make it fit in a car based on the miata. I'm sure a crafty person could make it fit but it is all speculation at this point.

I don't think many people will spend a crap load of money on a car like this but I bet people would spend a moderate amount of money to buy a tube frame that a DIY guy could assemble in a garage and transplant miata parts on to and have a working, super light weight car. they they could upgrade items as they fit going forward. to reduce expense I would use stock miata pretty much everything, including body panels and use Carbon fiber or fiberglass to mold rear fenders or any body part that is not easily removed from the tub. Perhaps the catfish frame can be built to accommodate either by adding or subtracting or moving a couple pieces.

I don't know what the weight would be but I can only assume people would get very excited about loosing 500 pounds and have a car that looks stock from a distance. I would get in line right away for this and I think others would too. it would be sooo sweet, like a mini GT1 car on a budget and no one offers anything like this that I know of.

I would like a v8 for the sound of the one posted about and the reliable power with great torque curve...

the v8 might not fit in the bodywork as cordy stated above clearance was as little as 1/2" in places.

the reason I want this kit car is I like it.

the v8 isnt a priority but it would be fricken awesome to have that much hp in something so light

yeah i get it, and you are right, a v8 in a light body is always a good idea, just sayin, plenty of competition. a commercially available tube frame to fit a stock looking body would really be a new concept and open doors for the diy track guy. who knows perhaps I can just get him to make me one.

The new Porsche 911S has 400HP and weighs a svelte 3,075lbs. Power to weight 7.6:1

The Catfish with a nice low psi turbo will give 225hp at 1,500lbs. Power to weight 6.66:1

As you all know, this is the number of "The Beast", and this car will be a BEAST to drive. :) Porsche has spent hundreds of millions of dollars developing brakes, suspension and electronic devices to make a bad driver better. The Catfish has NONE of this. It will be a 'driver's car', and reward those with talent one of the most fun experiences out there. That's what we're shooting for.

That said, we've already fit an LS2 V8 into our frame. Unlike the Miata, we were able to change the firewall shape and allow for the width of the larger transmission via the tube frame.

A little creativity should get 'er done, but 400hp in a car weighing an estimated 1,800-1,900lbs with an 89" wheelbase will be a crazy drive.

Will you take a check? :P

can you ball park estimate the difference in weight between a stock stripped Miata tub with all body work and the catfish with tube frame, w/ tunnel , floor, fire wall, bodywork?

from your previous post, I'm guessing it would be in the range 300- 400 lbs lighter than a miata, that sound about right?

A v8 in something like this is just plain excessive.
I mean seriously, where do you draw the line? lol
Might as well get one of these too:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1335728009

Loving the progress of this thread though, its always nice to see someone who has a plan and knows how to execute it go about their business: every update is full of win.

Only if it's post-dated and from a Nigerian bank. :)

I frankly still don't know what this car will cost, but I'm doing everything I can to offer a base car that's affordable. It's really hard to do when considering the cost and expense of starting from scratch with a new concept, a new frame, and basically new everything. It all needs to be documented, tested, and essentially created from zero, but within a set framework. It ain't easy to do it right.

The target weight of 1,500lbs will be with racing seats and without the extra trappings. A full cage will take the weight up, along with fire suppression and other requirements of a race car. Then again, other parts may come out, like the passenger seat. If I remember, stock Miata weight is 2,100 - 2,350lbs, so I think people could see a minimum weight drop of 500-600lbs, or two football players.

Included is Mule #1 with the LS2. Frankly the V8 would be crazy, but for some "crazy" is just right.

omg

I am speechless. LS2 v8 in a 1500lb car.

Unless it's a Hartley V8 the weight will creep up to 1,800 - 1,900lbs, so you'll need all that extra horsepower to push that heavy car around.:)

BUT, the fact you mocked one up and adjusted to suit must mean some crazy still leaves here right? :)

We cater to "crazy".

That could be your business' motto. Or signature, whatever.

dear god cordy the way you think is amazing.

cmon money....

I'm a little bit crazy for starting this project in the first place...

Purely out of curiosity, I wonder what one of these would weigh with a Hayabusa motor?