I recently came into the possession (awesome birthday gift) of an unknown make, bare formula vee frame from the mid 80's. All I know about the car is that it came from Canada (picked it up at the boarder), and it had a twin that raced in the 80's but hasn't been seen in 15+ years. I see some things I would want to change around, but all in all it seems to be a good base, and it was cheap. I can't start working on it yet because I am currently 350 miles away from my garage, but I've started getting parts together. I have a stock 1600dp engine, a swing axle transmission, full front link pin suspension, and brand new brakes left over from other acvw projects to put it together with. With a little luck I'd like to be able to throw it together cheap over the winter and spring and do some low buck autox with it while I sort it out and clean it up. I eventually would like to have it be a full prepped solo vee, but for now free > spending.
Solo Vee......the most autocross fun you can have with 40 HP ! I had one 20 years ago. Great fun.
That's really cool. Do you have a body for it?
I can't wait. Last season the Cavalier left me missing the Miata, and I'm hoping this proves to be even more fun. I just need to drop a few pounds to fit between the 14" frame rails. I sat in it in my dorm's parking lot and it was a rather tight fit. Since then I've stopped eating cold stone creamery and started playing hockey daily instead so that should be taken care of soon enough.
The body is the only major hurtle I need to overcome, as it didn't come with one. For solo I only need body back to the end of the cockpit so it shouldn't be too bad. I figured worst case I can make a nose cone then flat sides and top. Ideally I've always wanted to learn how to work with fiberglass, so hopefully this I'll give me a reason/motivation to.
Forgot to say that I also got 2 sets of trailing arms and an exhaust thrown in with the frame.
Maybe you can find some bodywork here:
http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/index.php
That's actually the first place I started looking for bodywork. I'd love to find something from another car, but being a broke college kid cheap will probably prevale (for now at least). The way it's looking I should be able to get it running sub 1k
ratghia wrote:
but being a broke college kid cheap will probably prevale (for now at least). The way it's looking I should be able to get it running sub 1k
since it's canadian, you have to follow the bob and doug mackenzie method of converting from sae to metric on that estimate, ie "double it and add 30."
for example, i don't see any brake lines, fuel lines, fuel tank, brake master cylinder, etc. i know you'll get it together inexpensively, but don't be surprised if you have to redefine "inexpensively" to do so. ;-)
I agree completely. That's hardly a steadfast number, more like a random current target. I have the major components, but its that last 10 percent of small stuff that always seems to cost the most. I did get an 8 gallon cell, 3 tilton masters, and 2 harnesses so that should help some.
Well after a long wait the chassis finally made it home. For the past few months I've had it stored near campus waiting for a vehicle large enough to bring it to my house.
cdowd
Reader
5/22/13 3:02 p.m.
That looks like alot of fun for the money.
Chris
being Canadian this is probably the correct body work
Awesome find. Look forward to seeing how it turns out.
Anything I can donate to the cause?
I actually think I've got all that I'll need laying around. Today I rebuilt a set if front brakes and built a front beam for the car. I'll need to weld in adjuster and swap the lower torsion bars for a internal sway bar before I race it. Right now I'm just trying to get the car together so I can make sure I have everything I need. Then I plan on taking it apart, making it pretty and getting it to race spec.
