Well, a lot depends on how you feel about aspects of the 917 and if its the mystique of that particular car for you. I am reading that its a strong possibility.
Personally, I love me some Lola T70 Spyder, and RCR has that option as well. Integrity to mystique would be maintained pretty well with pretty much any chevy V8 there. But it might be that you prefer the Porsche mystique. (they have the enclosed version if you really dont want it open, I just love the spyder)
What about a flat-6 powered 904 replica? Beck does a 904 and I have seen it running at Carlisile at the autocross in the past. That is a VERY loveable car that carries the porsche DNA and can be done to a fun, but not overwhelming performance level without it being a let-down.
I guess there is a part of me (and I imagine some others) that would feel let down on a 917 replica that doesnt live up to the performance of the real thing, plus the disconnect with it not having the 12cyl engine. Resale value might have the same kind of deal, who knows?
If its gotta be the 917, I would go for turbo-6 porsche if 12cylinders isnt feasible. If you went to resale, most people dropping that money would tend to be porsche people and the chevy power would not go down the best with many of them limiting the market and probable resale value.
That all said, let down is a strong word combination. Any of the options you presented would still be awesome and the term is only meant to be used comparatively amongst the options. Plus, I gotta cop to a Lola T70 spyder being one of my personal favorite cars of all time.
Love me some beck 904 too.
But I mean, Lola T70 replicating the Canam cars... mmmmm
mainlandboy said:
Another vote from me for a Porsche 904 replica. So beautiful!
https://www.motor1.com/news/30284/gullwing-america-p-904-carrera-envisions-1960s-modern-day-classic/
OMG i love the 904, but those wheels deserve a slapsgiving style slapfest.
OK I really need to go through this tread and reply to some very well thought out stuff here.
But first let me put this down with what I have learned so its all in one plate.
First thing I needed to find out was can I even insure this thing and the answer is yes. They will limit the street miles to 1K a year and I cannot drive it to the office except on Friday and 75% of the miles need to be going to and from car shows. It not terrible and the car is covered when it is at a show or being used on display as long as I tell them where it is being used. Also someone can borrow it for a youtube show say and it can be covered under their policy.
Two I actually will fit in it with some cleaver modifications, a mechanic who has worked and driven an original I know has said you must wear a helmet in it and you must wear a HANS if you are going to drive it. Apparently there is a bar right in front of your head if you are taller then say 5 '10 that you will hit without seat modification. This is thing I will have to get over but apparently there are FIA seats that will fit inside one of these things. I sent him some photos I found online and he is looking to see if it is still there. RCR offers a full certified cage and yeah that is getting ordered. His other statement is that the doors even on the originals feel like paper and you get plenty of fresh air with plexi sliders in the door glass.
Three can I even run it on the track. So apparently you can run anything you want at Thermal as long as the wheels on the ccar.. In a no passing or flag passing day this is considered a closed wheel car on other tracks nobody seems to care and with Atoms and other death karts getting out on the track this is not the issue I was thinking it would be. Getting it out on historic days would likely be acceptable as well depending on how high class they are.
Asking a friend who races a 550 spyder replica in vintage tours and they are fine with the replicas coming along as well as long as they are mostly authentic. This would be fun.
So couple things on build. I have a guy who does some engine work for me and after about two hours we just keep coming back to a stock LS1 with as much oil cooling as you can throw at it. Honestly I think 350hp is a lot for a car like this and he thinks if something blows just stick anther short block in it and move on. We both have Porsche experience and making 350HP that is very reliable out of a oil cooled motor is just not in budget and would require to much work for what I want to do with the car. HE is very worried about noise though he does not see how any of these options will meet track db maximums without some serious bodging.
On a personal note all my biopsies came back clean but I need to go in for another CT scan in the next couple weeks. Also apparently it will fit on a lift above the viper in my garage. Made some boxes to simulate the size. So if the Caddie and the thunderbird go everything would fit in the garage including my wives car. Budget for this I was expecting to be in the 100K range but looking at it closer I could build a registered running car for about 80K. Lets say 85K with some extras thrown in. So its not that bad really for what you get. Now I still want the viper to go to a good home but selling the caddi and thunderbird at a discount would at least get the ball rolling i terms of space to build.
Now the price is not a sticking point right now, space to build is, but if I did the basic order and got it say at the end of the year I could order the motor and transmission in February when bonus time rolls around likely have it on the road in say July of 2021 without paint.
What you looking at for exhaust packaging and what are the DB limits you are trying to meet? Do you have to meet any kind of emissions?
I guess one decision point would be to go 180* headers or not. Going with them would give you more awesome sound, but might limit room for mufflers/etc. I guess one aspect of the 917k is how open it is below the tail, so aesthetic concerns are there for mufflers.
I was thinking ventalation would be pretty bad in one of those, but could be wrong.
Sounds like a great idea to me.
My first thought was, "do you fit in one?" but you seem to have addressed that.
A LS with 180 headers should "fix" some of the V8 sound concerns. It would at least sound somewhat exotic, even if you pop the rear cover and show it's not. Granted, if you have to install cats to meet CA requirements, that may go out the window (not sure what SB100 requirements are).
I would imagine if trips with the wife on P-car tours is in the plans, A/C may be a requirement.
So when does the build thread start? 
SB100 registration on MSO means ZERO smog in California. Which is a blessing. Still going through regs to make sure it meats minimum heights and weights and anything else new that they happened to add since I did the cobra years ago.
Also my brother in law does film work for Hollywood and a bunch of other things so we may do something fun like a YouTube series.
On a very cool note if I build myself a friend who is an ex nascar tech who is retired may fly out and stay a month with me and help do the build. Apparently its very cold in Iowa in winter and he wants to learn to surf and get some sun.
Dude, I would totally watch a YouTubes page where you and your buddy build and mess around with that thing. Definitely.
D2W
Dork
6/25/20 5:51 p.m.
I think all your plans are perfect. I don't think an LS in a replica is going to effect value much at all. Way more potential than the flat six too.
What is the shortest stroke LS motor you can build?
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:
A LS with 180 headers should "fix" some of the V8 sound concerns. It would at least sound somewhat exotic, even if you pop the rear cover and show it's not. Granted, if you have to install cats to meet CA requirements, that may go out the window (not sure what SB100 requirements are).
A flat plane crank could also make the sound more exotic and challenging to identify.
LS with flat plane crank autocross
The state of California has some rules as you would expect this pertains to cars that do not have a production model you are basing your car on. IE if you are building say a 904/550 you can run them in a similar configuration as to what they were when they were built in the 50's. (Edit to Clarify if there is a street legals version at one point and its in the system IE there are original 550's registered in California)
So the things I can cheat a little on or "fix" for inspection.
Car is too low, does not have dot headlights. Needs side mirrors and rear view mirror.
Things I cannot cheat on.
Car does not have adequate covering of rear tires, exhaust needs to be covered, car must have bumpers, there is a minimum height for headlights. you need windshield wipers that function to inspectors idea of safe. Inspectors have a lot of leeway on what is and what is not acceptable. Apparently there are two local guys and one is a stickler for details.
So this puts it in major limbo, clearly I can build it for track use only. So throwing some ideas around of a 904/550 now because I can get away with a TON more, or doing something like a 32 roadster built for track/street/autocross or even a grand sport replica that popped up locally. I am still going to do this but I may need to reconsider what state I actually register the car in and how much I really want to skirt California law to do so.
I didn't see it mentioned earlier in the thread, but was watching a YouTube video on the W12. That might be a good compromise between heritage and modern technology.
No Time said:
I didn't see it mentioned earlier in the thread, but was watching a YouTube video on the W12. That might be a good compromise between heritage and modern technology.
I was looking at This as well. Biggest thing was that they already had mounts and setups for LS and Porsche that took 90% of the engineering I would have to do on a project like this out of the equation. Front engine if it fits in the hole I can put a engine in it, sometimes even if it does not. Mid engine with transmission alignement and just total packaging I would prefer that somebody else has done the heavy lifting.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
I think that you may be looking at the SB100 rules TOO closely. Many a kit car has gone through without bumpers. And side pipes are all over the place. My seven replica was barely even looked at. They took the egr valve much more seriously than anything safety related.
I seriously doubt that the replica still has a piece of tubing within easy striking distance of one's head. That's the sort of thing that replica manufacturers take artisitic license on.
I'm firmly in the Porsche camp. Should be better resale, makes the right sounds, Porsche engines are pretty reliable, and you aren't really locked into having the fastest thing ever, so why not?
Pulled the trigger today. Spent some time on the phone with a owner and yeah it's a bit much. The tightness is part of it but all in the car is maybe another 20% more then even my biggest estimates
so dad and I went on a 300 mile road trip to look at a few vintage race cars and even some formula cars. Last stop was to vintage spiders to see what they could do and had in stock.
After about a 15 minute tour I was completely sold on their cars. I used to do repair work on 550/356 outlaw replicas so this is in my wheelhouse
So I ordered a 550 spyder kit with all the track goodies. They quote 90 days to get me everything I need but have a body in stock that is almost ready to go so I could have it in July. I paid for everything so very minimal fab work is required. Front beam is on. The engine mounts are already installed and they are installing the hydrologic shifter for me. Doors are hung and it's even blocked out for paint.
sent an offer out to a friend to but his 1776 dual carb motor-transmission combo and I am talking with a company that makes front and rear auto Ross/track brakes. My cage guy can do everything in a weekend he says for peanuts.
photos to come but I am in the car driving home.
IMG_0375.HEIC
Excited for you and too see pictures when it's delivered.
In my opinion, this is what winning looks like.
So it will be a replica of this car the one that pushed me over the edge.
It will have black darts in the rear though, it will have a full aluminum interior. WIll build it in a couple stages but the long term plan is a 1776 motor with a small turbo and reall really sticky tires on all ends.
Awesome choice. I love me some 550 speedster. Saw one that was Subaru powered that left me in some awe a few years back, if you are looking for ideas.
Congrats on the purchase
Cool choice ,
Please post pics when you do the brake upgrade ,
