kit car

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

hey kcpaz, in your experience with boxsters, do you think there would be any economy/market in building a tube frame that utilized the boxster front and rear sub-frames (w/ steering, suspension, brakes, even engine/transmission)? from what I can see, if you use the complete assemblies, it wouldn't be that complicated - the front sub-frame is a pretty much stand-alone unit, and the rear as well. or just easier/cheaper to build from scratch?

For a track toy maybe, I think the key is the required level of fit & finish. The Shelby Series 1 used mostly Corvette C4 suspension components, bolted to a custom aluminum tube frame/tub. C4 steering knuckles were used front & rear by swaping sides in the rear like a Boxster. C4 knuckles are forged, C5 knuckles are nearly identical but not forged. Shelby's contract with Oldsmobile included free GM parts for the 1st 5 prototype cars. Shelby was allowed to buy production intent parts directly from the vendors that manufactured them. I was amazed to see the largest C4 brake rotors (13.5" Z-51??) cost $37.50.

[The Radium King]

yeah, I was thinking more personal track toy made out of broken boxsters. if you look at this image of the front subframe, it looks very easy to pick-up whole assembly (pick up the subframe at each side, pick up the struts):

http://www.planet-9.com/attachments/981-cayman-boxster-service-tech/31778d1371159437-getting-your-981-jack-stands-2013_porsche_boxster_s_suspension_and_brakes_photo _447065_s_1280x782.jpg

ditto the rear (as above, with an additional cross-member to pick-up engine mount/control arms/braces):

http://www.planet-9.com/attachments/981-cayman-boxster-service-tech/31912d1371501498-getting-your-981-jack-stands-2013_porsche_boxster_s_suspension_and_brakes_photo _447064_s_1280x782.jpg

find the body of your choice, set length and build cage to suit and off to the races.

[The Radium King]

very simplified (struts would have to get tied into the main assembly, more cross-bracing would be required, etc.) but the concept is there.

[kcpaz]

Also, if I were going to build a kit car, I would not use a strut type suspension. Too many compromises and the height of the strut limits body designs. I would do an a-arm suspension using the Boxster uprights

[BYprodriver]

Yeah pretty easy, just opposite of how to make a billet wheel where you just cut away everything that doesn't look like a wheel.


Actually, once the Series 1 engineering team of 3 had the C-4 suspension mock up in place it took almost a year to finalize the aluminum square box tubing frame. Although this was a DOT & EPA approved street car using GM passenger car subassembly's mostly from the F-body cars. Chief engineer was really good & best boss I ever had. Once we finished the 5 prototype test cars & production car issues he went to work for Multi-Matic in Canada.

[The Radium King]

aha. I wondered about that. I looked at my favorite body designs and wondered how they kept the hoods so low and still accommodated the struts.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

aha. I wondered about that. I looked at my favorite body designs and wondered how they kept the hoods so low and still accommodated the struts.

Rocker arms & pushrods. (designed by Multi-Matic)

[The Radium King]

I guess that was what I was really wondering; once you step away from plug-and-playing the oem components and going with a rocker or a-arm suspension then it would probably cheaper and easier to start from scratch than to try and jimmy-rig the oem stuff.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

I guess that was what I was really wondering; once you step away from plug-and-playing the oem components and going with a rocker or a-arm suspension then it would probably cheaper and easier to start from scratch than to try and jimmy-rig the oem stuff.

Irregardless of what you do you will be in a generic, other, experimental, class. Dead Boxsters will soon be plentifull due to the high cost of a good engine. I choose to build a good 3.6 engine, if the car is totaled or stolen I transfer the engine to the next chassis, reap the profit & carryon. It's probably the luckiest break Thstone ever had!

[The Radium King]

here's the body (vortex automotive gt):



has a bit of a 360 thing going on from the side, some old 246 from the front, but still manages to be a bit english at the same time. just needs german mechanicals. I like it.