Nice project!

Get plenty of pics up mate.

All I can say is make it as light as you can

So here we are then. First thanks go to HoveDan for giving me the basic blueprint of his very tasty 350 20vt built by Dave T.(cheers Dave).
Its brakes and suspension first then.
Get the car stipped out,and start to think about roll cage etc. All positive comments and advice gratefully received.

It should make a cracking car, Joe ... especially as you plan to strip it out

I'd say that you should go down a more track-focussed spring/shock/ARB route than my old car though, if you are just planning to use it on the track

My car was very quick round the track, but did lean quite a bit, and so could probably have been even quicker if it was a bit stiffer

Make sure you post lots of photos/ info!

Look forward to reading more of this joe..Good luck

Maybe this can be a working blueprint for others who seek to undertake the same..

One to watch, so please share details of each stage and approx costs, if you dont mind..

cheers

Hmm, I've been thinking exactly the same about further tweaks to the car. What combo of springs/shocks/arb though to replace the eibach/billie/whiteline though?

Here comes a can of worms! It's not the focus of this topic - but feel free to PM me or start another thread.

To a certain extent a degree of roll helps the outside front get grip, and reduce understeer - if the car is totally flat it will understeer a lot given where the weight is. There is a lot that you can do to play with the handling - but it does take a lot of money, time, and patience. How much of that lot do you have?

Yes Dave that is on my mind also,i will be gathering info and making notes on the
various setups for the track. I imagine Sparco could be the chap to get an opinion. After all reconnaissance is never wasted.

Pics of roll cage!

The Roll cage was bought from Anthrax (thanks Igor).Cost was a bargin price of £300.Being stored in UK till i am over in the spring.
Lower strutt brace from JBT (cheers John). £70 posted to Essex.
Top strutt brace from Countrycruising( Ta Joe) £90 i think.
I am just about to order a Whiteline rear ARB 22mm from the group buy.
Joe has delivered a manifold over the Christmas break, as the one on it is cracked to pieces.

So already i am spending a few bob. I plan to renew the whole of the suspension and brake system when funds allow.
I plan to get all the parts needed,and then attack it. Hopefully with Howardmagoo's help

Nice one.

When you've got a considerable parts pile I'll come over and we'll attack it.

Guess you will be getting a lot of tools, fluids etc delivered as well as France doesn't seem to prove the best for those bits eh.

I would go 24mm rear anti roll bar.

think he already ordered it. aren't there fitting issues with the 24mm anyway? 22mm will be man enough for sure.

Joe, looking good so far.

Couple of things, get rid of the yellow coloured wiring, as this is all airbag related (provided your not going to be using the airbags).
Get rid of the sound deadening, there is about 5 - 10kg worth there, blowtorch, a scraper and some meths to clean it up afterwards.
If you can, drop the rear subframe and peel back the underseal, you may find rust starting on the chassis arms.

Otherwise, get cracking

Thanks for the tip's Alexis. Howard's just gone home now.So i will save it all up for him upon his return.
It will be put into my barn soon,to be put on blocks ready for the suspension and brake strip out.
Just a matter of saving a few bob to start buying more kit.

I see you cheated with the dashboard and didn't bother to take it off You can still run the side air vents with the rollcage, but I think you wont be now with your eagerness of chopping

She's coming along nicely Joe, I decided to junk all of the dashboard in my track car, it's another 6kg lighter

So how is the speedo and other gauges going to be mounted then Joe ? I am interested in that.But not sure of my skills in mounting gauges to be honest.

This is looking great, Joe

Are we likely to see it on a UK track, when finished?

Gauges will be mounted on an alloy pod and the switches on a panel plate.

With the dash gone there's loads of room to work and adapt, when the time comes I'll template everything out of cardboard first and then make it out of aluminium sheet.

im shocked at how much weight you can save by removing that stuff!!

Joe - about removing the dash, you "could" fit a bit of metal, carbon, carborb, fiberglass and make it your dash and mount the gauges into that!

or what would look the nuts is cut the standard dash, fiberglass up the cut side and send it to JBT to be flocked!!!

just have it around the driver!

like this!

Function over form for me Marco, it is just a toy at the end of the day

@ Dave. Most definatly mate.Hopfully 2012.
@ Joe. I will hold on till we get the coupe to broomyard then. Keep the template for me please mate.
Its nearly ready to go into barn now,for all the underneath work.
@ Marco. I am with Joe on this one mate. Less is more.

it you have no gauges, how can you have oil pressure paranoia??

Doing a great job there Joe. Following this thread with interest. Keep it up mate

nice work Joe so far - is this coming to Spa?

Yes 2012 though Steve. Unless i get a load of dosh before this June.

So you're looking at running an extra radiator for engine cooling?

Well yes mate. I have been thinking about it for a long time.Maybe place it where the existing SMIC is, or even in between the rad and FMIC is going to be. Race main rad with slimline fans. Then Chunky little second rad with slimline fan then FMIC. The two sets of fans all controled inboard.
After all an air con rad sits in there ok.
What do you think ?
It will need someone to work out the pro's and cons,but i am up for it, if it can be done without endangering the engine.

Think thats a naff idea. Get an aluminium radiator and it will have better heat rejection, plus add some NACA exhuast ducts to the bonnet at roughly exhaust manifold postion this will lower engine bay pressure and the rad will work better.

IIRC you aren't in the UK? But is is always sunny where you are if not and it rains you will sorely miss the heater you have taken out as the car will mist up very fast especially if you have been walking around a damp paddock.