Custom Mid Engine LSX project?

[Ryan...]

Go to school for an engineering degree; while you're at it work on a Formula SAE race car. You have some good dreams, getting hands-on on how to do it is the way to go.

Going to school for an engineering degree is definitely not on my to-do list :p


My first, and possibly biggest obstacle in all of this is actually buying the corvette goodies. I live about 115 miles from him, and I'm going to a Police Academy in 4 months, which will eat up a bit over $3k. So if I buy this corvette and some basic materials to get everything going, i'm looking at spending at least $10k before the year is out, not including rent, food, gas, insurance, etc...

The more I think about this, the more excited I get. Going to see if he's willing to take a good-faith payment system from me; $100/month or so perhaps.

[garretvs]

Go to school for an engineering degree; while you're at it work on a Formula SAE race car. You have some good dreams, getting hands-on on how to do it is the way to go.

[Ryan...]

no offense, but if that is all you have in mind, wouldn't this be a waste of time?(and money) i think it would be a cool project, but really other than talking about it, i'm just seeing the end game here. sorry to be a buzzkill

I understand what you're saying about it being a waste of time and money, but isn't that what most enjoyable things are? I have the opportunity to score a running, rolling chassis Corvette for about $5500, and happen to be buying it from a guy that will work for beer and T-Bell.

And honestly, if I go ahead with this (and that's a big if), I can stop at any time really and still likely come out ahead or break even by selling off the parts.

[Dozyproductions]

I read the title and got scared thinking you were going to attempt to convert the E30 to MRWD with an LS.

My 1st thought, I hate LS's because of how much people use them now days. Its the most cliche engine swap imaginable.

Now, moving forward...making a complete custom tube frame using that as a power plant is a cool idea. May have covered this and I may have missed it...but what's the end game with it? Road course, drag, etc...

You're right, m50's and s50's haven't been done enough. You're also right, that much power isn't cool enough with the likes of an m42 or nuttin'.

[flyboyx]

It would be used entirely for back road fun, nothing serious. Maybe some track days or auto-x stuff if it turned out to be a decent road going machine.

no offense, but if that is all you have in mind, wouldn't this be a waste of time?(and money) i think it would be a cool project, but really other than talking about it, i'm just seeing the end game here. sorry to be a buzzkill

[CrusherCurtis]

I hate LS's because of how much people use them now days. Its the most cliche engine swap imaginable.
cliche engine swap imaginable.
cliche engine swap imaginable.

[Ryan...]

a friend of mine did a LS1 in a fiero. sideways. looks like this guy's build: http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...iero-swap.html

I'll be reading that tonight!

I read the title and got scared thinking you were going to attempt to convert the E30 to MRWD with an LS.

My 1st thought, I hate LS's because of how much people use them now days. Its the most cliche engine swap imaginable.

Now, moving forward...making a complete custom tube frame using that as a power plant is a cool idea. May have covered this and I may have missed it...but what's the end game with it? Road course, drag, etc...

I would never desecrate an e30 like that ;-)

It would be used entirely for back road fun, nothing serious. Maybe some track days or auto-x stuff if it turned out to be a decent road going machine.

[InNeedOfBoost]

I read the title and got scared thinking you were going to attempt to convert the E30 to MRWD with an LS.

My 1st thought, I hate LS's because of how much people use them now days. Its the most cliche engine swap imaginable.

Now, moving forward...making a complete custom tube frame using that as a power plant is a cool idea. May have covered this and I may have missed it...but what's the end game with it? Road course, drag, etc...

[CrusherCurtis]

Shouldn't you be able to use the c5 transaxle since it is a rear transaxle?

edit: sorry didn't read the thread.

[ForcedFirebird]

My buddy has an old school 327 in his Fiero - putting 8 1bbl Webers on it. The f40 6 speed is a good option for a small block. The needs to be beefed up to take much more than 400ft/lb, but the Fiero is fairly light.

[iansane]

[Cabriolet]

a friend of mine did a LS1 in a fiero. sideways. looks like this guy's build: http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...iero-swap.html

[Ryan...]

Would that actually work...? If it was mounted sideways, it would cut out a ton of space, didn't really think of that.

[iansane]

Pull a 6sp from a pontiac G6, transverse mount the v8 ala Lambo muira. :D

[Ryan...]

Ok I just now read what you guys are saying about the length of it, that really puts a damper on things...

At a certain point, with accessories in front you could reasonably expect it to be another 8" tacked on up front of the motor. Then you need space for a sort of firewall to keep it off your backside, plus seats, etc..

However, if you still want to make something of this project, the easiest thing to do is just use the frame from the corvette. They are full frame cars, you can take the body off and be left with a rolling chassis that is pre designed to work. Add some lights and bumpers and drive like that or build your own body for it.

That would be fun as well, but really the only way I'd decide to embark on this clusterfuck of a journey would be if I could really make it something interesting and worth the hassle fun, ie a mid engine abortion of a car :D

I'm under no delusions that whatever the end result is would be a track monster. Something so divine others go, "damn, wish I'd have thought of that!"
No, it'd fall more under that "No fucks given" RX7 thing probably; just something for me to play around in and hopefully not die while strapped into my homemade death trap of a car.