My Project Car

[Matthew Giles]

Now that I have been graduated for about 2 years, I'm finally starting my own project car. My last formula car was for FSAE 2004. It's been awhile since I got to cut some tubes, so I'm looking forward to getting back to work in the garage again.

My project involves putting what is essentially a tube framed, mid-engine locost inside the shell of a 1982 Mazda RX-7. This way I can redesign everything I want, and still have a daily driver type car when I am done.

Check out my blog for the project at www.gilescarproject.blogspot.com (http://www.gilescarproject.blogspot.com). Now that I am doing more car design work and such I'm going to try to spend more time in the FSAE forums, so you'll see me around. Please feel free to ask a lot of questions.

Matt

[Matthew Giles]

Now that I have been graduated for about 2 years, I'm finally starting my own project car. My last formula car was for FSAE 2004. It's been awhile since I got to cut some tubes, so I'm looking forward to getting back to work in the garage again.

My project involves putting what is essentially a tube framed, mid-engine locost inside the shell of a 1982 Mazda RX-7. This way I can redesign everything I want, and still have a daily driver type car when I am done.

Check out my blog for the project at www.gilescarproject.blogspot.com (http://www.gilescarproject.blogspot.com). Now that I am doing more car design work and such I'm going to try to spend more time in the FSAE forums, so you'll see me around. Please feel free to ask a lot of questions.

Matt

[toplessFC3Sman]

sounds awesome, are you going to be sticking with the 12a for the powerplant, or going with a pre-packaged FWD drivetrain, just driving the other set of wheels?

[UQ Turbo]

Looks pretty sweet Matt,

Myself and the 06 chassis guy are doing a similar thing with an SR20 and a Getrag transaxle (for mid-engine car). We're not quite as far through as you - we have the engine and gearbox and I just bought a lathe today.

As far as concept, we're looking to end up with something like the Caparo supercar, only with much less budget, about 100kg more mass and 100HP less.

We should get an ex-fsae club happening for people that are building cars from scratch - would be kinda cool.

UQTurbo

[Matthew Giles]

Thanks guys. I'm going to use the SOHC Neon engine to start with. It isn't the best at anything, but the exhaust exits in the rear, it's really cheap, and it's really cheap.

I like hearing about projects by FSAE grads. We are on another level with regards to car design and engineering than most other project car guys, especially the newbies.

I'd like to link to anyone who makes a blog on blogger to track thier car progess. It would be cool to have a whole link section devoted to FSAE graduate built project cars.

[jdstuff]

SOHC neon? Ooohh....that's dicey. I've had a bit of experience with these motors, and I'm sorry to say that it wasn't a good one. They tend to like to eat head gaskets, I had one that went at 80,000mi and then again at 160,000mi....the second one did it in. Also, they used Melco (div. of Mitsubishi?) electronics, which IMO are complete shite. I replaced 3 alternators, 2 starters, 2 coil assemblies, and 1 ECU in about 50,000 miles. But hopefully I just had a lemon....but remember they may be cheap for a reason!

On the positive side, if you haven't sourced a SOHC motor yet, look for the 1995 DODGE neon and skip the 1995-1/2 PLYMOUTH neons or later. Driving them back to back, the early Dodge has way more response & power than the Plymouth. I believe that they made a change mid-model year to improve emissions....it might have been a less aggressive cam, but I can't recall right now. Regardless, the difference is quite noticeable. Anyway, sounds like a fun project....best of luck!!

[Kurt Bilinski]

Matt, depending how far along you are, you should check out my book, in my sig. It can save you a ton of time.

[Matthew Giles]

KB58 you wrote a book? No kidding!? I wish you had said something earlier! J/K. I'm autonerd on the US Locost board. Kinda surprised you didn't notice since my blog is in my signature.

I'm aware the Neon motor has some problems, I drive a 95 with 180,000 miles on it right now. I've replaced the starter and headgasket, I think it's typical to have to replace the older style headgaskets with a MLS headgasket around 60,000 to 100,000 miles. I would like to run Megasquirt & Spark eventually anyway, so that I can avoid some of the electrical gremlins.

[R/TErnie]

It depends on what year your engine is. There is a timestamp on the block. If your block is stamped 98 or newer...you have the MLS. Also if you look at the front of the block you'll notice rivited tabs that protrude. If you see those...you have a MLS gasket.

hard to see here...but that is a factory head gasket.http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/files/1018019_bc5o6/27.jpg

95 neons came with a larger camshaft from the factory...and the 01+ACR and R/T "Magnum SOHC" had a very similar camshaft.

I'd recommend using the dual cam engine...it definitely revs more reliably.

Dual cam dyno... blue is with a modified intake manifold. red was "semi-tuned" for fuel only (safc) Stock neons go to 10.5:1 during wot above 5k!!!

Still has a decent torque curve tho http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif DOHC all the way.
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/files/573382_1b96d/73J527BOUK90GPB.JPG

For your megasquirt... hit up RS autosport. I buy my MS's through them and they sell them presetup for the neon! They just came out with a new version that has a bunch more functions.

[Jersey Tom]

Speaking of project cars, the other captain from this year and I are planning on doing something over the next couple years. Conveniently he will be working in the engine/powertrain section of Honda R&D and I will be at Goodyear it looks like.

Still conceptualizing what we want to build exactly.. be it a Formula1000 car or something completely outrageous.

[UQ Turbo]

Tom,

How is your project coming along? Any ideas what you want to make?

UQTurbo

[bribyk]

After graduating this summer I've managed to get myself into two projects already. I'm just finishing up a '78 Landcruiser frame-off resto-mod 4x4 with my roommate. Once paint and wiring's done on that (our FSAE car wiring was far easier than a 12-circuit "Painless" kit http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif) I'm starting a budget '76 Chev 4x4 that's gonna blow his doors off for $30k less than he's spending. After that, I still want to do a drifter (see "Drift Suspension" thread in off-topic) but there's more non-pavement up here than there is pavement.

Got myself the closest thing to a formula-related job around here, designing and running North America's only non-OEM 4000hp natural gas engine dyno.

PS - Kurt's "Kimini" book is a good read and has great project tips and info (I have no obligation to say this; if it sucked, I'd say so).

[Homemade WRX]

well, I still plan on building a formula SAE type car and probably will just do a-mod...
BUT first am doing a pretty nuts build on my scooby...first giong for 1000 at the ground and then back down to 600'ish for time attack as I like turning far more...the 1000whp mark is just to see if I can squeeze it out.

Always interesting to see what FSAE "alums" are doing.

[Matthew Giles]

UPDATE! I'm finally making progress on the frame. I'm also making a custom fiberglass seat. It feels almost like being back in the formula garage when I'm cutting and welding. Except I don't have a bedplate and all the other nice tools we had at Kettering. I'm updating my blog more often now that I am building stuff and have something to talk about.