Wasn't sure where to put it but this is the latest project :

Front engined, mounts for rover v8, axle, prop and brakes etc already there Ford items I believe.

Thought it had potential so picked it up cheap and wondering what to do with it now.





Anyone familiar with them?

Forget the Rover lump, fit a Lexus V8?

I don't think I have ever seen one of those before. It has lots of hints of a Ford GT40, but front engine, to me !

I agree with Rusty though, a modern quad-cam V8 would suit it .

Is it a space frame ?

Regards
Jon

It does indeed have a space frame. Old ft bonitos were Beetle based.

What gearbox are folk using with the uzfes these days, still Supra boxes?

It's got the prop shaft for the rover box there already.

think these were made in lincolnshire at one point , cortina based ....not sure tho..

Got the car over to my storage place and got a good look around it. Have been thinking about engines etc and what to pick to give it a suitable soundtrack and performance figures to match. Here's the chassis itself :





So it's Ford Cortina running gear and the engine bay is set up for a Rover V8. I was thinking of using the Lexus LS400 V8 and a BMW Getrag box as the parts are so readily available. Looking at it today though, well it looks like it should be mid engined, no?



I'm also acutely aware that there is absolutely no roll over protection should the worst happen. It really needs a cage.

So if going down that route, why not incorporate a rear engine cradle and use the Audi box i have lying around mated to a 4.2V8?

It's obviously more work but it's worth doing right i think. Anyone any good with cad?

Here's how Ultima do it :



Some new tubing for cage and cradle isn't too daunting but i'm not 100% on the rear suspension. It's basic Ford Cortina stuff with coilovers added at the moment so anything will be an upgrade. Diff etc would obviously be swapped out completely for Audi hubs, shafts and whatnot.

Go all out and do it properly or fire in a V8 to the front and take it drag racing. Thoughts?

Looks like you would have to butcher the chassis to make it midengined. I would go with the 1uzfe.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=30&t=1121843&mid=0&nmt=S1+Elise+kit-car

Link at the bottom of an elise based version for sale may be of interest.

[Edited on 31/8/15 by Ugg10]

Nice one. Looks like the Avenger kit.

Decided to go for the Audi route in the end. Bought an a4 2.5tdi and wrenched the gearbox out.

Here's the A8 I've started removing the engine from.



Will be mid mounted, modifying the chassis to fit.

Any suggestions for wishbone set ups to use? The A8 suspension isn't going to be a suitable swap i don't think. Too comfort biased.

I would keep it simple as possible. Cortina uprights front with Sierra hubs at the rear combined with tubular wishbones.

But going all this effort, isn't an idea to build a GT40 replica instead?

Seems mad to me to go mid mounted with a chassis that's clearly designed to be front engined. You'll be chopping away that much that you may aswell throw it away and start again I'd stick that great Audi V8 up front with a RWD box but convert the rear to IRS. Just my opinion and it looks like a cracking bodyshell that should be stunning once done



[Edited on 21/11/15 by Nickp]

Best update this then.

Went through a whole wad of ideas and then my mate wanted to move on his Mk2 mr2 so I sent up the old man to drive it back from Drumnadrochit. Didn't miss a beat. £200 well spent.

Anyways once back in the unit I parked it up next to the Bonito and was shocked on the sizes. The wheelbase isn't just close, it's exactly the same.

The idea was to use the Mr2 as a mule for the v8 and then swap all the parts into the Bonito chassis. Building suspension pick up points is not so easy, not to mention windscreens, wipers, demisting, etc etc so why not rebody the Mr2?

I don't plan on bonding anything that might rust underneath. Flip up front and engine cover section. Reuse as much of the Mr2 as possible. Extensive roll cage. Lots of off the shelf parts available too, upgrades etc. Makes sense that way.

So take one mr2 t bar and get the grinder out.







I'll move the firewall forward and build a cradle for the engine and box so that whole unit goes in and out from underneath with the rear suspension attached.

Another fairly major bit of progress today. It fits! Well, we made it fit.







Can actually roll it about with the engine in now. Much fun.

Doors also open and shut as before. Phew!

[Edited on 1/6/16 by olberj]