Hmmmm... DeadSkunk's Challenge Corolla... may need flares

This project is awesome. I am excited to see what it looks like when the body is back on. 

I wouldn't bother with flares. Tires bulging out from the fenders is a good look in my opinion.

In reply to NOHOME :

This is the 8" wheel (zero offset) and you can see how much gap there is. This pair of wheels may be used as front tires for the drags, or I have a set of plain steelies with all-season tires that may be used because they're certainly lighter. The other pair of 8 inchers have the drag slicks mounted on them and will be used.

I moved the 10" wheel (16 mm offset) from the rear axle to the front to show how the gap decreases. The tire is a 245/45/15 and is clearly stretched. Once I put a 275 or 295 tire on these rims the gap will get even smaller. As pictured it's about an inch. A square shouldered 295 Hoosier will be close to rubbing, I think.

Edit: I did test fit this wheel and tire to my NB Miata to see if it would fit and what it can contact with steering inputs. I got them from a guy who ran them on a lowered (1.5" ground clearance) NA and he said they didn't touch but did ride like crap. I expect his ride issue had more to do with the ground clearance than with the weight of the tire/wheel combo.

In reply to Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) :

It may end up that way, but I have this vision in my head of the car and 6" wide flares. It'll have some squat to it.

Whoa whoa whoa, why isn't there a build thread??

In reply to java230 :

I may get one going now that winter is coming. I've taken a bunch of photos over the summer, so I can show the progression and the various bits I've bought.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Please do! Or at least add them here! It looks awesome.

Heres a bunch for ya. WOOOOOO!

In reply to java230 :

Understand  that the pictures I've posted (aside from the one with the body shell) were all taken in the last few days. These are current state pictures. I have older photos ,taken as a I constructed the chassis.

In reply to drsmooth :

I really had metal or fiberglass flares in mind, rather than fleshy Flairs. Although, if the one on the left fits in a Challenge budget.............

Some more pictures as it sits today. My first test fit of the body to the chassis. I made a couple of measurement errors, but nothing too dramatic. I was surprised that they mated up as easily as they did.....

A view of the front half of the engine......

The "poke" of the rear tires and the reason I want to fab up some flares.......

And the first attempt at getting a '67 Camaro fiberglass hood to fit a '73 Corolla.........

Could one of the folks who are mods retitle this thread to "DeadSkunk's Challenge Corolla" and move it to the builds forum, please and thanks.

Looks great. 

Wow!  That is awesome!

Does it use the stock frame rails?

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

No. I welded up a complete new chassis of rectangular, square and round tubing. The original frame horns and rockers were rustier than I had thought when I originally purchased the car.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

No. I welded up a complete new chassis of rectangular, square and round tubing. The original frame horns and rockers were rustier than I had thought when I originally purchased the car.

I thought it had to have them to compete in the challenge.

This thing is freaking awesome btw!

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

You can build a car starting with stock frame rails or you can retain a stock appearing steel body. Just look at Robbie's Datsun roadster, stock body and a tube frame chassis. My build is the same. So is Nocones tube framed Subaru LMP car.

Ah, gotcha!   

Thanks for the clarification. 

I have a feeling this car is gonna be a monster! 

So much awesomeness!  LS motor is wayyy cooler than a 2TC with a 2 speed auto BTW.

'73 Corolla with Box Flares ?!?!

In reply to drock25too :

Had I known!

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

Could one of the folks who are mods retitle this thread to "DeadSkunk's Challenge Corolla" and move it to the builds forum, please and thanks.

I dunno, I think keeping some element of the original title... fits?

Let me know if I overstepped.

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

I like your version better. But it's "DeadSkunk" ...not "DeadSunk", you skipped a "K".

So, here's how it all started. Someone posted a link for this car on the GRM boards and I contacted the seller. Asking price was $500, but I got it for what the local junkyard would give him, $250. Ran down to the Cincinnati  area to haul it back to Michigan. A former ITC race car with no engine, but otherwise pretty complete but in rough shape. Rougher than I realized at the time of purchase. More to come as I try to turn this into a proper build thread.

The new thread title is best read in captain Kirk's voice.