light V8 lemons car ideas

I love our Fairmont wagon LeMons car. It does, however, weigh 2800 lbs without a driver. If I build another car it'll have to be light. I'd want to reuse the 302, 5 speed, maybe the rear end, and maybe the Cobra brakes. 5 on 4.5 bolt circle would be good since I have 20 or so 17 inch Mustang wheels, but if I could go down to a 205 50 15, tires would get a lot cheaper.

Miata and E30 are out because there are too many of them already. RX7s look good, but may be too much of a traditional sports car for my tastes. I like late seventies corollas, but I don't know if I could make one work. I've thought about doing a mini truck with the cab and drivetrain moved back, but I don't know which one to start with.

If I were to do another car it would have to be in the 2200 pound range.

Brilliant ideas in 3...2...1...

We ran an 5.0/T-5 83 RX-7 at the 24 hour race at Palm Beach (old Moroso). We have not weighed this car. (Our 5.0 Caged $2011 Miata weighed 2480) The interior aside from the dash was stripped but no other weight removal has been done. I would imagine it weights about 2500ish now and could easily get down to 2200 to 2300 by removing the glass, window regulators etc.

The car ran very well aside from the brakes which we went through about every two hours. Right now we are putting in an 8.8 to get the 5X4.5 bolt pattern to match the front second gen RX-7 brakes we are putting on. We will be running 17X8 mustang take offs for rims.

If you started with a 5 lug 2nd gen from the get go you would get the the good brakes, LSD rear and could still get it down about 2400 pretty easily. Not the most unique but probably the easiest way.

Bonus is that they take the Mustang wheels you already have.

Pinto?

Maverick?

80s ranger? Not sure what the fairmont weighs.

Isn't there a significant weight penalty in going from a first to a second gen rx7? I think if I went down that road it would be an fb with a fc subframe, and our current motor, trans, and rear end.

Pinto would be awesome. Can you make a car on leaf springs handle? What do they weigh?

btp76 wrote: Pinto would be awesome. Can you make a car on leaf springs handle? What do they weigh?

Tap into the ministock racers knowledge bank for that one.

Racer Walsh was big into Pintos back in the day, dunno n e more... but

http://racerwalsh.zoovy.com/

All this will be speaking from from my understanding. (which is admitted limited and from memory) Sounds like your first gen idea is almost exactly what we are doing.

My 84 RX-7 GSL-SE (heaviest model) fully loaded minus AC weighed in just under 2500 in street trim.

I understand that 1st gens weighed between 2200 and 2500 lbs from the lighter 79 - 80 models to the heavier 84-85 GSL-SE models.

1st gens are solid axle with coil springs. A fox body disk 8.8 is about 2 - 3 inches wider than the stock rear. You can either weld on the stock mazda mounts, make a 4 link or panhard or go with the Granny's Speed Shop 8.8 conversion. We are probably going to mount the stock RX-7 Watts link to the Mustang rear.

Good news is that the 2nd gen front subframe is an almost bolt in affair. That was our plan but we would have had to remount the motor so we are going with the RE-Speed 5 lug conversion. It utilizes the stock 1st gen spindle and inner bearning and puts the 2nd gen outer bearing and 4 piston aluminum calipers. You can run 15 inch rim tires over these btw.

I understand that 2nd gens range from about 2500 from a base non sunroof 4 lug (small brakes) to 2800 for the turbo models.

With the 5 lug model you get the nice brakes as previously mentioned and also an LSD in the IRS. You should be able to get down to your ideal weight but 2200 is probably about as low as it gets.

E7 corolla sedan... either 2 door, or 4 door... all are about 2200#s they are all rwd, and the corolla is a decent chassis to set up

http://www.kugelkomponents.com/focus/focusv8.php

I know where a Maverick is for $350. No engine, fairly rust free (an ex-Georgia car). It has the four lug wheels and suspension, but with your Fairmont it might be easy to move to a five lug.

Pinto curb weight:

2,015–2,270 lb (914–1,030 kg) (1970)

Maverick:

2,909 lb (1,320 kg) (coupe) 3,011 lb (1,366 kg) (sedan)

My 86 FC Sport was 2440 with a full interior and a roll bar and sun roof. I bet if you gutted it it would get down to 2200. Look for an 86 FC no sunroof with an aluminum hood. If you find one it is probably a "sport". The bad is it came stock with 4 lug wheels. the good is the conversion to 5 lug is a simple.

Maverick is too heavy and shares almost nothing with the foxes. The e7 looks interesting, but I much prefer the previous generation corolla. Will the V8 fit?

I have access to a cheap 86 rx7. It's a four lug car though. I think I'd only consider a fb.

datsun 720 maybe? they dont weigh anything lol.

Sterling...hey you asked for odd

You,sir, need a Chevy Chevette!

TR-4, TR-6 stripped w/ V8 oughta get ya around 2200-2400

mk1 Capri?

RossD wrote: mk1 Capri?

Beat me to that one.

How about a Mustang II?

go with a very '70's theme. They are basically a Pinto underneath, right?

How about a Datsun Z car. My challenge car was a 75 280z with a small block chevy complete with iron heads, powerglide trans and a Powerstroke turbo (heavy). The car was gutted and had a roll bar (six point) and still had all of its glass. The car weighes in at 2148 lbs if I remember correctly. The car was stripped pretty well by the previous owner (also from this board) but was nothing crazy. With porper gutting and lexan windows you should be able to get a sbf powered one in under 2000 lbs.

Chevette makes me think Impulse. I like that idea.

Capri is a great idea.

TR4 / 6 - I know basically nothing about British roadsters. There's a pile of derelict MGs near the shop. A sunbeam would have historical significance. To my ignorant brain they're all the same. Which would be best?

Mustang II = II big

Can't do a Z. The time I'd have to spend talking to Troy Hogan would make me hang myself by my belt.

Also, something to keep in mind. The wagon is Fast. Lap times are probably in the top 10% in any LeMons field. I don't want something so antiquated or out of balance that it won't stop or turn.

Mazda GLC would be neat. But they are so rare in areas that put salt on the roads, I don't even look for them.

btp76 wrote: Also, something to keep in mind. The wagon is Fast. Lap times are probably in the top 10% in any LeMons field. I don't want something so antiquated or out of balance that it won't stop or turn.

realistically, if you are looking to "transfer" and don't want a period mustang or Capri (as in Fox version, not II or early capri), you are looking at a Fairmont coupe.

Which isn't either super heavy or a featherweight.

But everything you've learned so far would apply directly. Not something to over look, IMHO.

Seems to be a pretty good choice. And a properly tuned cutter will help trim a lot of not needed weight.