Robbie
UberDork
3/11/17 7:55 a.m.
I agree with your wife. What's your challenge car right now?
I agree with your wife, but still it was only $150 what's the worst that could happen?
Pattyo
New Reader
3/11/17 8:14 a.m.
I'm having trouble with the steering wheel set up. Is the driver supposed to sit crookedly in order to reach the pedals?
Otherwise awesome! Good score.
That is one steaming pile of awesome right there. Any chance you could make it the other kind of "barely legal" and drive it to work, at least once?
It looks like a fun pile of hot garbage! 
NickD
SuperDork
3/11/17 8:36 a.m.
I looked at it at first and thought it was a dirt track Fiero.
You know that car's name is Ron, right?
Love the apparently homemade front bumper.
sergio
Reader
3/11/17 8:44 a.m.
Your wife needs glasses.....
stroker
SuperDork
3/11/17 8:54 a.m.
Sandblaster purchase in 3, 2, 1...
I am sure your neighbors are not nearly as proud of you as we are!
Very cool!
Another +1 for a steaming pile of awesomeness.
Reminds me of the theoretical car that my friend and I thought about back a long time ago. An 164 powered X1/9.
Although, I would really consider a 2.0l TS as that power instead of the v6.
Realistically, though, I think one of the best of the best engines for that comes out of an Integra Type R if it can be found.
Some serious E-Mod thinking there.
BTW, Robbie- do you know anyone in chassis design? I don't, but I'm sure they could come up with a pretty special suspension design for that.
That hot pile of garbage is cool
Left foot braking would be interesting in that fella.
Robbie
UberDork
3/11/17 9:38 a.m.
To answer a couple of questions:
- Our challenge car is another x1/9 we bought last fall. There is a build thread I have not updated in way too long (though most of our big updates are in parts acquisition during the winter). I'll try to link these two threads together soon.
- There is a custom gas pedal on the right side of the steering column. I think this was driven like a go cart, with one foot on each side of the column support (yikes). Hopefully there was a trustworthy anti sub belt. But clutch and brake must have been done with left foot.
Finally, I do have a dirty little secret. Rather than drive 16 hours round trip to go pick this thing up, I did get it shipped to me with uship. I paid $540 ish to ship (of which, $40 was my fee, and the shipper pays 19% of the $500... So uship takes $140 of the $540, which is nuts).
BUT! I have rationalizations!
The first Fiat we bought for $250. So far, I have already sold 686.14 out of that Fiat. $150 purchase plus $540 shipping is $690. So I'm telling myself that I have purchased two fiats for $253.86, which is still a good deal in my mind.
Robbie
UberDork
3/11/17 9:39 a.m.
I haven't really worked out the challenge math yet though.
stroker wrote:
Sandblaster purchase in 3, 2, 1...
Don't need one. Just get a vacuum-bagging leaf blower to clean out the interior and instead of bagging, just blow the debris back at the car. GRM walnut shell blasting.
Ian F
MegaDork
3/11/17 9:48 a.m.
+2 for a steaming pile of AWESOME!
Looks like it shouldn't be too hard to build a competitive car within budget. Just a lot of elbow grease.
Due to the placement of the hood pin latch plate, I read the race number as 7.7
This is great! Leave the patina. Stuff huge motor, safety, and go!
Sadly, i think a d16z6 would be the big motor for this. With boost. And aluminum flywheel. Plenty of power at that weight, compact, and cheap. The turbo would be optional depending on space.
In reply to Robbie:
Real math and car math are two different things.
Real math is for the banker, car math is for your wife