Wow, very clever stuff going on in there. can't wait to see how this develops.

Steve

Thanks for the compliments gentlemen. Here's where we are as of last night. Still a few more reenforcing plates to add, but we're getting pretty close. Other than the added expense and lost time, I'm actually rather happy we cut the stupid thing out now. As always, though, there are disappointments. It turns out that without the remote reserviors, the Ledas have to be mounted right side up. Fortunately, I had spent the extra $$$ to have mine blanked off so I could added them if I ever had the desire to. Likely I'll add them over the winter and invert the shocks at that time.

A wide view of the rear suspension mounts:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1116504369.jpg

Detail of the plate mounting:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1116504571.jpg

Final installment. Hope some of you have found this interesting and potentially useful regarding your own future plans... For me, the latest chapter in this ongoing saga has certainly been tramatic, but worthwhile. Can't wait to get him back on the track, hopefully we'll try him out next Friday at NHIS.

Rear crossmember triangulation:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1116587298.jpg

Shock mount from the rear:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1116587369.jpg

Shock mount from the front:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1116587416.jpg

Engine in:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1116587641.jpg

Car on the ground:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1116587682.jpg

WOW - awesome work! Your fabricator is incredible! How will he build the firewall? OR will he modify the stock one? Is that why the engine is in, so he can build the firewall around it?

On his behalf, thanks! I'm lucky enough to have him doing the job, he's obviously extremely talented. CMU grad BTW. Actually, the drivetrains back in so we can drive it. Hopefully we'll do an AX on Sunday for setup puposes, probably just racer tape some heavy cardboard over the hole in case the techs get stupid. We had originally reused the factory firewall piece, but thats no longer possible. It will be all aluminum, with some access panels to be able to get to everything. Kind of hard to describe how its going to be done. I'll post pix of the firewall when its done. We're hopeful the firewall and enough to track the car will be done in time to go to NHIS for three days over the Memorial day weekend.

Even a CMU grad, too, wow, talented guy. Glad you are working with him. Looks super-nice. Will be interested in seeing the firewall that he builds. Thanks for sharing!

Doug

RJAY I think the work your team has done is fantastic, and definitely bold to the extreme.

He who dares wins........

Thanks so much for your kind words! Its been a pretty tough go. I'll pass your comment on to Kenny Conway, the IMO genius responsible for all this work. I'm sure he'll really appreciate it as he's completely worked his butt off over the past few weeks. The only thing that pisses me off about him is that he's not only a far better wrench than me, but hes a far better driver as well. Anyhoo, as we virtually speak, my man Kenny is trying desperately to complete things as we're scheduled to be at NHIS this weekend. There'll still be a bunch of stuff to do, but we'd like to get a little track time for setup before we fully complete things. I figure its a fifty/fifty thing right now, if its not ready, I'll take the street car. Supposed to rain half the weekend anyway, so I wont be totally bummed if we don't make it. Hopefully I'll be able to give a report on how well things worked out next week.

One or two more bits of craziness are in store. As I AX the car extensively as well, we've got an idea for a really cool WRC style e-brake. Perfect for those lowspeed hairpins. Also for the moment we are just tacking in some aluminum for the fire wall to pass tech, but we're contemplating giving the car the Modena treatment... aluminum frame with a see thru plexi panel so all the suspension effort will be on visual display. I'll post pix of the finished product at some point.

Thanks again for the moral support, it is truly appreciated!

Sadly, the car wasn't ready for NHIS over the Mem day weekend, but it should be debuting at an AX this weekend, followed by the Glen at the end of the month. Progress has slowed a bit as my wrench has to eat... man can not live by race fabrication alone, its the oil changes where you make the $$$. Anyhoo, figured those interested might like to see how the rear turned out. First piece of the rear firewall went in yesterday. Also a couple of gratuitous shots of some of the rest of the car along with the frist RPM registered with the MXL. When its all finally back together I'll post some of how the rear firewall was done.


Still a big hole to see everything:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1118399762.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1118399816.jpg

AIM MXL Pista registering the fact that the engine is in fact still operable, despite all the surgery performed:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1118400016.jpg