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Canceled.Thinking of building a cheap track car. #2846580
11/15/20 02:02 PM
11/15/20 02:02 PM
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San Jose,CA
migsBIG Offline OP
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So I'm buying a few cars from a friend that were burned in a fire. Now mind you, these cars were burned outdoors in a grass field and the interior did get toasted/destroyed, but were not like inside of a garage fire where where it gets soo hot that the cars warp into puddles. After checking them out, the Bodies are fine, but anything else was not usable. Now I was only going to use the body shells, fenders, k-members and 8 3/4 housing and replace everything else. Though I probably won't get to start building til my other 3 projects are done (probably 2024/25) and will give me time to figure out the build and use my large stash of leftover parts sitting in my yards. Any ideas on what you guys are thinking on cheap track car tech/specks? I do plan to have a cage welded in by a certified welder, so that part of the worries should be handled.

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Last edited by migsBIG; 12/22/20 07:46 PM.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2846954
11/16/20 11:09 AM
11/16/20 11:09 AM
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Seattle, WA
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375inStroke Offline
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Are we talking LeMons/Chump Car type track car? I'd do it.

Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2846977
11/16/20 11:50 AM
11/16/20 11:50 AM
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Pikes Peak Country
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TC@HP2 Offline
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Cheap certainly is relative to the type of driving you intend. Specs are also highly dependent upon what you are doing and what rules books say is permissible and what is required.

If open track day events with potential high speeds on long straights, I'd go with the pictured Satellite. If cone dodging, Cuda would be better, although it looks like the roof is a bit mangled.

If you do need any body or structural parts, more are made for the Cuda than there is for that Satellite.

Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2847539
11/17/20 12:41 PM
11/17/20 12:41 PM
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My suggestion, go with any a body, they are plentiful and best priced, spend money on engine last, after car is on the track, seat time is weakest link in the equation, so whatever gets you on the track first is best, safety is next, then tires, brakes, suspension, trans, then motor. A lot of above can be transferred to a Gurney clone, after you wad up the first A body.
Perfection is the enemy of success.


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: jcc] #2847966
11/18/20 06:02 AM
11/18/20 06:02 AM
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Posts: 21,599
San Jose,CA
migsBIG Offline OP
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Those are some good ideas. I'm 6'3 and shoulders are pretty wide, so no a-bodies. Though he has about a dozen e-bodies there, I like the satellite due to: A. more head. room B. I have lots of b-body parts lying around. C. I perfer these type of cars. D. The car is cheaper than the cost of used rims. Don't think I will do a Lemon's race. There are races out here you can join for the whole day on open track day. There are at least 2 near enough me in California so I could trailer or drive it there for the races. Though they make more structural parts for e-bodies, those parts are expensive and and add up quickly. My goal for the satellite is clean it out, media blast it (or dip), swap doors, trunklid, hood and hood. Slather it with LOTS of bondo and add the cheapest white paint that can be sprayed without the use of a rattle can.

Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2848027
11/18/20 10:34 AM
11/18/20 10:34 AM
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jcc Offline
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I hear, you, yes & no early a bodies, but the later ones IMO have as much or more headroom as the ebodys, further, in most track car settings, you will (?) and I do, mount the aftermarket drivers seat as low as possible, I'm not 6'3" but I like my head away from the roof just as a matter of comfort. The A bodies are my least favorite solution, other then their practicality.

Good Luck, have fun.

Last edited by jcc; 11/18/20 10:36 AM.

Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: jcc] #2848217
11/18/20 03:39 PM
11/18/20 03:39 PM
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Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
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Wow...You CAN write in a manner that makes sense when you want to. Thank you.

Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: Kern Dog] #2848632
11/19/20 01:30 PM
11/19/20 01:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,599
San Jose,CA
migsBIG Offline OP
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I have a 70' Cuda, normally sitting in it and in my former 1968 Dart, I had a maximum of one inch head clearance. The worst part of this car is if I'm wearing a hat with that little button on top, & hit a speed bump, that would make contact with the roof and the hat button would bang the top of my head and be very painful! Then imagine trying to wear a helmet. Not safe for for me. Now my 1972 Charger and 1972 Roadrunner, I have 2. 5 inches of clearance. With the lower race seat I plan to put in, I am hoping to have enough clearance to clear to roof/bars with a full helmet. My problem isn't that just that I'm tall, but my torso is longer that most people. When I sit down, even next to tall people, I am still a full foot higher than anyone sitting in the same seat.

Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2848819
11/19/20 08:54 PM
11/19/20 08:54 PM
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San Diego
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How to tell if you’re an A-body or B-body person?

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Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2848820
11/19/20 08:56 PM
11/19/20 08:56 PM
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San Diego
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Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: JP8] #2848868
11/19/20 11:08 PM
11/19/20 11:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
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Yeah, except Miguel is tall, Hispanic and isn't married to an idiot.

Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2848884
11/20/20 12:33 AM
11/20/20 12:33 AM
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Oregon
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AndyF Offline
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When I built my Duster I put the seat on the floor and pushed it back a few inches and now I have plenty of head room and leg room. I don't fit in a Duster very well if I have to sit on the stock seat.

DSC_4081 (Large).JPGDSC_4082 (Large).JPG
Last edited by AndyF; 11/20/20 12:36 AM.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2849172
11/20/20 06:18 PM
11/20/20 06:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
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jcc Offline
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Originally Posted by migsBIG
I have a 70' Cuda, normally sitting in it and in my former 1968 Dart, I had a maximum of one inch head clearance. The worst part of this car is if I'm wearing a hat with that little button on top, & hit a speed bump, that would make contact with the roof and the hat button would bang the top of my head and be very painful! Then imagine trying to wear a helmet. Not safe for for me. Now my 1972 Charger and 1972 Roadrunner, I have 2. 5 inches of clearance. With the lower race seat I plan to put in, I am hoping to have enough clearance to clear to roof/bars with a full helmet. My problem isn't that just that I'm tall, but my torso is longer that most people. When I sit down, even next to tall people, I am still a full foot higher than anyone sitting in the same seat.


Maybe a "Gurney Bump" is right for you? biggrin

http://race-car-replicas.com/parts/gurney-bubble#:~:text=110.00,as%20the%20%22Gurney%20Bubble%22.


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: jcc] #2849386
11/21/20 06:40 AM
11/21/20 06:40 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16
London England UK
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You can lower the floor under the seat by a good few inches without affecting ground clearance . I'm 6'4 with a long back and there is now plenty of height in my 'Cuda

IMG_2090.jpgUntitled5.jpg
Last edited by Matt_Snowball; 11/21/20 08:09 AM.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: Matt_Snowball] #2849798
11/22/20 12:00 AM
11/22/20 12:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,599
San Jose,CA
migsBIG Offline OP
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LOL, that’s soo funny there. Sadly, that is what I look like in cargo shorts!

The lowering of the floor is a great idea. I could get a couple inches just from that, it would help greatly. A after market seat would probably save another inch or two, so it’s well worth considering. I was concerned with exhaust clearance as the car is going to be low, but that might not be an issue if I don’t run extra big pipes.

Last edited by migsBIG; 11/28/20 07:55 AM.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2849801
11/22/20 12:18 AM
11/22/20 12:18 AM
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Oregon
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Oregon
You have to approach the project as a "do what it takes" rather than "must preserve the Mopar". If you do what it takes then you cut the floor for extra head room and you cut the floor for more exhaust room and put tubs in it for more wheel room and stuff like that. Most Mopar guys won't cut stuff up which is why the projects take so long and cost so much. If you're willing to just cut the stuff up and move it around then you can make the car work for you.

Just don't be dumb about it like this guy.

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Last edited by AndyF; 11/22/20 12:20 AM.
Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: AndyF] #2849814
11/22/20 02:48 AM
11/22/20 02:48 AM
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San Diego
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Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: JP8] #2849891
11/22/20 12:30 PM
11/22/20 12:30 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Online content
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oval exhaust tubing works great for lowered cars.
beer

Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: migsBIG] #2850230
11/23/20 01:38 AM
11/23/20 01:38 AM
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Posts: 1,376
NORTHERN CA
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pro stock
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What are you wanting to do? HPDE days or something like SCCA Vintage Racing. HPDE doesn't require a roll cage but any racing does. Granted always safer with a cage. At least Satellite is a 72 so aftermarket is better. I would do Hotchkis TVS, largest T Bars and about as 500 hp engine for HPDE and autocross. Vintage race car clone would be cool.


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Re: Thinking of building a cheap track car. [Re: Matt_Snowball] #2850233
11/23/20 01:45 AM
11/23/20 01:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
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jcc Offline
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Originally Posted by Matt_Snowball
You can lower the floor under the seat by a good few inches without affecting ground clearance . I'm 6'4 with a long back and there is now plenty of height in my 'Cuda


That seat lowering took a lot of effort, looks nice, what tranny are we seeing there?


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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