Hotrodding Insanity Infects Swedish Enthusiast

Since the early days of hotrodding, car enthusiasts have been putting together unlikely engine and body combinations. You can call them crazy or out-of-the-box thinkers, but the results have mostly been outrageous machines that have captivated the people lucky enough to have seen them.

Thanks to the Internet, we see here such a build, courtesy of a car nut from Sweden who has both a stockyard of car parts and some serious fabrication skills. In this case, the unholy alliance is between a Saab wagon body and a Dodge Viper drivetrain. Unfortunately, the build thread is in a language that not all of us understand so we have to content ourselves with pictures of the fabrication, which is extensive. There is a new massive transmission tunnel and almost the entire firewall has been replaced. Subframes to locate the Viper engine were fabricated and aligning them in the Saab body is another testament to skill of the fabricator. Part of the aluminum oil pan has also been notched to clear some obstruction in the underbody. An entire rear subframe has also been fabricated so that the rear suspension and differential of the Viper can be used. It’s a good thing this shop has a laser aligner, otherwise the finished product would have been crabwalking due to misalignment of the various components. The amount of work is massive, and it’s obvious that few persons would have the doggedness to see this through.

While the Viper’s and Saab wagon’s performance are known respectively, we have no weight figures for this frankencar, so, at this point, we can’t do any performance calculations. Which is a pity, because this car will surely come up with outstanding numbers.

Build thread here.

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Ferrari P4/5 Competizione Being Readied For Nurburgring 24 Hrs.

At this point in time, you are looking at one of the world's rarest cars, being build number 1 of 1. The Ferrari P4/5 Competizione is an offshoot of James Glickenhaus's roadgoing P4/5, which is a Pininfarina-bodied Ferrari Enzo, also one-of-a-kind.  However crazy the idea of a rebodied Ferrari Enzo may sound, using another Enzo as a rebodied racer would be crazier still, so the Competizione model will be basically based on the F430 GT2’s drivetrain.

This means that the engine will be a 32-valve Ferrari V8 (type F136) that will have around 480 horsepower and and 340 lb-ft. of torque. Suspension will be double wishbones front and back and as you can see, the body is in carbon fiber. All other details of the car are what one would expect with a modern-day competion car such as the use of Brembo 6- and 4-piston brakes front and rear, FIA-spec rollcage and electronic gauges and data logging.

The front of the competition car is wider than the road version, while the rear is reminiscent of the F40, with its black mesh covering. There is an F1-like rear diffuser plus a massive rear wing that ensures that the rear end stays planted. Note that despite the Ferrari technology and components being used for this car, Glickenhaus is not receiving any support from Ferrari for this, after having displeased the Maranello-based automaker with his audacious 2006 rebody experiment with the original P4/5 road-going car.

Source article here.

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S2000 Nitrous Setup Shows Reliability and Consistency

Nitrous oxide systems, specially those that boost engine output by 100 or more horsepower over stock have reputations as risky mods because of the history of engines grenading themselves, sometimes from the first  time the system is used. From Hondas to V10 BMWs, the Internet is rife with stories of wasted engines that were the result of poor nitrous oxide system installation and tuning.

Not so with this particular Honda S2000 installation, whose owner's goal was to attain 400 whp using only a nitrous oxide system and no engine mods. The entire setup is composed of a Zex Direct Port 150 shot nitrous setup, Clutchmasters Stage 3 clutch, AEM Ems 1052, Full Standalone Fuel system, Q16 race gas,  AP1 flywheel, Megan Racing test pipe, N1 muffler swap, Injen short ram intake with K&N cone filter, Walbro 255 lph fuel pump, bottle pressure between 875-900, Zex bottle warmer, Zex purge kit, Zex remote bottle opener and NGK 7405 plugs which are 2 steps colder than the original rating. The car is also 141lbs lighter, but as you can see, there were no major modifications to the engine internals.

With the above setup, engine output is now 390 wheel horsepower with the nitrous injection versus 215 whp stock. Torque is also correspondingly increased to 324 lb-ft from the stock 152 lb-ft. During the tuning process, the engine had been run almost 2 dozen times on nitrous, with no ill effects, as evidenced by the consistent cylinder pressures taken after the process. Clearly this shows that with the correct tuning parameters, nitrous oxide injection is a safe, reliable and cheaper alternative to other engine modifications, with the added benefit of being easy to remove and relocate to another car.

Source post here.

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Bentley Continental Sets Ice Speed Record

When you hear the word Bentley, the image that comes to mind is a hand-crafted luxobarge that's too heavy to be properly called a sports car. Early this year though, Bentley disproved that stereotype by establishing a new Ice Speed Record, aided by 4-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankunnen and witnessed by Guiness World Record representatives.

The tool used for this record attempt was a bio-fueled Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, which was practically stock, except for some safety modifications. The ISR car used the OEM powertrain consisting of a 6-liter, twin turbo W12 engine, with an output of 631 horsepower and 590lb ft of torque. Drivetrain is Bentley's Quickshift six-speed automatic transmission, with the all-wheel drive system being controlled by a Torsen center diff. Additions to the car were limited to a fully-welded roll-cage, new front and rear spoilers, a bumper-mounted parachute, and Pirelli SottoZero II winter tires.

Performance calculations put 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds and 100 mph in 9.5 seconds. At the attempt made in the Bay of Bothnia in Finland, Juha drove the Bentley ISR to 330.695 km/h on a track 16.5km long, which was specially prepared for the occassion. Although the 4-time champion makes it look easy, driving more than 300 kilometers an hour on ice takes nerves of steel and a high level of natural skill.

Source article is here.

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Norwegian Hotrodder Opts For Classic Combination In A 1-Series BMW

This Norwegian enthusiast shows us that hotrodding in all its various forms is not the sole purview of motorheads from the U.S., Germany, U.K., Australia, Finland or Japan. Since time immemorial, dropping a big engine into a small car has been a time-tested formula that has achieved success in street and racing applications.

In this case, this unnamed enthusiast from Norway started with BMW’s entry-level 1-series model that reportedly had a diesel as its original powerplant. In true hotrodding style, the owner selected none other than the excellent BMW V8 found in the E90-series M3, which produces 420 horsepower. But, the owner didn’t stop there, as a BMW performance exhaust and minor tweaking has upped power to 435. The M3’s drivetrain was also installed, such as the 6-speed manual gearbox, limited-slip diff and the M3’s brakes. A sports suspension from Bilstein combined with 19-inch BBS wheels with 235 tires in front and 265 at the back try to handle the power and torque that BMW’s engineers never envisioned for the car.

Inside, the only hints to the car’s potential are the 330 kph speedometer and an M tach redlined at 8,200 rpm. BMW Performance parts like the sport seats and Alcantara steering wheel complete the factory look. Outside, a subtle M Sport aero package composed of front and rear bumpers and carbon fiber rear diffuser together with an AC Schnitzer lower front apron and roof spoiler give some clue to the car’s intent. Assuming that this 1-series is the base model, it would have a weight of 1320 kilos or 2930 pounds. With the 435-horsepower engine, the power-to-weight ratio comes out to 335 horsepower per ton. Performance calculations would put 0-60 mph at 3.8 seconds and the quarter mile in the high 11s. This kind of performance is the domain of high-end Porsches and Ferraris. What a shocker it would be for owners of these high-priced sports cars if they happen to be unlucky enough to find this sleeper running side-by-side with them.

Source article here.

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Hot Rod Wagon Combines Old and New World Ingenuity

Tom Divers, who created the custom hotrod featured in this post, says that when he was a teenager, resources were scarce, so they had to learn all the crafts that were needed to make the cars they wanted. Now, customers with fat checkbooks ask him to create hotrods for them.

The one-of-a-kind car you see here is the marriage of a 1960 Nash Rambler Wagon with the drivetrain of one of Europe's finest sports cars, a 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena. Divers Street Rods and the customer were lucky enough to find a wrecked 360 with an intact drivetrain and suspension, and these components from the donor car formed the basis for the Ferrar/Rambler wagon's performance underpinnings. As in the Ferrari, the engine is mounted amidships, together with the 6-speed manual transaxle. To mate the engine to the 1960-era chassis, a custom frame was fabricated. The Rambler wagon body was then fitted to the frame, along with numerous handcrafted mods to give the front of the car hints of a 1960s-era Ferrari.

The Ferrari 360's dual wishbone suspension was then attached to the frame to give this old-fashioned body the handling prowess that its engine deserves. Despite requests to Ferrari for help in making the engine run using the factory sensors and ECU, Divers Street Rods was ignored, so with the ingenuity typically found in the best rodders, Divers and his crew used a Motec ECU. Although it's known that the Ferrari engine is good for 400 horsepower,  there are no weight figures released of the Ferrambo as build, so we cannot do the necessary performance calculations that will give us an idea of how the car should perform. One thing's for sure. It will be no slouch.

Although the car looks pretty simple at first glance, looking at the car will show an incredible amount of custom work and craftsmanship, which resulted in its winning the most prestigious award for hotrodding in 2008.

See source article here.

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RUF Launches RT 12R With Veyron-Like Performance At 1/3 The Price

Although RUF’s cars use Porsche bodies and components as the basis for their creations, the company modifies the cars so much that they are designated as a manufacturer by the German government in their own right. At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, RUF Automobile presented their RT 12 R, which is a Porsche-based 911 with RUF-specific upgrades and tuning.

First off, the twin-turbo engine, was further tuned to produce 730 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. As for torque, performance calculations place it at a little under 700 lb-ft, peaking at 3,500 rpm. That is a lot of grunt at low rpm, and it will rattle an unsuspecting driver if he mashes the throttle to the floor. Fortunately the RT 12R is equipped with an all-wheel drive system. A six-speed transmission is standard.

After ensuring the car’s performance potential, RUF installed lightweight carbon fiber body parts like the rear spoiler, fenders, hood, roof, aluminum doors with lightweight fittings, a lightened front section, synthetic side and rear windows and carbon bucket seats. An integrated rollcage has been installed to add safety and rigidity and ceramic brakes with front/rear disc diameters of 380 and 350 can be found at both ends. Race-inspired wheels with central locking nut in a 19-inch size shod Michelin Sport Cups in 246 front and 325 rear sizes ensure the car’s handling performance. All told, the car weighs in at only 1,495 kilos, which gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 496 bhp per ton. Performance-wise, the RUF RT 12R should do 0-62 miles in 2.5 seconds, on to its stated top speed of 370 km/h.

Source article here.

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Monster Suzuki Aims To Dominate Pikes Peak Once Again

The Pikes Peak race is famous not only in the U.S. but also to diehard motorsport fans who appreciate the unique machines and challenges that this race brings. Nobuhiro Tajima is a diehard entrant who has been going to the mountain for several years now, bringing home with him numerous overall victories in the Pikes Peak race. The latest Pikes Peak victory for this 61-year old racer was in 2010, when he battled with Rhys Millen for the overall win. This is all the more impressive when you consider that this is Monster's 5th consecutive victory at Pikes Peak. For 2011, Tajima is readying his Suzuki SX4 for another crack at the overall victory.

Like most unlimited-class racing vehicles, Tajima's Suzuki SX4 shares only the basic body shape and engine configuration, which is a V-6. The rest of this hillclimb racer features a steel space frame, along with carbon and Kevlar composite bodywork and custom race suspension. The 4-wheel drive configuration uses hydraulically controlled front and rear differentials with a mechanical multi-plate center diff. A sequential six-speed handles the shifting duties. The V-6 displaces 2.7 liters and has had twin turbos added to provide an output of 925 horsepower.

18-inch wheels on 285/60R18 tires provide the needed traction for the low-grip racing surface. With a vehicle weight of only 1120 kilos, power-to-weight ratio comes out to nearly 840 hp/ton. Performance calculations predict a 0-60 mph time of 2.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of around 9.6 seconds. With numbers like this and an experienced driver behind the wheel, it looks like this Monster Suzuki will be dominant for a few more years.

Source article is here.

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HRS Evo 8 Lancer Is A World Class Performance Machine

While there are a lot of competent Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution tuners in the U.S., the U.K., Australia and even European countries, the best tuners for this type of car are undoubtedly from the country of origin, and in this aspect, Garage HRS from Japan is admittedly one of the top Evo tuners. This car was originally commissioned by a U.S. client who backed out as Garage HRS was seriously into the build. Since it was intended for the U.S. time attack circuit, the chassis was stitch welded and a NASA/SCCA legal steel rollcage was installed. HRS chassis parts like spherical bearings, custom-valved Zeal coilovers, a wide tread kit, custom LCAs, tie rod ends and longer axles were fitted. Endless six-piston calipers take care of braking duties. Wheels are 18X10.5" +22 AME Tracer TM-02 wheels (MAT version 2) shod with 265/35R18 Advan A050 tires.

In the motive department, HRS stroked the 4G63 4-cylinder engine to 2.2 liters, added Tomei Pon-Cam Type-R cams, Cyber Evo Produce 20G Evo 9 turbo, custom intercooler and a larger throttle-body. A full titanium HRS turbo-back exhaust system was also installed, with HRS' Cyber Evo ECU system handling the various sensors' inputs. Performance calculations for these mods have been proven to produce a very tractable 450 whp. Another vital electronic add-on was a Cyber Evo ACD (Active Center Differential) controller to allow the system to be optimized for racing use. 
 

Together with the Impreza, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has changed the way the world looks at performance four-door sedans. Their ability to perform with more expensive cars from the rest of the world has made these cars respected and feared.
 

See source articles here and here.

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Toyota Hybrid Boasts of Almost 500 Horsepower

Mention the word hybrid today and the automatic association you would get would be that of cars with batteries and electric motors. Time was when that was not the case, when a hybrid meant a car with an engine from a different manufacturer. In the case of this AE86 Toyota, the latter meaning is clearly the operative definition as this car is powered by a Honda F20C, which is the engine found in the production Honda S2000. The car itself has evolved from a street car to a full-blown drift competition car. To get to that stage, New Zealander Hugo Maclean performed the F20C conversion but didn’t stop there. Using the engine as a starting point, Hugo added a Garrett GT3076R turbo, DSR intercooler and 1000 cc injectors. This combination yielded 490 horsepower on the dyno, which drives a Honda S2000 6-speed transmission. An Exedy clutch and flywheel ensures that the power doesn’t go to waste.

For the chassis upgrades, Hugo used a combination of Toyota Racing Development and aftermarket parts, using shortened struts, TRD shocks and springs, a shortened Toyota Hilux diff and Whiteline sway bars and panhard rod. A Link G4 ECU handle the engine management duties and the rest of the car was upgraded with parts one expects from a proper racing car such as a rollcage, competition seats, and racing harness. Wheels and tires are 16x8.5with Toyo 205/40/16 for the fronts and 16x9.5 using Neuton 205/45/16s in the rear.

Not every appreciates drifting as a proper form of motorsport but there is no doubt that the cars at the top levels are proper racing cars that no enthusiast would be ashamed to be driving. This combination of the AE86's renowned balance and Honda VTEC power ensures that this hybrid car will be a worthy competitor in any kind of motorsport.

Dyno:

At the track:

Source article here.

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Stock Drag Pak Dodge Challenger Breaks Class Record

Despite the continuing upward spiral in the cost of fuels, now is a good time for enthusiasts because of the outrageous offerings of car manufacturers. If you look at the power outputs of today’s high-performance cars, 500 horsepower is not that uncommon anymore. But even before the current crop of high-powered cars, the American domestic market had experienced such a horsepower war in the 60s, with the Big Three selling what were in effect factory racers. Now, to our obvious benefit, those factory rods seem to be making a comeback, with the Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak being a prime example.

This car is unique because this particular variant is the only one, for now, equipped with a 512 cubic inch V10 engine. Engine output for this factory drag car is rated at 600 horsepower. A truly limited edition model (only 70 will be produced), this factory racer is equipped with only a 2-speed automatic transmission, which shows that its focus is really for the quarter mile. Other exclusive features include competition wheels and tires, a solid gear axle, integrated roll control, complete gauge package and a race-oriented fuel system complete with fuel cell. It also has no windshield wiper assembly, no aircon, rear seats and power steering. Even the underbody heat shields have been deleted. Windows are polycarbonate and the transmission tunnel has been modified to clear the solid axle differential and one-piece drive shaft. The rest of extensive the modifications are what a typical hot rodder would do if this were a project car.

In early April, one owner (Dave Thomas of Pennsylvania), drove his Challenger to a quarter-mile time of 9.43 seconds at 143.9 mph. Both the time and trap speed were enough to break the records for the AA/SA class in the stock category. The AA stands for factory cars with the highest horsepower-to-weight ratio in the stock class, while the SA stands for Stock Automatic. With this record, a new round in the Big Three’s horsepower war has begun in earnest.

See source article here.

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