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S197 3V Fabman's build; How did we get here? Build Thread

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Fabman

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The wheel friday race.jpg

thunderhill-30.jpg
 
I'm thinking the $20-30k is the pre-Covid prices. Had a yapping with Terry Fair about it the other day. If you're building to be competitive for something like NASA xT2 / SCCA T-2, you'll probably be slowing down a bit, I ran with them down here at ACS and was 3-5 seconds faster. That said, I guess it's probably the fastest Spec series there is right now.
Since you're turning it into a real race car, you can start out with a salvage title, crappy paint, etc. The pre-made roll cage is under $2000.00...if you can weld you're essentially all in for probably $2200.00 and your time to end up with a real roll cage. If you do your own work, I promise you can come in with a cost of way under $30k including the purchase price of the car. You don't have to run their suspension or big brake kit....stock is fine and then you can always add it to the car as you grow.

I just saw a 2004 C5 with a manual trans with 170k on craigslist for $13k. Perfect starting platform for a race car that you're going to strip out the interior, cage it, etc.
 

PaddyPrix

If breakin' parts is cool, consider me Miles Davis
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Since you're turning it into a real race car, you can start out with a salvage title, crappy paint, etc. The pre-made roll cage is under $2000.00...if you can weld you're essentially all in for probably $2200.00 and your time to end up with a real roll cage. If you do your own work, I promise you can come in with a cost of way under $30k including the purchase price of the car. You don't have to run their suspension or big brake kit....stock is fine and then you can always add it to the car as you grow.

I just saw a 2004 C5 with a manual trans with 170k on craigslist for $13k. Perfect starting platform for a race car that you're going to strip out the interior, cage it, etc.
Yeah, which is more or less the same with an s550 base GT, plus the resale value of the takeoff parts is slightly higher and arguably in higher demand. I'm pretty sure I'm still under $20k. Everybody wants a gt350, but the GT will do just fine if you're focused for the track, perhaps better off with the Coyote vs Voodoo.
 

Fabman

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And there it is.

7E99BED8-B38F-4DFA-AC1A-1DDDF2156ADA.jpeg
 

Fabman

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Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
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In a month or two or so we can take bets on Hp numbers. E85 vs 98 octane. The way maritime shipping is totally collapsed right now, my motor will get flown down.
 

Fabman

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In a month or two or so we can take bets on Hp numbers. E85 vs 98 octane. The way maritime shipping is totally collapsed right now, my motor will get flown down.
It’s probably close, 91 to e85 was only about 12 whp on mine.
it’s the cooling, detonation resistance and low price that makes it worth it to me. Boosted motors benefit way more. It was 100 whp on my blower motor.
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
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I am still debating between the two. E85 will mean buying barrels of Ethanol and mixing it myself. Lucky am not a smoker Lol. Our last motors were very close with 93 vs E85. Just mine committed suicide.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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I am still debating between the two. E85 will mean buying barrels of Ethanol and mixing it myself. Lucky am not a smoker Lol. Our last motors were very close with 93 vs E85. Just mine committed suicide.
Mixing? are you buying straight ethanol and mixing gasoline into it?
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
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Mixing? are you buying straight ethanol and mixing gasoline into it?
That would be the only way I can get E85.... which is why I will probably go with 98. In any case from the logs, the 93 was decent down here as timing was advancing fine with no hint of detonation.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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That would be the only way I can get E85.... which is why I will probably go with 98. In any case from the logs, the 93 was decent down here as timing was advancing fine with no hint of detonation.
Here 100 octane is over $10/gallon while e85 is still $3.50/gallon and I can buy it at the pump so it makes sense for me.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
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Santiago, Chile
If I was in the neighborhood, would be happy to give a hand. But am nearly 6000 miles away so no amount of pizza would help get me closer.. We found that dropping the engine/tranny together on a lift was the simplest least hassle way to go.. We have had to do it a lot recently.......... :ohdamn:.

Hoping that the next engine stays in for a long, long time.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
If I was in the neighborhood, would be happy to give a hand. But am nearly 6000 miles away so no amount of pizza would help get me closer.. We found that dropping the engine/tranny together on a lift was the simplest least hassle way to go.. We have had to do it a lot recently.......... :ohdamn:.

Hoping that the next engine stays in for a long, long time.
Mine is a little more complicated than that, but I'll get it done.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca

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