What do you think, can it be done? Race car for $1000

[CT]

Secoh - tell us which round and I'll certainly come up to watch - heck, I might even enter for some fun! I reckon if it lasts until lunchtime - that's gotta be a top effort. Although, depending on who's running it (going on past experiences) you might only get one run before lunch!!

[MrMaxi]

i was thinking of a simular idea just the other day, i found an Alfa Guilietta for $200 the motor was perfect carbs were ok once car was warm(problem with choke), brakes suspension steering and diff were all good, apparently the motor had been rebuilt 4 yrs ago it was fun to drive and was in really good condition. so for 1k there's should be heaps out there that could be used like this, the only thing with the alfa is when something does go wrong $$$$$$

[Grunt]

will be following this one closely!
can we start a class?

entry is dependant on reciepts?
the everyday man racing class? budget of $1000 and i certain percentage of the work must be completed by the owner/driver.
no car newer than maybe.. 1985 ( end of RWD rollas etc etc)

[Jim]

Gruntrose, you're in newie too? maybe that's a good idea hehe

Edo, sure but you're missing the point of the excercise which is to demonstrate how cheaply (and what is involved in) getting on the track. Supersprints are more than enough fun for the average weekender wannabe like me :p

I had a quick squiz at the car today, it's a KE70 RWD with patches of rust but nothing too scary.

[Ben Wilson]

Gruntrose - What we need is a class like they run in Europe and the US, where every car is automatically for sale for say $1500. You cannot refuse an offer of $1500 for your car....

[BigMuz]

They call it 'claimer racing'. Big in speedway- at the end of the meeting yours is for sale- some clubs buy the winners engine automatically if you win.

Gotta love it to build a new engine every race though!

Muz

[Babalouie]

i was thinking of a simular idea just the other day, i found an Alfa Guilietta for $200 the motor was perfect carbs were ok once car was warm(problem with choke), brakes suspension steering and diff were all good, apparently the motor had been rebuilt 4 yrs ago it was fun to drive and was in really good condition. so for 1k there's should be heaps out there that could be used like this, the only thing with the alfa is when something does go wrong $$$$$$

If the brakes, suspension and steering are good then it's not an Alfa Giulietta If the brakes are soggy, the suspension soft and wallowy and the steering heavy, twangy and plough-understeery, then that would be normal :D

[floody]

So it is a K- engined one? Little bit of a shame, the 4AC powered one would be a mildly better base, but no matter.

Check my mate Jonny's website out. He's running a (very trick) KE55 corolla to TE37 Levin specs, but its a masterpiece of parts bin engineering. Should be some info on what stuff can go cheaply and easily into a corolla to get them working, he's doing an AE86 at the moment so should have some ideas for cheap stuff that will fit the xE7x chassis too. He'd probably have some other ideas if you email him, should be a link on his site somewhere. But yeah, he's a tightarse racer extraodinaire!
http://www.geocites.com/jonnyr_1973/

[edo]

Secoh, see you asked if you could race a car for $1000. I dont think you can. Im bloody sure you can get passed at a sprint day scrutineering, pay the entry & complete at least a lap though.

I think youre nuts, but Im sure you can do it.

[RacinJason]

I voted that it can be done......as I have raced here in SA with a few mates back in the late 90's in a private race class called - Formula Boonger. (those that know of this race - know the fun that can be had from a budget beater)

I had two cars;

1 - Corona RWD - roof mounted radiator, and cop car paint work - total class!
2 - Datsun 180B - stock everything - painted as 'Sir Jumpalot"

My advice is simple, strip the car out of everything interior wise and sell as much as you can, same for the rims and tyres and anything else that's not required. This should recoup you roughly $100 - give or take the local demand for shit box parts!

$100 could be used for a new harness, or go towards a rollcage?. Either way your budget just grew 10% from $1000 to $1100.

The 4 speed idea is a good one, and a good clutch will be necassary as well. The engine will be the biggest limiting factor in the equation, so unless you can get a similar 'k' series stroker motor for peanuts - then whack on a set of extractors, biggest carby avaliable and hope for the best.

Alloy rims should be cheap as chips to find, and good quality/ construction low/ no tread radial tyres should be free if you ask the local tyre fitting place to keep an eye out for a relevant size.

Get a 'cheap' single sports seat from an importer, and strip the living shit out of that interior - hell take to the doors with a hole saw if you can! The lighter the faster!!!!

Buy a $12 battery isolator switch, and get a fuel cut off switch from the local plumbers.

Now for the good bit!!! - Paint the sucker with house paint - BUT!!! Choose a paint scheme that is a faithful reproduction of a well known daily car or race car.

Examples are as follows;

1 - Cop car
2 - Yellow taxi
3 - V8 Supercar paint scheme
4 - Pizza delivery car

Your imagination is the only limitation here.

Please keep us all informed as to the progress of this potential Australian historical motorsport vehicle!

[fatgts]

r31 skyline

then just turn up

you can even drive it around as a daily driver

is their anything they cant do

[Brenton_s15]

is their anything they cant do

Yeah. Go quick :p

[crx2gen]

They can't be attractive cars, thats for sure.

[Nafe]

i was thinking of a simular idea just the other day, i found an Alfa Guilietta for $200 the motor was perfect carbs were ok once car was warm(problem with choke), brakes suspension steering and diff were all good, apparently the motor had been rebuilt 4 yrs ago it was fun to drive and was in really good condition. so for 1k there's should be heaps out there that could be used like this, the only thing with the alfa is when something does go wrong $$$$$$

Don't do it. Believe me, a stock Alfetta/Giulietta is NOT fun to punt around a racetrack......And you didn't mention the gearbox/gearshift was okay :rotflol: You'll need new torsion bars, new rear springs, replacement bushes for the front tierod ends (preferably replace with 105 balljoints, or in a pinch, nolathane), new shocks, and a brake overhaul.

If the engine is rebuilt properly, it will be bulletproof and last for years though.

[edo]

The rust that fell out of the corollas door > a new Giulietta