Race Taxi group doing a T3 version

[hege]

So many people whined about thinking to go to our first tests with "only" rear drum brakes... Why wouldn't they be good enough? Here's to the one's who complained, rear DISC brakes:

Also made the exhaust tube. Took some time figuring the shortest possible distance for the tube to get it lightweight.

Some of you probably noticed the exhaust tip in the first picture, but here's one from a better angle without the side skirt:

[mightyart]

I don't see anybody whining about the brakes in this thread.

[slugmika]

Henkka is angry young man
He was just feeling bad because we were going to do some ice racing with drum brakes. Apparently someone mentioned those drum brakes and now he's hurt Let it go man
Seriously, we had to change plans because there is no ice, cause its too warm in here and we really need to get car ready for big car show in eastern.
I started to make headers yesterday, i think it will be ready for weekend. Fuel pump also arrived today so if all goes as planned, we will start the engine next weekend.

One more thing, just made a deal of custom ecu. Should be around 320hp with other mods that we have, don't think so but well see,

Mika

[mightyart]

Very Cool.
Keep us posted,
That ice racing thing sounds quite intresting, something worth watching.

[hege]

We didn't make much progress during this winter. But we got a new guy on the build crew so things are looking good. We have one month until it has to be ready.

The car moved for first time on it's own last weekend. I posted a video of it on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ERq75JhXY

We also got new wheels for the car, 18 of them. We'll have to make adapters to get them to fit.

The wheels are from an old MB 190. It used to drive in the german touring car championship.

Also got new calipers for the car, these are from a Chrysler 300C SRT8. We couln't find any other sensible street legal calipers that accept performance brake pads. Can't use Porsche parts because they come from a car that has too low axle weights (I know, brakes don't support the weight of the car, but the laws over here think otherwise)

What the car looks like at the moment.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Nice stuff! I was checking out your site and saw this pic with the front brake comparison.

It seems like a Vanagon front hub could be modified to accept 334mm rotors from a SL600, like I've modded to fit on my 300TD

I don't know whether it's the long cold Winters or the saunas, but for some reason the Finns are probably the most innovative automotive fabricators in the world. I'm active in the Mercedes diesel community and you guys just continue to amaze and inspire. In fact, my MB project is modeled after the Finnish pioneers who have managed to squeeze 500+ hp out of 3.0L turbodiesels.

Keep up the great work!
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[hege]

I'm glad you like it. I've thought of that same engine for the service car for this race car, but I'm at the dreaming stage. I have a 1.9TDI, so that'll go in first.

Ideas about brakes are always welcome, but sadly rules about brakes are strict over here. You have to have brakes that are from a car the same weight and power, and there aren't many nice options around.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Wow, it seems the weight AND power requirement would limit options considerably. It's hard to imagine why more braking power is a bad thing...especially when it comes to the T3. The front brakes are smaller than the stock rear brakes on my MB
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[hege]

Yeah, and a problem with the brakes is that for a car like this you can't really use the stock brake pads. So the calipers need to be from a big, heavy and powerful car that is used for racing so there are many brake pad options available.

Now we are smarter and wouldn't probably have gone the route we did. We should have just bought Brembo calipers by part number and if the question comes up about what size and power car the calipers can handle, you ask Brembo. I think I know the answer will be something like: "The brakes are not weight supporting parts of the suspension, these calipers are designed for x amount of braking power".

I just stumbled upon more pics of the "car": http://www2.radalle.com/galleria/?cmd=thumbs&sarja_id=303&sivu=0

By clicking "Isompi kuva" under the small pictures you get a large photo. I just got myself a new wallpaper picture...

[carterzest]

Many, Many Nice!~

How about...
Van-A-Gone
Van-B-Gone Cannot wait to live vicariously through your posts!
_________________
Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!

[hege]

We went for a photo shoot late this evening. We wanted to see how the "bodykit" looks from distance. Also notice the übercool project zwo spoiler. It should improve laptimes by several seconds.

A lightened brick with a turbocharged subaru engine feels... Different. I wanted to floor it on several occasions to get into higher rpm (and boost), but that wasn't the purpose of todays drive.

We will be testing it in two weeks.

[hege]

Adapters to install the center mount wheels. PCD has changed from 5x112 to 1x0

A shot of the dash. We have a 11" screen mounted in the roof so even the rear passengers can see what's happening behind.

Just washed. Waiting to be transported to the American Car Show.

A picture from the car show. The name American Car Show is a bit misleading. The show has progressed since it started and is nowadays one of the biggest indoor car shows in the nordic countries in Europe. The original name has just stayed. We got a nice but dark spot in the motorsports area next to the stage where there was wrestling etc.

We added a sticker so it wouldn't be unclear where the engine is from.

Girls.
The only real complain we got during the car show was that it is a bit uncomfortable to go into the car with a short skirt. It's a race car, so I guess we will just have to live with it not being the most comfortable car to travel with.

After the car show Mika took an angle grinder and removed the old wheel arches. Stock ones were installed with a 50mm strip of steel in between. Now there is enough room for the wheels to turn to full lock and they won't touch the wheel arches even at full bump.

The side door had to be loosened so that it would go over the wheel nut. So after the show we widened it 22mm so it doesn't hit the wheel nut. The stock one is below for comparison.

We wanted to do some detailing underneath the car, so we towed it to Erno's garage because he has a car lift. When we got the car raised we noticed how untidy it looked underneath. Working on the car in our garage didn't allow for it to be lifted very high, so working underneath was quite uncomfortable. Now when we saw the whole bottom of the car for the first time we wanted to redraw all lines underneath. Time was also spent going through all bolts in the chassis.

A pic from last weekend. The cars first track event. The race car and support vehicle side by side.

A picture from the track.

And another one.

It worked flawlessly for the first half lap. After that it was all trouble with the engine sputtering at boost and the day ended with the engine starting to make noise. We suspect a connecting rod bearing fault.
The car was driven 4-5 times on track and maybe a total of 10 laps.
We had few people as passengers and they all were impressed after a ride even when the engine wasn't working properly. The suspension worked quite well taking into consideration that we didn't get the stiff enough front springs on time.

The heads of the engine are disassembled and we've already been looking at a spare engine. Mika's multivan's engine is also ready to be installed, it just needs the wiring harness to be done and it's ready to go. One week until next track event for our next try.

[240Gordy]

awesome. keep us posted.
_________________
Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR

[calcite5]

This is by far the best non-Westy Vanagon out there. Innovative work.
I need to learn how you made those front and rear brakes. They look tremendous.
Thanks for the updates.

[240Gordy]

what coil-over shock and spring did you use on the rear? are you still using the stock shock mounts?
_________________
Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR

[Bern]

wow, haven't logged on here in months, and this is the first post i see...

Great work!

Its rekindling some motivation for my van....
_________________
VR6 Vanagon. Yup, it vrooms and stuff.

[Van-go108]

Very cool. I'm speechless.

How did it perform on the track? You guys need to post up a video of some of that "Good Stuff" next.
_________________
"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."


1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[Christopher Schimke]

Wow, cool stuff! Those adapters are a work of art.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
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