Wow. It's been a while. Oh wait- we're in a recession and I have no liquid assets! That's why! :na:

Anyhow, I ordered up some 12"x24"x0.08" (2mm) 7075-T6 aluminum plate a couple weeks ago. The other day I got around to cutting it up. Here's what it looks like now:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...h_DSC00342.jpg http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...h_DSC00341.jpg http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...h_DSC00340.jpg

I also ordered a 12"x48"x0.025" piece of polycarbonate to make the sides and the internal support structures. It came today, so hopefully next week I will have time to cut it up a bit. I'm going for the "speed wedge" look, with a twist- I'm going to design a venturi into the top so that it will create a vacuum inside the body and (hopefully) help stick the car to the road.

Hmm, sounds like the pike's peak racers that have the huge tunnels that produce downforce...

I found that Lola style bodies work like a charm at speed. Problem is none are made that are wide enough to work on a gtp...

I like those Lola's too, for 1/10 TCs. IF they made one for 1/8 cars, it would be too high in the back for real speed runs. Too much rear downforce. That's flip territory. I suppose you could chop down the rear wedge a bit. Maybe replace it with a normal wing.

I finished outlining the body's profile on the polycarbonate. I am going to buy a thinner blade for my band saw before I even attempt to cut it out (1/2" blade on there now for cutting Al). I think a jig saw would make a really rough cut, and I don't want to crack/chip the edges either.

Here are a couple pictures of my design. The "notch" is at the front of the car. It's where the venturi will draw air in from underneath the car.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...h_DSC00355.jpg http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...h_DSC00356.jpg

Now for the million-dollar question: Should I put a wing on the back??? :neutral: It would be made from the same polycarbonate/aluminum as the body.

looks cool, how much will the body weigh?

I don't know for sure. Maybe 1-1.5 lbs.?

Sooo... I'm poor as s#!7 right now and as such I haven't been doing much on any of my projects. I did finally buy some parts for this car- An RC-M 8T motor mount, and the OEM 8T CD mount/brace kit. These will allow me (hopefully) to drop in the Slipperential I bought 5 months ago. I need a short dogbone for the front (these?) since it will be FWD and I want to move everything forward. Oh and I've cut out the polycarbonate body panels. I'll get pics up later today.

Awesome, 'bout time for an update on this beast!

Ok, I forgot to take pictures before I tore it down.... :oops: Oh- and I read that the Slipperential was a drop-in for the 8ight so that's why I bought the diff mounts. Guess what? Mine isn't! It came with 8x16x5 bearings. I need some 8x14x4 flanged bearings. ..... Mike's 8ight motor mount is frakking sweet though. I like how you can remove the motor- with the screws still in it!

So I'll get the bearings and take some pics when it's all back together.

Where'd all the pics go ? I've read the whole thread and it's pictureless -1 of your build ?
Sounds like a great prodject and would like to "see" more.

I've organized my PB account and the links to the pics no longer work. Hold on a sec....

Here are some recent pics-

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...P/DSC00342.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...P/DSC00341.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...P/DSC00340.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4...P/DSC00355.jpg

You have definitely put a LOT of time,thought,theory,$$ into this speed demon.
I sincerely hope to see it work out well for you,so many variables I struggle to keep up.
I look forward to seeing more now that I'm subscribed to the thread.
Good luck.

Thanks Bondo! :yipi:

Fly Straight and True Like a Warriors Arrow of Death, My Young Speedy Samuri......



http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ctfully_bw.jpg

So... long time no update I guess? :oops:

The speed project is postponed until the spring- it's getting chilly here now and rubber loses traction fast in the cold. I purchased a new battery tray, 164x55mm so the FP pack can lay down. It should help the CG quite a bit. Trying to decide whether to stick with the 1515-1y and MMM, or break out that LT-6s150 that I never got around to running (sorry Lutach), OR buy the Tekin RX8 2250 truggy combo. I'm actually leaning toward the Tekin 'cause I like the sensored startup soo much. The MMM has the BEST sensorless startup, but if you run very tall gearing (ie. speed runs) it still suffers a lot.

Hopefully the recent spike in the market will make people come spend their money so that I can have money to spend!