I really wanted to keep the Ferrari F40 LM Restoration in one large post, however it was proving too large to handle. For this latest update, I’ve decided to create a separate post. I’ve also split the original post into two parts, just to make it easier on everyone’s bandwidth, including mine! You can access the index by clicking here. And so continues the most popular build to grace these pages…
Ferrari F40 LM Restoration Index Continue reading “Ferrari F40 LM Restoration Part 3”
When people think Renault Espace, they either think of it in it’s basic form as a vanilla people mover, or, if they’re anything like you and I, they think of the completely insane F1 version. But what if modifying one wasn’t left to the devices of a motorsports company, what if a car guy got his hands on one, what would they do with it? How about cutting out the floor and dropping it over a Lexus LS400, complete with 1UZ-FE V8 power? Not enough? what about a central driving position, just like the McLaren F1, and a bottle of nitrous in the boot for good measure. Sounds like I’m making it up, right? Not even my imagination could come up with something this left-of-field. Head below to see this awesome chassis swap build with your own eyes.
When thinking of a suitable intro for this post, I wanted to share my opinion of some replica builds without offending anyone, then I read the owners own intro and realised he summed it up for me with this gem: “The problem I’ve seen with many rebodies though, is that too many of them end up looking like accidental explosions.”
Regardless of what the body style is trying to emulate, the simple fact that we should be concentrating on is that this car is a mid-engine V8 sports car with a host of intricate fabrication. The base car, like many Ferrari replicas, is a Pontiac Fiero. To get the right proportions, it’s been amended by 3 inches, and a Cadillac Northstar all aluminium V8 and 6 speed transmission will take care of the momentum. Make sure you check out the plethora of technical drawings and DIY’d inbound suspension setup when you get to the highly detailed build thread.
Thanks to Youn-sok for submitting. Click here for more replica builds.
I guess you could kind of call this a chassis-swap, even though the original chassis is retained, albeit highly modified. This Willys pickup is based on a combination of two cabs (’48 and ’58), being widened to fit over the subframes and floorpan of a 2008 Jeep Cherokee, complete with a 5.7l Hemi. I have to say, this is one of the most informative build threads I’ve read. Even by breezing through it like I usually have to (because I want to get it up ASAP on the site for you guys!) I’ve managed to learn more than a few tricks. The owner shows off a plethora of DIY garage skills, such as tweaking and straightening the frame using combinations of heat and pressure, panel beating, welding, metal folding/shaping, and more. He really goes out of his way to share his techniques with his fellow forum members via well-written and documented posts. The whole thing is closer to a hot rod build compared to what you’d usually expect from a Jeep. Don’t forget to catch the rust removal technique towards the end of the thread, definitely one I’ll be bookmarking for future reference.
Thanks to Jarrod for submitting. Click here for more Jeep builds.
It’s been over 2 and a half years since I featured Aaron’s Beck Kustoms Cuda, and there’s been plenty of progress since then.
I’ve just gone through and updated the original post with a bunch of new images, so take some time out and catch up with Aaron’s amazing work, including a shake-down video.
CLICK HERE or on the image below to head to the original post.
Firstly, I feel I need to apologise for the amount of LSx builds on the front page, as I generally like to aim for a bit of variety on the site. But hey, if people keep stuffing them into cars in interesting ways, I have to keep featuring them! This one is a bit more than just an engine swap, though, because the owner has transplanted a lot of the underpinnings of a Z06 Corvette into his unsuspecting Triumph TR6. The most significant part of this build is that we learn the owner and builder is actually wheelchair bound, yet this proves no boundary to him as his enthusiasm and dedication to his car shines through, making the most of his situation and enjoying his passion to the fullest. So next time you’re feeling lazy or making excuses about your own project, have a read of this thread. My hat is tipped to you, Sir.
Thanks to Peter for submitting.
Ahh, the humble LSx swap. Some people might think that LS-swaps are overdone, played out, or whatever your buzzword of choice is. But I guess if you provide a range of compact, affordable, reliable, and easy to tune engines, people are going to use them! Personally, I’m all for them, they look great and appear more than willing to accept power additions, either naturally or artificially aspirated. The LSx in this build is being used to power an E36 BMW, and while the swap itself is interesting enough, it was a small detail of the build that drew me in, and by small I mean one little accelerator bracket. Yep, that’s all it takes! It’s a small part but it was done so neatly that it gave me a feel for the rest of the build and made me want to read more, and I was rewarded with a whole lot of attention to detail.
Click here for more BMW builds. Click here for more LS-powered builds (there’s over 10 of them!). Continue reading “LSx powered E36 BMW”
Anyone else wondering what a Unimog is? If you are, like I was, I’ll do the Wiki-ing for you…
The name Unimog is pronounced [ˈuËnɪmÉ”k] in German and is an acronym for the German“UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät”, Gerät being the German word for machine or device.
The more you know, hey? This Mercedes Unimog (we can pretend we knew what that meant all along now) was bought sight unseen, with what turned out to be a blown motor. The owner sees to break it down from it’s ex-military looking guise, throw an assortment of parts and fabrication at it (over the course of 2 rebuilds), and ends up with a mud-ready 347ci Ford V8-powered off road assault vehicle, perfect climbing steep trails, dashing through the now snow, or being covered in sweet, glorious, dirty mud. All this while seating 5 people in open-air (somewhat) comfort.
Thanks to Chris for submitting. Click here for more off road builds.
I always love when an Australian car shows up in my inbox, I have a soft spot for our local product (even though our industry has all but shut down), and I even owned a Commodore some years ago. This particular piece of Aussie machinery is a VR Holden Commodore of the HSV variety, HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) being Holden’s tuning arm, much like AMG is to Mercedes. For the international readers, you can read up on HSV here.
What I love about this car is the incredible attention to detail and the no-expense-spared attitude given to the build, it’s not often you see these cars receiving this type of attention. If the details don’t get you, I’m sure the bright orange LSX motor with individual throttle bodies will melt your eyeballs and warm your soul. Another really neat touch is the rear wheels, they’re CNC machined to look exactly like the factory cast alloys, except much wider. It’s a subtle touch, but speaks volumes of the owners taste direction with the car.
Thanks to Ismail for submitting. Click here for more builds of Australian cars.
Does anyone build normal retro Audi’s? Or are they all completely bonkers? For a car company that emits a rather subdued tone, churning out understated luxury cars with a few sports models in between, their fan-base sure do like to turn up the wick on their own 4-ringed vehicles. This S1 comes courtesy of Dave at EPS Motorsport, an Australian living in the UK, who saw fit to put his Quattro atop a a space frame chassis, with early Formula 1 control arms, composite body panels, and a twin turbo V8 thrown in for good measure.
Click here for more Audi builds.
