custom car building questions

BigBody79

BigBody79

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Location
Lumberton
I want to build something. Well not exactly anything. Here is my idea: Take a FWD car drive train (ie: honda civic) put it in the back of a chassis which could be tube or whatever. Basically what I am looking for is something rear drive/rear engine. No body panels low to the ground. Fun to drive. If you are thinking this sounds alot like an ariel atom then your right. Have you seen anything like this on the internet? Any good links?
I would like to use as much junk yard stuff as possible. IE A-arms, rack & pinion, steering column, CV shafts, turn signals, tail lights, pedals, all that jazz.

I guess my biggest question is how do you take suspenion componets that are desinged to steer and make them not steer? Seems like would have alot to toe-in control

Feel free to answer any or all of this
 
pontiac fiero + sawsall = HELLA FUN

why not run a motor cycle engine and a solid axle kind of like a golf cart axle. me and a buddy have something like this in mind.
 
why not just have rear steering? that'd be badazzz

BigBody79 said:
I want to build something. Well not exactly anything. Here is my idea: Take a FWD car drive train (ie: honda civic) put it in the back of a chassis which could be tube or whatever. Basically what I am looking for is something rear drive/rear engine. No body panels low to the ground. Fun to drive. If you are thinking this sounds alot like an ariel atom then your right. Have you seen anything like this on the internet? Any good links?
I would like to use as much junk yard stuff as possible. IE A-arms, rack & pinion, steering column, CV shafts, turn signals, tail lights, pedals, all that jazz.
I guess my biggest question is how do you take suspenion componets that are desinged to steer and make them not steer? Seems like would have alot to toe-in control
Feel free to answer any or all of this
Click to expand...
 
I have a buddy with this exact setup, he might want to sell... single seat rail buggy, 1980 honda prelude rear engine...

but kinda sounds the the VW rail buggies you see runnin around all the time...

red_in_front_yard.jpg
 
So what you are looking for is an early '90s accord with a manual. It has a cable shifter system. Take the entire suspension and drivetrain and put it in the back. Replace the steering rack with adjustable tie rods directly to the chassis so that you can control toe. Then you just need to find front knuckles that don't use a strut and you are ready to go. You can reuse the engine, trans, cv shafts, knuckles, brakes, ..... everything from the accord.

Plus the Accord has more torque and HP than a civic and turbo kits are available.
 
BigRedB2 said:
front suspension from same honda would work.
Click to expand...

The front suspension would be in the back. I actually have been working on compiling parts for this for a while. When the front suspension of the accord gets moved to the back of the custom built you will need to build something that replaces the strut with a ball joint so you can build a dual A arm suspension that will allow full adjustment for better performance.

I am thinking about a dana 30 spindle and brakes out of a 2wd for the front suspension. This will also give you dual balljoints so that the suspension can be built fully adjustable. The stut suspensions would just look clutered so I am planning for a coilover setup.
 
well, here are a couple things that should also be considered. i have seen alot of custom rods use the mustang II front end. that seems like a pretty good choice. kinda $$ but probably worth it. I would probably go for a honda with vtec probably a accord or maybe acura. i just got a V6 accord coupe i don't think this contraption is going to need 240HP. i guess it would need to have a box frame then tube for support/looks
 
had a fiero once. The rear end is the same as a chevy citation front end. The rear even has the steering knuckles with solid tie rods to keep them strait.
 
Down&Dirty said:
The front suspension would be in the back. I actually have been working on compiling parts for this for a while. When the front suspension of the accord gets moved to the back of the custom built you will need to build something that replaces the strut with a ball joint so you can build a dual A arm suspension that will allow full adjustment for better performance.
.
Click to expand...

we had planned custom a arms in the rear and leave the front suspension in the front. it seems to work well there. figured we could work out more lift and travel going custom in the rear.

Plus if we ever wanted to work out way to send power the front wheels the option would be there (think twin engine).

Plus not much more need to be done to the front to make it work right.
 
i was going to do a oldsmobile tornado(455)motor transaxle and put it in the back of a fiero.,i did all the homework on the build,decided to buy an adapter to put a small block chevy in replace of the olds motor.they do make kits to put a chevy behind a fiero trans,but i wanted the turbo 400 olds transaxle for strength.
 
Back
Top