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This is a build that happened a couple of years ago.
While I was working on it, I had threads going at the PPC Forum and at a forum a buddy of mine owns, called the Dogfight Forum ( for performance cars of any age )
At some point I copied and pasted a shorter version of those threads on Corner Carvers.
Unfortunately, the PPC forum has gone belly up some time ago, and the Dogfight forum looks like it is gone too.
I took a look at Corner Carvers, that one is still there, but most of the pics are gone.
So I think I'd like to recreate a version of the thread here, and match it up with the build pics since I still have all of those.
( probably in stages, first get the text, and sort out the pics later)
As a kid I spent a lot of time at the Zandvoort Grand Prix track, when the old group 2 and group 5 cars ruled.
So I started to think about building a car inspired by those, but a version for the street.
( that was the plan... It ended up being a full blown racecar anyway...  )
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I wanted something I could swap a Small Block Chevy into, so I started to look for one of these 4 cars. A Alfa Romeo GTV Bertone, that would get Autodelta flares.  A BMW 3.0 coupe that would get the works CSL flares & wing.  A Jaguar XJ12c that would get Broadspeed flares ( Steeds car... )  Or a Mk1 Capri, that would get the earlier Cologne flares.  |
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The one I found first was a Mk1 Capri. It was stored in a tow truck storage yard.   I stopped to ask about it, the guy got on the phone with th owner, a deal was made, and he brought it to my place. My wife was just thrilled to come home from work and find this in her backyard...  |
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Later I found out the car had some interesting history.
It was owned by one of the well known Tucson Hot Rod families, and was used as a daily driver, but also saw some canyon carver action.
It had a rollbar, some mild lowering, some engine tweaks ( and a blown headgasket ), 7X15 Enkei's, a couple of dead Koni strut inserts in the trunk, and multi colored candy apple paintjob that was cracked and faded.
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Bookmarked!
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1988 Mercedes w124 superturbo diesel 508hp
1996 Mercedes s124 e300 diesel wagon
1990 BMW E30 V8 M60 powered!
1999 BMW E46 323ci project car
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The candy apple paint looked horrible, and it was layed on really thick so I rasor bladed it off.  I wasn't a fan of the flares either, so I bought a set of Cologne Arches from Smith & Deakin in the UK ( the shipping was more than the fenders themselfs...)  And I found 2 used 3 piece Compomotive wheels for the rear. I drove it around like that for a while, but before I started to search for a Capri, I already knew it was going to get a V8 swap. |
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I got rid of the tired old V6, and started to swap in a SBC.  I had to open up the tranny tunnel for the T10 and vintage Ansen scatter shield.  New motor mounts.  And I started to weld up the tranny tunnel again.  |
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The car now has fiberglass doorskins, hood, and decklid. The decklid was taken off an original RS2600 ducktail.  For the doorframes I used a set of early '70s doors that don't have the extra side impact beams in them.   |
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I needed more space around the rear axle. So I cut out a part of the trunkfloor, box sections, and floor that goes under the rear seat out of a car I parted out.  Trimmed it down and cleaned it up.  Trimmed some metal out of the car.  And fitted the piece out of the donor car, about 3.5" higher than original  |
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When I had that connected on 3 sides ( on all 4 corners ), I cut the original kickup away.  And finished off the last side.  |
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This was a good point to repair some old accident damage on the car. ( the left rear fender and rear panel had a lot bondo, and under all that bondo it looked like a walnut.)   I used the rear panel and part of the fender from the same car that gave up its trunkfloor.  Welded it all in.  And made a new inner panel.  |
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I made a cardboard template to figure out the size and shape of the Watts Link bracket.  Copied that in steel.  And tack welded it on.   |
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I got another front crossmember.  Cut the original enginemount off, and the mounting bracket.  And welded on a new mounting bracket, 1" lower.  Both sides done.  |
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Mounted in the car.  I also moved the anti-dive kit up.  And mounted it so the flange is horizontal ( instead of at an angle, like it was before ). This way, I can shim the front crossmember complete with the rack&pinion away from the chassis if I want to to change the front rollcenter. The anti-dive kit had to be horizontal so shimming it wouldnt mess up the caster when you do that. |
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)
