BeArDy
1st July 2006, 08:47 PM
I will start by boring you all with the story behind the car and how I have got to this stage.
About 3 years ago the twin engine cars where all going around and being built, Golf, Nova, Renault 5 etc and it got my attention and I always had in my head I wanted to build a twin engine car But at the time I was finishing off the V6 Corsa so all time and money was tied up with that project.
Once I finished the Corsa (well drawn a line under spending anymore on the car) it was time to move on and start something else. I knew I wanted something I could take to track/drag/performance days and have the car be able to hold its own with some of the fast road legal cars (Skylines Evo’s etc running 10’s on the ¼ mile). Around this time I got friends with a company called Samurai performance who was a jap car builder. I started helping out there doing most of the bodywork and painting of there cars, after working there and seeing all there 500-700bhp Jap cars and customers Bills; for the engine builds I knew I could not afford to build a high powered jap car plus I didn’t know the first thing about working on jap engines (I only know the basic’s). So I got back onto the idea of building a twin engine car, but staying with Vauxhalls. The main reason for this was I knew Vauxhalls inside out so all work could be done by me saving me money but still getting the same result in the end.
So the idea was born and the start of the Twin engine build began.
After seeing the EDS Nova run 11.0 ¼ and a 0-60 in 2.89 with 2 x C20LET’s (320bhp per engine) I had to go with the same engines but have each engine better setup in the car (as the Nova brakes on every outing) and run more power (400-500bhp per engine) to get into the 10’s which I was looking for.
After a lot of searching I found 2 C20LET engine which where both in need of rebuilds so I snapped both of them up as I was going to replace almost everything in the engines anyway they where a good starting point for me to work with plus in the middle of this I found 2 F28 gearboxes.
So now with engines, gearboxes and an idea what I wanted the final outcome to be it was time to find a shell and which to go for.
I looked around at a lot of Vauxhall shells but was finding hard to source and clean shell for good money. In the end I was looking for a New Shape Corsa C. Until a friend of mine offered me his Clean Corsa B GSi in white for silly money (lets just say the bodykit could be sold for more than I paid) so I snapped the shell up and was ready to start work on the car.
Corsa GSi, engines, gearboxes etc all went into storage until I did a little more research into how I was going to mount the rear engine in the rear (as I was thinking about welding the front of the Corsa into the rear).
At this time the Auto sport 2006 was coming up, so I decided to attend so get ideas for the rear engine mounting as I knew they was going to be a lot of Grass track cars which have the engines mounted in the rear, so I went along to get a head full of ideas.
After walking around the show I came to the Constructors Pavilion and came across a Company named JMA Automotive who where showing there 2 Saxos which had Bike engines in the rear, after taking 100’s of pics and spending a good 20mins just looking over the car, I got talking the Owner Jack Marland. An after a long conversation it turns out his workshop is 5mins from my house. I arranged to go up to see if they could offer me anything as I had nothing to loose, as any input and the more I saw the saxo setup’s it could only help my build.
The first day I had free I went up to JMA and sat down and talked about there design, what I wanted etc. Jack and I seamed to click and got on really well, plus jack loved the idea of being able to be a part of my build. Jack saw it as great opportunity to show the versatility of the JMA chassis design and add Vauxhall running gear to the list of option he had to offer. However there was one problem JMA Automotive is also a very busy MOT test centre and garage operation and with other cars to finish plus others coming in at a later date ( Bike engine Punto, Civic V-Tec engine Saxo and there Hayabusa Saxo to finish) we needed to find a way forward.
With us both keen to get the job done the answer was an invite from jack to work along side him on the design and installation of the Vauxhall based kit for my corsa plus having the chance in the future to help on up and coming projects which where already in the pipeline. This way I could have input on the design work for the Vauxhall based kit and we would be able to make quick progress on the project; plus being able to get a JMA product on the market in time for the Harrogate kit car show in August.
So we began work on the Corsa (as the pictures will show below)……†¦..
Corsa GSi in storage ready to be chopped up (Very dirty as been in storage before I got it for 7 months)
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa1.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa2.jpg
Corsa arrives at JMA and we get on with chopping the rear floor out.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa3.jpg
Corsa is Placed on a flat plate jig and roll cage is started.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa4.jpg
C20LET placed in rear as a test fit so we know what kind of room we have to work with.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa5.jpg
After a lot of work the Corsa go’s back on its wheels after so we use the flat plate jig on other projects. The rear end still needs more work on additional bracing/tubing all over.
The square tubes you can see are only temporary until we make a new rear strut brace and tie rod end pickup points and the rear panel is removable to make getting the engine in an out easy.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa6.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa7.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa8.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa9.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa10.jpg
The Corsa is still along way of being finished, and there is still a lot more work to be done. More progress pictures will be added from time to time on each part of the build.
I have a lot of parts already which I will post pics up at a later date like steel rods plus other engine parts, twin head lights etc as I have been buying bits all the way threw this build.
For people who may be interested in this conversion here is a bit of information about what’s on offer…..
JMA Automotive Rear End Conversion Prices:-
This Conversion can be done to any small hatch with any engine you want (R1, Hayabuse,C20LET,Civic type R, Cosworth etc)
Basic Space Framed Car - £3000 (Rough prices all depends on people specs)
Full Rolling car - £5000 (Rough prices all depends on people specs)
If people would like to see the saxos click on the links below.
Pics of the Haybusa Saxo (http://www.corsasport.co.uk/board/garage.php?action=usergarage&owner=BeArDy&carid=4691&page=all)
http://www.jmaautomotive.co.uk/
http://www.jmaconversions.co.uk/
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/workshop.jpg
Looking forward to see people’s reactions and comments…
About 3 years ago the twin engine cars where all going around and being built, Golf, Nova, Renault 5 etc and it got my attention and I always had in my head I wanted to build a twin engine car But at the time I was finishing off the V6 Corsa so all time and money was tied up with that project.
Once I finished the Corsa (well drawn a line under spending anymore on the car) it was time to move on and start something else. I knew I wanted something I could take to track/drag/performance days and have the car be able to hold its own with some of the fast road legal cars (Skylines Evo’s etc running 10’s on the ¼ mile). Around this time I got friends with a company called Samurai performance who was a jap car builder. I started helping out there doing most of the bodywork and painting of there cars, after working there and seeing all there 500-700bhp Jap cars and customers Bills; for the engine builds I knew I could not afford to build a high powered jap car plus I didn’t know the first thing about working on jap engines (I only know the basic’s). So I got back onto the idea of building a twin engine car, but staying with Vauxhalls. The main reason for this was I knew Vauxhalls inside out so all work could be done by me saving me money but still getting the same result in the end.
So the idea was born and the start of the Twin engine build began.
After seeing the EDS Nova run 11.0 ¼ and a 0-60 in 2.89 with 2 x C20LET’s (320bhp per engine) I had to go with the same engines but have each engine better setup in the car (as the Nova brakes on every outing) and run more power (400-500bhp per engine) to get into the 10’s which I was looking for.
After a lot of searching I found 2 C20LET engine which where both in need of rebuilds so I snapped both of them up as I was going to replace almost everything in the engines anyway they where a good starting point for me to work with plus in the middle of this I found 2 F28 gearboxes.
So now with engines, gearboxes and an idea what I wanted the final outcome to be it was time to find a shell and which to go for.
I looked around at a lot of Vauxhall shells but was finding hard to source and clean shell for good money. In the end I was looking for a New Shape Corsa C. Until a friend of mine offered me his Clean Corsa B GSi in white for silly money (lets just say the bodykit could be sold for more than I paid) so I snapped the shell up and was ready to start work on the car.
Corsa GSi, engines, gearboxes etc all went into storage until I did a little more research into how I was going to mount the rear engine in the rear (as I was thinking about welding the front of the Corsa into the rear).
At this time the Auto sport 2006 was coming up, so I decided to attend so get ideas for the rear engine mounting as I knew they was going to be a lot of Grass track cars which have the engines mounted in the rear, so I went along to get a head full of ideas.
After walking around the show I came to the Constructors Pavilion and came across a Company named JMA Automotive who where showing there 2 Saxos which had Bike engines in the rear, after taking 100’s of pics and spending a good 20mins just looking over the car, I got talking the Owner Jack Marland. An after a long conversation it turns out his workshop is 5mins from my house. I arranged to go up to see if they could offer me anything as I had nothing to loose, as any input and the more I saw the saxo setup’s it could only help my build.
The first day I had free I went up to JMA and sat down and talked about there design, what I wanted etc. Jack and I seamed to click and got on really well, plus jack loved the idea of being able to be a part of my build. Jack saw it as great opportunity to show the versatility of the JMA chassis design and add Vauxhall running gear to the list of option he had to offer. However there was one problem JMA Automotive is also a very busy MOT test centre and garage operation and with other cars to finish plus others coming in at a later date ( Bike engine Punto, Civic V-Tec engine Saxo and there Hayabusa Saxo to finish) we needed to find a way forward.
With us both keen to get the job done the answer was an invite from jack to work along side him on the design and installation of the Vauxhall based kit for my corsa plus having the chance in the future to help on up and coming projects which where already in the pipeline. This way I could have input on the design work for the Vauxhall based kit and we would be able to make quick progress on the project; plus being able to get a JMA product on the market in time for the Harrogate kit car show in August.
So we began work on the Corsa (as the pictures will show below)……†¦..
Corsa GSi in storage ready to be chopped up (Very dirty as been in storage before I got it for 7 months)
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa1.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa2.jpg
Corsa arrives at JMA and we get on with chopping the rear floor out.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa3.jpg
Corsa is Placed on a flat plate jig and roll cage is started.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa4.jpg
C20LET placed in rear as a test fit so we know what kind of room we have to work with.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa5.jpg
After a lot of work the Corsa go’s back on its wheels after so we use the flat plate jig on other projects. The rear end still needs more work on additional bracing/tubing all over.
The square tubes you can see are only temporary until we make a new rear strut brace and tie rod end pickup points and the rear panel is removable to make getting the engine in an out easy.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa6.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa7.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa8.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa9.jpg
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/corsa10.jpg
The Corsa is still along way of being finished, and there is still a lot more work to be done. More progress pictures will be added from time to time on each part of the build.
I have a lot of parts already which I will post pics up at a later date like steel rods plus other engine parts, twin head lights etc as I have been buying bits all the way threw this build.
For people who may be interested in this conversion here is a bit of information about what’s on offer…..
JMA Automotive Rear End Conversion Prices:-
This Conversion can be done to any small hatch with any engine you want (R1, Hayabuse,C20LET,Civic type R, Cosworth etc)
Basic Space Framed Car - £3000 (Rough prices all depends on people specs)
Full Rolling car - £5000 (Rough prices all depends on people specs)
If people would like to see the saxos click on the links below.
Pics of the Haybusa Saxo (http://www.corsasport.co.uk/board/garage.php?action=usergarage&owner=BeArDy&carid=4691&page=all)
http://www.jmaautomotive.co.uk/
http://www.jmaconversions.co.uk/
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/4926/workshop.jpg
Looking forward to see people’s reactions and comments…