Jacer V2k2 Return

**Bill Bonow** · March 31st, 2012, 9:19 AM

Last night, an old friend returned to my garage. I originally assembled the Jacer in mid 2003 for SRacing. it's made the rounds and now have a new owner who will join the FST series this summer. I'm going through it to make sure the car is ready for the season.

Here is two photos of the car in 2003 and currently parked in my garage

fezzic181 · March 31st, 2012, 10:52 AM

June at Nelson is sounding more and more awesome by the week.

rdfrancis · March 31st, 2012, 11:58 AM

Congrats Bill. Nothing like a happy Home Coming!

**Bill Bonow** · March 31st, 2012, 12:06 PM

Roger,

Sorry, maybe I made it seem like the car was mine.... Nope, just put it together from a kit in 2003 (for someone else) and after a tour of the US, it's back in my garage for prep for the new owner (not me) some 9 years later.

Another interesting fact, there are only (2) Jacers in the US. Both of them now find their home in Michigan.

rdfrancis · March 31st, 2012, 12:24 PM

I am sure it is happy sitting in your garage with your skilled hands getting it ready for another season of racing. Looks like a great car to me. Wish there were more down here in Florida.

Dennis Richarson · March 31st, 2012, 1:31 PM

What a great looking car!

Dennis

**Bill Bonow** · March 31st, 2012, 6:41 PM

The body shape of the Jacer has always been a big attraction. Here is a couple more photos during it's life.

DoctorSpeed313 · April 5th, 2012, 5:57 PM

Bill
I like the black look I might take it back to the original color.
Dr. D

**Bill Bonow** · April 6th, 2012, 10:12 AM

Dr Doug,

Here is a shot when delivered to Mid-Ohio in September 2003. Still in black gel coat.

rgu · April 6th, 2012, 11:24 AM

I actually liked it best when it was painted flat black. Looked like Darth Vader's race car. All it needed was a light saber.

winsmith · April 10th, 2012, 6:52 PM

I do miss that car. We still make the body panels and they are available through SR. If I had only had more room in my shop.

**Bill Bonow** · May 26th, 2012, 6:59 PM

The Jacer is very close to race ready. Needs an alignment and filled up with fuel. This one was a challenge, needed lots of TLC with no room in the engine bay for anything.

Dr. Doug is planning to run the first series race at Nelson Ledges in June. I think he'll have a solid car to start his FST racing adventure.

Here is the car almost ready to go.

rgu · May 28th, 2012, 9:04 AM

When you look at this car it looks almost the same as the old one but its had some serious engineering upticks. The addition of the two bar Evolution trailing arms should eliminate the bending the old ones were subjected to. I was there when the original Jacer leading arms broke on Greg Schings in turn one at Grattan so these should help a lot especially since trans and motor mounts are also upgraded.

I’m dying to see the packaging Bill put in place in the engine compartment. With these big upper scoops room is really at a premium so Bill added the Nash-Mission filter/cooler block can make a lot of things possible.

Bet Dr. Doug will be fast right out of the block on Friday.

jstoezel · May 28th, 2012, 2:18 PM

Do you have pictures of the original ones? How do they compare against the new style pictured here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgu;

The addition of the two bar Evolution trailing arms should eliminate the bending the old ones were subjected to. I was there when the original Jacer leading arms broke on Greg Schings in turn one at Grattan so these should help a lot especially since trans and motor mounts are also upgraded.

**Bill Bonow** · May 28th, 2012, 2:26 PM

Jean,

If your speaking of the original Jacer leading arms, they are very similar, but have been upgraded in the later model (shown).

jstoezel · May 28th, 2012, 2:31 PM

Hi Bill:

Yes I'm referring to the trailing arms. How different are the original ones from the latest Jacer design?

Jean

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Bonow

Jean,

If your speaking of the original Jacer leading arms, they are very similar, but have been upgraded in the later model (shown).

**Bill Bonow** · May 28th, 2012, 2:35 PM

Jean,

The leading arms are the same general design with just upgrades/modifications to "beef" them up.

jstoezel · May 28th, 2012, 2:43 PM

How does the heim joint of the arm attaches to the back of the transmission (transmission cone?)? Is it just single shear on a metal plate?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Bonow

Jean,

The leading arms are the same general design with just upgrades/modifications to "beef" them up.

**Bill Bonow** · May 28th, 2012, 3:26 PM

Jean,

Not going into details, simply stated it was not found to be a great system. That is why this car was converted over to trailing arms.

To put this thread back on track, here are some more photos of the finished Jacer FST ready for Nelson Ledges

jsteeb · May 28th, 2012, 9:31 PM

This generation of Jacer is just plain sexy.

(don't tell the Lynx I said that).

**Bill Bonow** · May 28th, 2012, 10:06 PM

Jason,

I agree, the earlier cars look really sharp, better that the current car. Compare the photos below.

Rumor is the Cutts boys are working on a new car (begging for a spy photo, but no luck)

winsmith · May 29th, 2012, 8:16 PM

We made a lot of changes to this frame from the main hoop back. The tubing had the strength of wet kleenex. we beefed up the main rails and everywhere that the motor and trans mounted. A lot of the frame was brazed together, we went back cleaned out the braze and welded the joints. I still have a copy of this frame. What happened to the chassis jig we made for this frame?

Win