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Thread: What do I have?

  1. #1
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    Default What do I have?

    I could use some help figuring out what I've purchased. I'm thinking it is a F440. It came with the original Chaparral engine, but now is powered by a Arctic Cat 550 twin. I have cleaned it up and have it running good. Brakes work, but I want to rebuild them, probably update the master cylinders as this has twins and kind of a make shift proportional linkage. I don't know much about cyntrificle clutches, but it does seem to work. The rear gear box that drives the rear pumpkin in what might be a VW rear end is rather new to me. I'm thinking this allows a way to change the gear ratio for different application. Needd tires so I could use help finding reasonable prices scrubs. front is 20x8x13 and rear are 20x9.5x13. I want to restore the car into a Jim Clark Tribute Green/Yellow Lotus 49 theme as garage art, but also will likely XC and track it at club days 1-2 a year just to put a smile on my face.

    The car was campaigned in the NW SCCA I believe probably in the 80's perhaps even 90's. I bought it out of the Roseburg Oregon area and it came with no history or details.

    Who was the Chassis Mfg?
    Does anyone remember the car?
    It as a A/M on the side so I believe this was the Class it raced in but was this just F440?

    Thanks for any help you can give me.
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  2. #2
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    This may have at one point been an early (pre-suspension, something like '79 or '80) F440, but it's since been heavily modified beyond the point of recognition. Obviously the engine has been swapped - but no F440's came with VW rear axles like that (or really anything resembling a automotive axle), as a rear diff has been outlawed in the class from the onset.

    The "A/M" designation almost certainly indicates that the previous owner autocrossed it in AM, which is the catch-all class with essentially no rules.

    Just a heads up before you get too far into the build - getting it on track at anything other than SCCA autocross in AM will likely require a lot of work. Unless the roll hoop has been modified, it likely needs a good part of the tube frame replaced to meet the basic SCCA requirements for club racing (where it would only be legal in the club racing catch-all of "FS" as it sits now... and even then you'll really want an exception to run FS in the FV/F5/FF run group - that thing would be a rolling chicane in the "wings and things" group FS normally runs with).

  3. #3
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    Other than Autox in AMod, talk with the local SCCA region Time Trials (TT) Chair to see what he says about running it in TT. Safety upgrades will probably be called for in TT - bigger diameter main and front roll hoop, crush box, etc. Before you start anything learn ALL you can so that you don't make a costly mistake.

    HTH,
    Jim
    Been messing with these cars since 1982.

  4. #4
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    Thanks Guys,

    Not fully concerned about meeting specs other than identifying what the chassis and year mfg it may have been. I agree it may likely be a late 70 or early 1980 generation. It does have a fat roll bar compared to a B series F440 I saw at a XC this weekend. The engine to gearbox to rear end is different then what I have seen elsewhere. I was wondering if it was originally to be built for a Formula V or something that had a transmission then altered to take the Chaparral engine. Here are a few close pics of the frame. It does have suspension and first thought is that it wasn't an add on as it looks pretty will designed in the the chassis. But I'm less than I should about a lot of things in life really. (women included).


    What is a good brake/master-cylinder to use? I think it would be nice to have adjustable bias for the brakes as well.

    The radiator in the roll bar is definitely a afterthought as it has the original heat exchanger down in the side rails. (not the best location for either but functional)

    Thanks for the advice- I'm enjoying the project, and boy does it look good in the garage next to the other toys.
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  5. #5
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    Default Malibu gp ?

    It's been a long time, however this reminds me of a MALIBU GP rental from the 70"s. If memory serves me, they had rotary engines of some sort. Just a SWAG

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    I'm guessing Malibu car or some other rental kart. Nothing but the engine is F440-ish. Does look fun!!

    OK, after a quick search it isn't a MGP car.... don't know what it might have started out as.
    Last edited by GBugg; 07.30.14 at 12:56 PM.
    George Bugg
    -----------------------------
    NovaKar
    F600

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ackmann View Post
    What is a good brake/master-cylinder to use? I think it would be nice to have adjustable bias for the brakes as well.
    If the car currently has brakes, the easiest thing to do is find new master cylinders that have the same mounting pattern.

    I've used the Tilton Series 74 master cylinder kits for years on my F500s, and had good luck. They come in different bores, have several reservoir sizes in the kit, and the option of a remote reservoir. They seem to be identical to the Wilwood kits, but I've found that they last longer.

    Wilwood makes a dual master cylinder brake pedal assembly that a lot of F500 guys use. It has a built-in brake bias adjuster, and a cable can be purchased separately to provide bias adjustment from the cockpit.

    Cory

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    The Tilton Series 74 or 75 looks like it will work good for me. Thanks for the heads up. I'll probably need to use the remote reservoir kits to keep the profile low to the front cowling. But that will likely be easy enough.

    This funky old system will need to go. see pic

    You guys have been helpful. I found some Avon 75% scrubs today that will help in the tire needs. Just need to clean up the wheels before they arrive.

    Any good suggestions on couple of other things?

    1) want to find a set of old school mat silver bullet style rear view mirrors.
    2) where would a guy have a small custom plastic windshield made? Body looks like it has 3 holes along the front to mount something too.
    -Wayne
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ackmann View Post
    2) where would a guy have a small custom plastic windshield made? Body looks like it has 3 holes along the front to mount something too.
    -Wayne
    You should be able to get a piece of Lexan from a local hardware store, or online. Should be easy to make your own. You can cut it with a jigsaw and the correct blade, and it won't crack when you bend it in place, unlike plexiglass.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by cory mcleod View Post
    You should be able to get a piece of Lexan from a local hardware store, or online. Should be easy to make your own. You can cut it with a jigsaw and the correct blade, and it won't crack when you bend it in place, unlike plexiglass.
    Interesting, I've never tried doing that before. But perhaps its worth a shot. Just heat it up with a heat gun and smoothly bend it? I can visualize bending the primary corners, but have a harder time visualizing how to bend a 90 degree lip for the bottom. Perhaps heat it and bend it in a vise first before I bend the wrap around curved windshield.

    Intriguing, but I still think it may be better to just throw some cash towards someone that specializes in these type of things.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ackmann View Post
    Interesting, I've never tried doing that before. But perhaps its worth a shot. Just heat it up with a heat gun and smoothly bend it? I can visualize bending the primary corners, but have a harder time visualizing how to bend a 90 degree lip for the bottom. Perhaps heat it and bend it in a vise first before I bend the wrap around curved windshield.

    Intriguing, but I still think it may be better to just throw some cash towards someone that specializes in these type of things.
    The windshield I made just had the main radius, so you are talking about a much more complicated project. I agree with taking it to a specialist.

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