Superlite GTA

[Greg]

Ah, yes, the good 'ole transverse front wheel drive mounted LS4! I know Fiero guys have swapped them in. I think they used the GM 4T65E transmission...

Actually it looks like he used the F40 transmission (6-speed manual) and modified it so that is another option.

Starter mount for LS4 with FWD F40 6 speed manual transmission - LS1TECH

Just gonna have to wait til Fran tells us what the dimensions in the back are and crushes our dreams. :drunk:

 

[Brad R.]

Actually it looks like he used the F40 transmission (6-speed manual) and modified it so that is another option.

Starter mount for LS4 with FWD F40 6 speed manual transmission - LS1TECH

Just gonna have to wait til Fran tells us what the dimensions in the back are and crushes our dreams. :drunk:

You're right.

Haha yes, that'll come probably soon. I think just about any I-4, H-4, V-6, and of course VR6 will fit (with the right mounting brackets/mounts). A V8 is quite a stretch.

Doesn't seem like there are any good domestic V6 candidates...

 

[Ben Whittle]

If a transverse I-4 will fit then width wise a transverse V8 will most like fit as well, depth wise is another question.

 

[Justin]

I guarantee you a Subaru won't fit in there. (H4)


The space will probably very comparable to the Razor. I know some people have talked about dropping in a small Honda or VW VR6, but I don't think it's been done yet. Like Greg has said, let's wait for Fran to tell us what's going to fit.

 

[Ben Whittle]

Fran has stated that he does at least have plans for the Mitsubishi V6

 

[mike]

I guess if that's with turbos that's not too bad, though don't complete LS3's weigh in at around 420lbs?

I've seen several places quote the VQ35DE in at 330lbs but I haven't found one that's clear on what is included.

Weight for LS3 crate engine is 415 lbs according to GM Performance Parts. Crate engine won't have alternator, PS pump or AC compressor and associated brackets.

 

[mike]

Actually it looks like he used the F40 transmission (6-speed manual) and modified it so that is another option.

Starter mount for LS4 with FWD F40 6 speed manual transmission - LS1TECH

Just gonna have to wait til Fran tells us what the dimensions in the back are and crushes our dreams. :drunk:

LOL... But it sure is fun dreaming while it lasts. Thanks for the link on the F40 swap.:thumbsup:

 

[mike]

You're right.

Doesn't seem like there are any good domestic V6 candidates...

Not a lot of aftermarket for the domestic V6 engines. 4 cylinders like the duratec 2.3 have a ton of aftermarket support.

Buick V6 engines used to have quite a bit of aftermarket goodies for it as well as factory and indy racing support. NA, Turbocharged and Supercharged engines were offered from GM. The engine still has a pretty good following and is a common swap with the Fiero crowd. Oldshool OHV platform not exactly the best choice today for big power.

Doesn't seem to be much out there for the 3.5 SOHC Chrysler LH platform which is a shame. These engines came both transverse and longitudinal in FWD and would lend themselves well to mid engine kits. Aluminum block engines starting in 1999.


Ford Duratec 3.0 built in Cleveland, OH .. a 60 degree all aluminum DOHC engine Forged rods, forged pistons, cams available. Looks like more support for this engine oveseas than US.

It's also used in the Rossion Q1 / Nobel M400. Twin turbos pushing 450 BHP with a 6 speed Getrag.

0-60 in 3.1 seconds
Quarter mile 11.3 @123 mph
Top speed 189
2480 lbs

 

[Steve]

Roush used to build engines for the Noble M400. I'm sure they could still. It's not particularly compact in twin turbo guise. Love the sound of the waste gates though...

 

[Brad R.]

Roush used to build engines for the Noble M400. I'm sure they could still. It's not particularly compact in twin turbo guise. Love the sound of the waste gates though...

Rossion Q1 Engine bay (same motor as Noble M400)...

Transverse -- yes
Compact -- barely

Wonder how much the matching Getrag 6-speed manual with Quaife automatic torque-biasing differential would add to the GTA price tag...

 

[Ben Whittle]

Again, VQ35.... it's been fitted in a lot, lots of support for it, very small, transverse applications and if you wanted to go nuts, you could get a COSWORTH VQ35DE...

Nissan VQ engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Mark Hamstra]

If you want to go nuts, there are other options than Cosworth. A fully-built, high-performance, normally aspirated VQ like this would be really, really nice in a GTA -- aside from the price. You can easily get more horsepower and torque out of Nissan V6 if you use turbos, but then I start to worry about what gearbox to use that will be up to the task. For that matter, the manual gearbox out of the Maxima/Altima never really received a lot of acclaim....

 

[Ben Whittle]

Ironically if you wanted to go nuts and keeping this on track, Cosworth actually has their own 4G63 block and going by how strong their EJ25 and VQ35 blocks are I would imagine their 4G63 block is pretty stout and I would have thought would be a direct fit into the GTA.

 

[Brad R.]

Just had my mind on the GTA and wanted to post some pictures of its' competitors:

K1 Attack Roadster, I-4 to V6 power option:

Renovatio T500, based on the K1 Attack with a 4.2 Audi V8:

Rossion Q1, powered by a twin turbo V6:

Lotus Exige S, powered by an I-4:

Acura/Honda NSX, powered by a V6:

Porsche 911 Carrera, powered by a flat-6:

Cannot wait to see the completed SL-GTA... better looking, higher performing, and less expensive than all these metal chariots :thumbsup:

If you want to go nuts, there are other options than Cosworth....

I could think of many ways to spend 35k+ more wisely...

 

[PsychoGT]

Anyone know the following:

Does it matter if the donor Eclipse if FWD or AWD?
What if the donor car has a sunroof?
What type of transaxle will be used?

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Does not matter it its AWD or FWD as the AWD trans is easily modified.

The sunroof is eliminated as the reskin reaches further forward that the stock sunroof opening.

Transaxle will be the trans used in the Eclipse..

The chassis is only being set up to use Mitusbishi engines....4 and 6 cylinder.

Eclipse and Evo variants.

 

[Josh]

Any updates, image wise? I have this unfortunate condition of being very visual, lol.

 

[patdown]

I am very interested in the GTA. However, I am a newbie to the Mitsubishi platforms. I see the GTA will use a '95-99 eclipse/talon body for the base of the car.

Will the engine/transaxle from a later generation fit in the GTA (without modifications) or is it limited to the second generation combo only?

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

The later engines will fit but will have to be specified at order time as the mounts are different enough that its not a one size and shape fits all...

 

[Kasey]

Thanks for the update Fran. Really looking forward to pricing and options to purchase in stages.

I don't know if its out of line or not, but there is a huge dsm community and all may not want the full conversion, just the subframe modification for a mid engine mounted Second Gen Eclipse/Talon.

Also that OEM 2g Eclipse rear subframe bolts into the 7g Galant, 8g Galant, and 3g Eclipse.

Just throwing out some ideas.