Looking for Advice/Opinions/Input

Hello, I am looking into possibly buying a SL-C of my own to work on and build. I'm looking to build one that is essentially a full on street race car. By that, I mean a race car that just barely passes as street legal. Any advice on what to do with it?
 

Howard Jones

Supporter
You should get on a plane and visit RCR, go for a tour, and most important have a good chat with Fran. Be sure to let him know what you are going to do with the car in depth.

Be advised that it is very difficult to have both in one car, race and street, and end up with a car that does both well. I would add that the word "race" means very different thing to different people. IMHO I believe "race car" means wheel to wheel racing and built to a set of rules such as NASA SU class. One of those would not make a very useable streetcar.
 
You should get on a plane and visit RCR, go for a tour, and most important have a good chat with Fran. Be sure to let him know what you are going to do with the car in depth.

Be advised that it is very difficult to have both in one car, race and street, and end up with a car that does both well. I would add that the word "race" means very different thing to different people. IMHO I believe "race car" means wheel to wheel racing and built to a set of rules such as NASA SU class. One of those would not make a very useable streetcar.
I could go visit RCR, its prob like a 3-5hr drive bc I live in Ohio and theyre based in Michigan. And i should of described what i meant better, when I said I wanted a race car, i dont mean something for like the indie 500, i essentially mean a street racer thats more race than street. Ive done some configuring on their website for fun, and what ive found is itll probably be about $62,000 to order the stuff from RCR not including shipping, and thats where I am so far.
 
... i essentially mean a street racer thats more race than street.

I'm still not sure what you mean by "more race than street". The SLC (all SLCs) are already more race than street. It's super low, has a high hp/weight ratio, is very loud, has a stiff suspension that's very low for just about any urban setting, and has fixed windows and no view out the back. Do you mean you want to build an SLC that has no interior accommodations apart from bare metal and a seat/harness? Apart from electronics and upgraded interior, just about any SLC out there would meet the description I gave above.

Even for a "race oriented" SLC I'd consider AC mandatory - but with no heat blockers or seals anywhere it won't do you much good for very long. So if you get yourself the kit and don't put any sound or heat materials in there, toss the interior pieces, install lights, and bolt the shell onto the chassis. That's about as close to track/race car for the street as you're going to get. When it came time to certify my car for CA registration purposes they checked my lights, brakes, and that's about it ...
 
I'm still not sure what you mean by "more race than street". The SLC (all SLCs) are already more race than street. It's super low, has a high hp/weight ratio, is very loud, has a stiff suspension that's very low for just about any urban setting, and has fixed windows and no view out the back. Do you mean you want to build an SLC that has no interior accommodations apart from bare metal and a seat/harness? Apart from electronics and upgraded interior, just about any SLC out there would meet the description I gave above.

Even for a "race oriented" SLC I'd consider AC mandatory - but with no heat blockers or seals anywhere it won't do you much good for very long. So if you get yourself the kit and don't put any sound or heat materials in there, toss the interior pieces, install lights, and bolt the shell onto the chassis. That's about as close to track/race car for the street as you're going to get. When it came time to certify my car for CA registration purposes they checked my lights, brakes, and that's about it ...
At this point even I'm confused now, but moving on...
 
I should of mentioned this in the beginning, but I know virtually nothing about cars. But, anyone have any suggestions for transaxles and or engines? I've been thinking about just taking a LS and 7 speed manual from a Corvette Stingray and using that, but I am open to all suggestions on what works and what doesn't. Alternatively, get a 6 speed and use an adapter plate that RCR offers through their website.

On the other note, if I wait a year or so, I may be able just to get a engine from a C8 'Vette and use that as it is already a mid engine and not worry about having to modify everything known to mankind just to flip the engine from the front to the back.

Like I said, I'm open to all ideas of all kinds so talk away.
 
The best way for you to get a better idea would be to read as many of the build threads on this site that you can. Then you can pick and choose what you like. Then give the particulars to a builder that would charge you accordingly.
 
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