COMING: The Rally Beast

[Joe_Black]

Well, out of impatience and giddy excitement I'm going to share this bit of info:

The '01 Ebony that was Velvis' before he provided a home for my Dragon is about to begin its transformation into an Open Class rally truck. After we finish removing the entire interior it will go to Atlanta for a custom FIA-spec cage and the engine will be setup to run dual turbos feeding the engine through a twin-inlet top-mount intercooler, exhausting it all from dual oval-sectioned side pipes. Engine management will be MegaSquirt and the driveline will get the Aisin 5-speed and retain the TOD. The damaged front end will be completely replaced by a FRP one piece tilt-forward nose removeable with just two quick-pins.

The fabricator and I have agreed to not have a set schedule on anything, just to move along as I can come up with $$$ as needed. So I'll post any interesting news or photos as they become available.

To the best of my knowledge and those in the North American rally community, this will be the only VehiCROSS competing at any level of the sport.

All I know is that I want pics of the stage workers faces the first time they see it!

[nfpgasmask]

And what about the paint job? I can't wait to see it.

Bart

[Ruflyf]

I dont suppose you still need a navigator? lol. Seriously though, have you considered selling some of the parts you are removing to help with the cash flow?

[Joe_Black]

Seriously though, have you considered selling some of the parts you are removing to help with the cash flow?

The thought has crossed my mind, but I do have another VX which it would be nice to have a set of various spares for. Although for a roof-rack I could be persuaded to possibly part with something.

[VehiX]

Why dual turbos?

What size turbos will you be running?

I would think that for a rally vehicle you would want power all the way across the rpm range and not just up top at high speeds. Are you concerned at all with turbo lag?

I would think a super charger would be a better application for rallying.

What about the suspension? What cha got goin on there?

Either way, good luck with the project and I hope it all works out. Do post pics of the progress as you go along so we can all admire them

[Joe_Black]

The dual-turbo setup is ideal for the V6 layout and requires no complicated plumbing or drive modifications as a supercharger would, and at a significantly lower weight. Using small, fast-spooling turbos (hydrid T25 type) will give quick response and a broad power band across the RPM range. Utilizing purge valves off the intercooler will also prevent them from stalling during decelleration, which keeps the boost on tap. The small turbos don't produce a lot of boost, which isn't needed here, but lag is practically non-existent.

Suspension is envisioned as eventually being similar to the dual-shock setup as seen on the Dakar vehicles. As we'll be shaving a significant amount of weight from the VX we'll start our baseline with singles using remote reservoirs and tune from there.

[E-ZooZoo One]

...and the driveline will get the Aisin 5-speed and retain the TOD.

Ex-squeeze me?

I'm aware of the fact that our VXs have the 1996-97 Rodeo firewall, complete with all of the holes required to mount the clutch pedal / master cylinder assembly...

But please share EVERYTHING about how you plan on keeping the TOD!
Inquiring minds wanna know!

[Joe_Black]

The Asian rally teams managed to do it and I'll be takin' pictures and postin' news as we do it.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Hey Joe,

I caught a glimpse of this little beastie on the Science Channel when they were discussing radical automobiles in history:

[Joe_Black]

Ah, the Lancia Stratos! In a previous life I was a FIAT/Lancia freak. Okay, I still am. Especially since I've still got three twin-cam engines and a handful of 5-speed trannies around the shop. LOL!

This is by far my most favorite Lancia...

[Hotsauce]

T25 will give instant response, and good boost up to about 12-14 psi, then you will run off the map and make just heat. You will probably get away with 550cc injectors at that level.

If you want to run high boost(25-30) you are going to need a bigger turbo, like a 16g or 20g, but I doubt our block will take it.

Are you allowed to mount the radiator where the rear seat was, and duct the heat out the back? It would simplify the intercooler install, and make the radiator invoulnerable to rocks.

John C.

[BigDave]

Hi,
Ultra cool ! Really interested in the 5 speed mod, I'm going to do that to my JDM here in New Zealand. Please let us know if the V6 flywheel will take the clutch without mods. Makes a big difference to how I plan to do my mod. Also interested in exactly what box you use.

Good luck !

[Joe_Black]

Finally got around to stripping most of the front sheet metal that doesn't require cutting and also got all of the interior out except the upper dash and mastic-type insulation. Here are a few pics if you've never seen a naked VX...

[Joe_Black]

VX nakedness...

[Joe_Black]

Loaded on the trailer for a trip to Atlanta for roll cage, more weight reduction, removal of all sheet metal ahead of firewall and fabrication of dual-turbo manifolds and intercooler plumbing.

Couple pics of where the factory mounting point is for the hydraulic clutch and the little perforated knock-out in the insulation pad under the carpet next to the brake pedal. Yup, everything's already there for a 5-speed!

Here's the best part of stripping down an '01: The climate control! That's right folks, I'll have the only '99 IronMan with climate control. w00t!