Smart Drifter!

[FujimiLover]

Okay, I'm entering the drift build off with an unusual entree. I'm building Revells 1/24 scale Smart Car. I've always loved these tiny little pocket-cars ever since they first came out. How the heck can something so tiny with very little horse power drift you ask?

Well, somebody in England, I think it was England, took a Suzuki GSXR engine which has approxiatly 160 HP which can be tuned up to 190 and they stuffed it in the back of a Smart Car. The results? A mind blowing super fast pocket ROCKET that can blow doors off unsuspecting victims! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

I had received a Honda motorcycle kit in 1/24 scale that I had PLANNED on useing for the engine but realized that it's less power than the Smart's original engine, so that aint' going to work. I'm considering getting a Revell Honda Civic tuner kit and useing it's engine instead.

I've actually found the companie's website.

http://www.smartuki.com/

This company is now offering kit's and ready-to-run Smartuki's. Their even announcing the possiblities of coming to the USA!

Here is a picture of the kit I'll be useing.

Here is the car with the wheels I plan on useing as the stock ones are tiny little donut's.

The goal for this project, is to give the viewer MY twist on the fun little machine. I may or may not use an engine in here, I dont' know yet. But the goal is to paint the black area's white, and lay down SMS's CF decal's on the gray body panels.

[FujimiLover]

These two pictures here, shows you where the car's engine is.

If I am to do a motor-swap, there certainly isn't much room in here to do so. Plus, the way they want you to buld this, I dont' know if this project can be done the way we want it to turn out. It maybe a simple curbe-side model with the appearance of being a capable-drifter.

I'll have to get the Honda Civic model and see if it's engine when built will even fit in this model. That will be the first step. Plus, I'm not sure about hacking off the rear section and grafting on a new motor mount system with rear suspension!

Edited May 19, 2009 by FujimiLover

[diymirage]

These two pictures here, shows you where the car's engine is.

If I am to do a motor-swap, there certainly isn't much room in here to do so. Plus, the way they want you to buld this, I dont' know if this project can be done the way we want it to turn out. It maybe a simple curbe-side model with the appearance of being a capable-drifter.

I'll have to get the Honda Civic model and see if it's engine when built will even fit in this model. That will be the first step.

i can measure the Vtec if you want, im installing one in my drifter (as you know)

also , i still would suggest just keeping everything under one roof as for as the drifter WIPs goes

[FujimiLover]

Yes please, measure the engine for me that would be helpfull! I'll measure the back of this car as well. Sorry to start a new thread, but I wanted this seperate.

A few questions. Does the engine have any mounts or driveshaft's with axles to it? I'm wondering how to mate the rear wheels to the new rear section with engine.

Edited May 19, 2009 by FujimiLover

[FujimiLover]

These are the seats I'd like to use. But being thicker than stock's, they sit higher and stick out the roof some. So, I'll need to lower'em by shaving off a mm of the block that they rest on.

Notice how even just the right set of seats alone can change the feel of the car?

Edited May 19, 2009 by FujimiLover

[roadhawg]

....... I'll need to lower'em by shaving off a mm of the block that they rest on.

A mm??? Looks like you need to shave the whole block off! That dude would look kinda silly driftin' with his head stickin' through the sunroof!

[roadhawg]

BTW....this isn't the first time a motorcycle engine has been used in a competition oriented car. Check out Legends race cars....5/8 scale race cars powered by Yamaha 1250 engines. Way cool!

[FujimiLover]

I was really never good with eye-balling measurements! 1mm was just an approximation.

Unfortunetly, the bottom of it is hollow, so I may have to shave off the bottom of the seats themeselves.

As for the engine, this is the space I have to work with.

The chassis peice.

The interior peice

and the two together.

[FujimiLover]

BTW....this isn't the first time a motorcycle engine has been used in a competition oriented car. Check out Legends race cars....5/8 scale race cars powered by Yamaha 1250 engines. Way cool!

They've also been put in the original Morris Mini Cooper's as well. I once owned a 1974 Honda Z Coupe and had thought about putting some sort of motorcycle engine in that thing. That was my first car and Dad bought one for me back when I was 14! Back when I was small and that car made me feel big! LOL!

[roadhawg]

Then how about just sawing that whole block off and replacing it with a flat piece of plastic or aluminum?

[FujimiLover]

Probably what I'll end up doing. But first I need to have the engine on hand to see if it'll physically fit before I do any cutting up. I also need to see how about making the connection between engine, drivetrain, axles, suspension, and wheels.

[RodneyBad]

Probably what I'll end up doing. But first I need to have the engine on hand to see if it'll physically fit before I do any cutting up. I also need to see how about making the connection between engine, drivetrain, axles, suspension, and wheels.

Looks like it'll be a good and fun project.

I test fitted the Motor/trannie from the Revell Civic SI.

Good fit too.

[FujimiLover]

Looks like it'll be a good and fun project.

I test fitted the Motor/trannie from the Revell Civic SI.

Good fit too.

Care to post a picture of the motor/trannie in your Smart? I'd appreciate that alot! The Civic SI you say? Which one, or are they all the same?

[B_rad88]

wow, now your working on 3 models at once? bored like me, and trying to make things a little more fun? excellent!, bro! great job so far!

[FujimiLover]

Actually, the MR2's on hold at the moment. I couldnt' resist the KS 911 any longer, and I've always wanted to do something outrageous to a Smart Car.

Just got the body primered.

I'm predicting that the doors will be easy to carbonize and maybe the rear clip as well. But I have a gut feeling the front clip will be a pain in the azz to carbonize.

I.E., carbonize, to make into carbon-fiber! In this case, adding carbon-fiber decal.

Edited May 20, 2009 by FujimiLover

[B_rad88]

carbonize? KEWL! and that sucks about the mr2! is it the scoop?

well back to the smart, are you building a roll cage? any custom interior pieces?

[FujimiLover]

I'm thinking of a roll cage, but not sure how to go about it yet. I've already showen you pic's of the sport seats in there. I would like to find an aftermarket sport steering wheel similar to what's in my Competition model.

No, it's not the snorkel. It's the KS 911 and this project.

Edited May 20, 2009 by FujimiLover

[RodneyBad]

carbonize

I like that

No pics of mine in progress

I just glued the Honda Motor together and Just did some Eyeballin test fittin

into the chassis.

A straight axle through the outer Smart stock location and through the stock Honda Trannie will about

line up perty good..

Just gotta cut out the whole motor section of the smart car with out cutting into the

What little suspenion detail there is.

Chop off the stock muffler.

and the rest is make it up as ya go kind of thing.

all Honda motors look alike to me.

But that is Mostly Just me tho.

[B_rad88]

I'm thinking of a roll cage, but not sure how to go about it yet. I've already showen you pic's of the sport seats in there. I would like to find an aftermarket sport steering wheel similar to what's in my Competition model.

No, it's not the snorkel. It's the KS 911 and this project.

i have a steering wheel from the amt/ertl fast and furious mitsubishi eclipes! and i might have a couple other different types too! i can take pics, and if you want any of them you can have them!

and oh, ok!

[B_rad88]

dude, bro, i am sorry for poppin' your bubble! but i had to tell you about it! and a B16 engine in a smart car sounds sweet! V-tech BABY!

[diymirage]

Actually, the MR2's on hold at the moment. I couldnt' resist the KS 911 any longer, and I've always wanted to do something outrageous to a Smart Car.

Just got the body primered.

I'm predicting that the doors will be easy to carbonize and maybe the rear clip as well. But I have a gut feeling the front clip will be a pain in the azz to carbonize.

I.E., carbonize, to make into carbon-fiber! In this case, adding carbon-fiber decal.

that had me ROFLing

i mean WHAT body ???

[FujimiLover]

that had me ROFLing

i mean WHAT body ???

?????????????

[diymirage]

?????????????

come on dude, look at the picture

it looks more like a roll cage then a carbody

its tiny

[FujimiLover]

come on dude, look at the picture

it looks more like a roll cage then a carbody

its tiny

Yea it does come to think of it! That's only cause the rest of the panels aren't on there yet. Just wait till this "roll cage" is finished!

[FujimiLover]

Got some supplies and a doner-kit for this project! I picked up two sheets of SMS CF plain weave, two tiny plastic rods for building the frame, some micro sol and micro setdecal solution's, leafe-silver paint, and a super fine paint brush.

Now that I have all the stuff needed, wish me luck!