alarmstrong Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Well, I built the Enzo and was less than satisfied with it and then on one of the last steps... I broke the entire rear end of it. The car sat as I thought about ordering parts from Revell to rebuild it but I just didn't like the job I did on the car at all. One day I got the idea to use the Enzo engine in another car and started looking around the kit stash. Enter the 39 Chevy Coupe....... The first order of business was to decide what to do with the Enzo engine/trans I decided to separate the engine block from the transmission to create a front engine rear transaxle set up. How to mount the transmission in the rear of the car was another problem. I solved this by cutting the rear end apart and attaching the transmission where the differential was. It actually looks like it might work out. As if all these modifications weren't difficult enough, for my limited skill set, I decided to use the Enzo wheels and tires which required me to cut the floor pan of the trunk and build tubs, a first for me... And then just to cause the rest of my hair to turn grey... Why not open the trunk and doors AND reverse the doors to open suicide style? Sounds like a lot of fun... This may or may not end up being the color scheme of the car. I have been toying with flat or matte black or grey leaving it as a "work in progress" Any comment or questions are greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 So far, so good. Make it SHINY :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Interesting and ambitious project. Working beyond your comfort zone is how you build your skills. What you've got going looks very good, so keep at it. Just a brief word about engineering: in the real world, to use that transaxle in a front-engined car, it would have to be mounted rigidly to the chassis (like the current Corvettes and older Porsche 944 for example) using CV jointed axles that run out to independently suspended hubs (much like the Enzo suspension). Though the solid-axle, leaf spring setup you nave here could conceivably be put together out of custom-machined parts, and could power a showcar on and off the trailer, it would require the transaxle to move with the rear suspension. This would result in very high unsprung weight and would produce a crashing, jarring ride on the street, and probably broken parts. It would also require the use of a magically flexible gearshift linkage, cable perhaps, to be able to change gears. I'm NOT trying to rain on your parade...I really like what you're doing here...I'm just offering a little more information you may or may not have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alarmstrong Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 Interesting and ambitious project. Working beyond your comfort zone is how you build your skills. What you've got going looks very good, so keep at it. Just a brief word about engineering: in the real world, to use that transaxle in a front-engined car, it would have to be mounted rigidly to the chassis (like the current Corvettes and older Porsche 944 for example) using CV jointed axles that run out to independently suspended hubs (much like the Enzo suspension). Though the solid-axle, leaf spring setup you nave here could conceivably be put together out of custom-machined parts, and could power a showcar on and off the trailer, it would require the transaxle to move with the rear suspension. This would result in very high unsprung weight and would produce a crashing, jarring ride on the street, and probably broken parts. It would also require the use of a magically flexible gearshift linkage, cable perhaps, to be able to change gears. I'm NOT trying to rain on your parade...I really like what you're doing here...I'm just offering a little more information you may or may not have. Bill, This is why I put comments welcome. I work on this late in the day, after my kids go to bed, so my brain is not fully functioning at that point. I did think that the way I had it did not really translate to 1:1 but could not figure out why. You are absolutely right. When I get home tonight I will be looking at the ZR-1 Corvette from my stash that has a transaxle to see what I can do to go more realistic, Which was my original goal. Thanks. AL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Very cool project... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 I like it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDGREEN Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I like it too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captin Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Very creative love what your doing who puts a enzo engine into a old chevy coupe... very cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFchronos Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I like where this is going, I'm watching this very closely. Nice job on the suicide doors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 This is a cool idea. I have a 968 kit that I used as a donor for another build and if you get in a bind finding a trans-axle let me know. The 968 had only a 230 HP engine so it would be too mild in the real world but fit and looks probably mean more here. I can give you some dimensions at any rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alarmstrong Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 This is a cool idea. I have a 968 kit that I used as a donor for another build and if you get in a bind finding a trans-axle let me know. The 968 had only a 230 HP engine so it would be too mild in the real world but fit and looks probably mean more here. I can give you some dimensions at any rate. Thanks, I have a Vette that didn't go so well that I am going to liberate the rear end from this week. Not sure if I am going to use the suspension and fit the Enzo trans into it or use the suspension and transmission from the Vette. In any case I can harvest the bell housing from the engine and trans for use on the Enzo engine and trans in the Chevy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alarmstrong Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 Went back to the drawing board after the quick eyes of Bill pointed out the transaxle deficiencies. I looked at building a box from the frame around the transaxle and other possible solutions before coming up with this. I cut the frame apart and then cut the rear suspension and transaxle out of a ZR-1 and factioned them together in a, somewhat, believable manor. My eye keeps being drawn to the front of the rear suspension where the frame comes into it. I think I will be attempting to make that look more believable somehow. Anyway I did a test fit of the drivetrain last night and everything lines up fairly well. And just for fun I put the body on to check out what the engine will look like under the hood. I think it looks pretty cool in there. It's going to be a hair puller to figure out the exhaust, it will need to be completely custom and this engine has 12 cylinders to deal with! The other issue will be the intake. I'm thinking of routing the intakes to the front grill area but I will have to wait until I get further in the process to figure that out. Until then back to the drivetrain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 LOOKS GREAT! Lot of Engine in there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFchronos Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Cool update, that V12 looks great sitting in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooltas Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 go with a old school ram tube stacks intake just 12 of them instead of 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alarmstrong Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share Posted August 2, 2013 Didn't get a lot done today all I was able to complete was beefing up the rear suspension/frame. Before After Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrichard Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 nice idea i love idea's like that i also used a ferrari engine ounce for a rod when i started modelbuilding i started with die-cast .. i got a 1/12 ferrari kit from a friend .. and i used the ferrari v8 and a die-cast blower set up to build a custom v8 for a 1:18 rod the black rod was actually a 4 person packard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Zimmerman Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 On the exhaust, look long and hard at the 'vette system; it has possibilities....'Z' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alarmstrong Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share Posted August 2, 2013 On the exhaust, look long and hard at the 'vette system; it has possibilities....'Z' Started working on a complete scratch built exhaust. Not sure if I am going to take it the full length and exhaust out back or come out the sides in front of rear tires. Also, not sure might run straight pipes down and out the sides and have 6 exhaust tubes coming out each side. need to do some mock ups first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alarmstrong Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 Started looking at the stock Chevy interior and decided it didn't fit the theme of what was happening underneath it. So out came the saw and the styrene started flying. At one point I imagined the beginning of the movie Glory where the soldier was having his leg cut off with a saw and he was pleading for the doctor to stop cutting, can styrene feel pain? I figured that I have already stretched my skills to their breaking point so why not complicate things more? I cut the stock interior out from the base of the Chevy. Then I removed the cockpit from the Enzo and began slicing away at that too. I think the Enzo dash will look pretty decent in this car... Eventually. The last project from last night was to remove the rumble seat from the back and re-skin the back seat area flat. I will be utilizing this space for the battery and a nitrous tank... Why not eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.