"DKerstan" (dkerstan)
05/05/2016 at 06:10 • Filed to: None
2
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"DKerstan" (dkerstan)
05/05/2016 at 06:10 • Filed to: None | 2
| 15 |
How hard do you think it would be to build an Exocet?
I’m thinking it would cost around $15,000 completed, and it would be a great project.
TA4K
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 06:38 |
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Supposedly its really easy. Like, bolt the whole thing together over a few too many sleepless weekends with your dim witted sidekick easy.
Alfalfa
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 06:46 |
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I’d say a lot of it depends on how many prefab parts you plan on buying vs. making yourself. The Exomotive body kit is 7500, so that would leave you another 7500 to make things as simple or complicated as you like. I feel like the most basic conversion wouldn’t be to difficult, just labor intensive.
vondon302
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 06:52 |
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I don’t think it would be too hard but finding the time and space in the garage would be the hardest part for me. Maybe I could take a leave of absence from work.
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DKerstan
> vondon302
05/05/2016 at 06:58 |
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Space isn’t an issue for me, because my parents have a large shop. Finding time to work would be the issue.
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DKerstan
> Alfalfa
05/05/2016 at 06:58 |
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thats what I’m leaning towards.
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vondon302
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 07:01 |
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Still tempting though.
Montalvo
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 07:01 |
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Supposedly it is pretty much bolt on and all the heavy lifting is done by an engine hoist. I am actually planning on making one myself but finding proper donor is a bit tough for me I am trying to find a car that is mechanically sound but the body is junked.
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DKerstan
> Montalvo
05/05/2016 at 07:07 |
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Thats the hardest part in my opinion. There are quite a few Miatas in my area for under $3,000, but most are full ricer. I would prefer a stock example that I can build off of.
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Montalvo
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 08:28 |
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Well I would take that over the examples I have here. I would gladly redeem a ricer as an ecxocet than take apart a mint example. This shouldn’t be done to a clean car but to one that needs help to keep it on the road.
NYankee1927
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 09:38 |
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I think there are better things to spend go fast money on. I saw one on the highway and it in general looked like it costs less than 15k
WRXforScience
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 10:00 |
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The time investment is what gets you. There is a lot of “fine” adjustment needed with most of the kits, combined with the fact that the donor car is old and/or of dubious heritage, means that you will find a number of “bolt-on” parts/pieces that don’t quite line up or just don’t quite meet.
If you aren’t comfortable fabricating or modifying lots of brackets and tabs or removing old rusted bolts, this isn’t the project for you. However, if you have a year’s worth of weekends, an ambition to become a better wrencher, and drive something you built; go for it.
Personally, I could never truly enjoy the finished example, because I know all the little things that I got “mostly” right. The burden of knowledge would be too overwhelming, and I would never trust the thing to perform well enough to get maximum enjoyment. Also, I’d never want to run it on the street or at the track because of safety concerns (which leaves only autocross, and the donor Miata would have been more than adequate for that).
A local guy built one and autocrosses it in my region; I got all my knowledge from pestering him just like I did with the Factory Five 818 guy last year. I like the idea of these kit cars, but the reality of them scares the shit out of me.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 10:28 |
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http://oppositelock.kinja.com/so-the-wife-ch…
I will leave this here as a teaser because I need to go to work and an already running later than I wanted to be. But I will try to remember to come back later. Think up any questions you might have and ask them. I will do my best to answer them.
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DKerstan
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/05/2016 at 14:30 |
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Did you have any issues making everything bolt together? Also how much fabrication is involved? I’m still a long way from attempting something like this, just gathering info at this point.
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> DKerstan
05/05/2016 at 16:46 |
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To clarify, I did almost no work on my friend’s exocet, aside from painting the chassis. However I saw the progress being made week by week and know if quite a few obstacles he encountered.
A number of modifications he had to make have since been adopted by exomotive. His was an early prediction number, right songs #50. So a new one today wouldn’t require nearly as much work as his did.
He’s running all custom lights and light mounts, all very easy. I think his basic headlight mount was more or less adopted for the newer cars. Stick on LED’s for the rear.
He had to modify the transmission/driveshaft tunnel, narrow it, quite a bit to make his seats work. A compromise width has since been adopted, but IIRC 17" seats won’t fit on sliders without further mods, but 15" and 16" fit fine.
He added extra bracing around his fuel cell for extra safety.
He will be adding 2" in height to the windshield and is of the opinion that the exomotive screen is junk. Without the extra height he would face plant in a rollover, but he’s pretty short and needs to sit pretty far forward, I’m fine in it at just under 6'.
The mounts for the instrument cluster were pretty janky so he made his own of those.
Can’t think of anything else. I think your cost estimate is very close to what he spent all in. He said you could have the donor stripped in a weekend easily. I think it took 3-4 months of weekends only to finish, not every weekend being used on it though. He said he would do it again, it was fun, and he loves the car. It’s a blast to drive, is insanely popular at shows, and handles amazingly well. He has one full season of auto-x on it now.
Basically, the kit will get you 90% of the way there if you’re a little picky and want it personalized to fit you. But it will work fine if you’re okay with a more generic “fit”.
I’ll let you know if I think of anything else.
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DKerstan
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/05/2016 at 16:57 |
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Awesome, thanks for all the input!