Hey Guys,

I'm developing an Exo Sleleton car both for myself and later for sale in any form and would like to show you a couple of months progress report.

http://www.flickr.com/cheapracer

Yes it is Atom-ish but wait for the bodywork before you write it off as just that, I think it's a bit special!

Currently using Toyota 4AFE motor and trans and talking to some people about Z-Tec 1.8 and 2.0's as I write this steering towards the Toyota 2.2 5S-FE engine which people could also use the well known 3S-GTE Turbo in the same hole.

And please don't tell the Atom Forum, I just wouldn't feel safe at night Wink

Mark
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Earlier artwork...
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i like that!

i like that a lot! hope it turns out the way you planned! how long has it taken to get to this stage? from design to this point and start of actual building to this point? u planning on making this into a business or just 4 pleasure? and finally are you working on it all day or is it an evening and weekend thing? good work chap
thanks al

Hmmm, I could be tempted! That looks pretty good

Mark

It is very nice.
Why don't you tell us a bit more about yourself as above, we don't even know if tyou are UK or as I supect USA

Awesome design - like it very much!

James

thats very nice! with a 3sgte engine it would go like hell?
would it be rear or 4wd?

I'm an Ozzie actually!

Will give you better reply next week, have been on holiday this week and enjoying Australia Day today.

Thanks for the kind replies :-)

Hey Guys, as promised as my holiday is over.

Happy to report that the fibreglass company managed to get 3 of the 5 major moulds completed while I was away (was hoping for all 5....)

I'm set up in China actually, have a bit of a record of building cars (and bikes) but am realising a dream to go into actual production of my own.

Been developing for a couple of years here now but the Exo is only a few months in progress and coming close to being able to offer some sort of startup kit and hopefully complete kits in short time.

Yes will be Chinese cheap but no, and don't worry, will not be "Chinese" quality as most of the work is done myself (I'm Ozzie mate!) or my sidekick who I trained to my standards so quality is well under control.

While I was basking in Oz, I also searched around for Toyota 2.2 5SFE engines/boxes, CV's, brakes etc and found the whole running drivetrain could be had for less than $500! Now thats what I call Locost :-)

[Edited on 6/2/09 by cheapracer]

Just a quick update.

I am doing the left and right lower side panels (bucks) this week to make the moulds from. No pictures worth showing as the frames upside down and quite messy!

Of VW engines.....

So heres the thing, old series 2 VW Jettas are thick on the ground here, thousands of them used as taxis and parts are incredibly cheap for them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswa...ond_generation


What does that mean to me? I am understanding that the engine/transmission mounts are the same for the old and new, basically never changed meaning you could put an old Golf/Rabbit 1.6 SOHC in right through to a 2008 2.5 DOHC 20valver and every model inbetween, GTI's, turbo's - this makes for quite an amazing choice as well as being a very International engine.

Doing some research into this now.

Sounds like a great range of motors- available in most countries- the rear exhaust manifold should also be very handy layout.

I'm doing the same as u bcos of the amazing VW parts price phenomenon in South Africa as well. And, as u said, almost all parts fit in all models. This is what made VW soooo rich they can afford to buy supercar companies and develop any type of vehicle they want.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gakes
I'm doing the same as u bcos of the amazing VW parts price phenomenon in South Africa as well. And, as u said, almost all parts fit in all models. This is what made VW soooo rich they can afford to buy supercar companies and develop any type of vehicle they want.

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all from golf/jetta 2, 1.6/1.8 same block. i'm going turbo soon!
rear wheel end to end = 1680mm
???highest mountain??? I think its Drakensburg mtns....why?

quote:

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Originally posted by Gakes
all from golf/jetta 2, 1.6/1.8 same block. i'm going turbo soon!
rear wheel end to end = 1680mm
???highest mountain??? I think its Drakensburg mtns....why?

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Moulds came off this morning but i still have to wait 2 or 3 days for some panels.

Ahh the social culture sends me nuts I sat and drank tea at their factory this morning for an hour all the time thinking "why couldn't you use this hour to start making my panels"!!
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Heres the last veiw of the bucks in place before the, with a little sadness, destruction of them to return back to the bare frame.
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For those who are watching (thanks for the support by the way) things are progressing well in that sort of 2 steps back, 1 forward kind of way.

I have some news but it involves me and another party so I can't give it up just yet only to say in the last week I have been searching for and found bigger brakes, now why could that be?

Anyway, the first bodywork pieces finally came through showing a few spots that need to be attended to but not so bad.

Oh and this is the first time you have seen the lower side panels (excuse the fit, the panels are just sitting there you can even see an old engine mount holding up the right lower side panel :-) )

[Edited on 23/3/09 by cheapracer]
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looking gr8!

Is the rear engine cover high enough, bcos my VW engine stands a bit high?

Hey Cheapie

Good to hear a bit of Stralian over here! Any more progress or pics?

awwwwstraaaalian eh?

Stone the crows Mate, giz a break, I'm busier than a cab in Bourke St on a Frydee night. I'll snaffle sum'tin together the next cuppla daze for ya to 'av a ganda rat, fair dinkum.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gakes
looking gr8!

Is the rear engine cover high enough, bcos my VW engine stands a bit high?

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Getting some form into it now, hope to have a runner soon :-)
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looking good.

just curious is your workshop big enough.

keep up the good work
U mentioned titling the engine forward to kick up the side shafts, I did the same initially.....didnt work out as well as I hoped. theoil level in the engine will be hard to read and you run into some oil starvation.

Let me know if you got any other tips on how you will get it to work well