Air Pressure Test

Progess and setback 9/25/11

 Taillight reflectors are bright due to shiny side out aluminum foil. Lots easier than polishing the housings.

 Left rear collision damage.

 Crap. Right rear too, I had forgotten.

 Gas tank out, no floor!

 Rust. Crap.

 Rust bubbles that I knew about.

 Fiberglass "repairs" that I didn't.

Looks like a whole new roof may be the solution.

Progress 9/24/11 teardown

 Trunk lid gone.

 Hood gone.

 A little test, weighing items as I pull them.

 Valence, gill gone.

 Fenders gone.

 Doors gone.

 Seats, carpet gone.

 Hmmm, lotsa rivets.

Windshield gone.

Aluminum/Aluminium

I've been thinking about aluminum a lot lately. 1/3 the weight of steel, but also apparently 1/3 the strength. But there are lots of places weight saving could be had. Hood, trunk lid, seat divider, fenders, valences, drive shaft, wheels, and so on. Wonder how much weight reduction is possible.

Drivetrain

Transmission will be a Ford racing T5Z.

Features:

* Heavy-duty "World Class" T-5 5-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter
*Aluminum case. Only 75lbs assembled.
*Gear ratios of 2.95, 1.94, 1.34, 1.00, 0.63.
* 330 ft./lbs. torque capacity
* Double-moly 2nd speed, 3rd speed and countershaft cluster gears
* Carbon-fiber 3-4 blocker rings
* Improved synchronizers and bearings
* 1-1/16 in. diameter 10-tooth input spline
* 28-tooth output spline
* 7-tooth speedometer drive gear
* Cobra-style pocket bearing

 The only downside is the deep 0.63 overdrive combined with 3.73 axle gearing could leave my high strung engine sputtering at less than 2200 rpm if you shift into top gear before 70MPH.  4.10 gears would bump me just over 2400 RPM at 70MPH, a much happier cruise for my combination. The added acceleration is purely a coincidence.

Paint

I'm thinking Silver with dark grey(anthracite) stripes to match the torq thrust  wheels.

More power!

Ram air setup from inside the corral.
Windage tray.
NOS?