FWD conversions for GT super stock

[Dragsinger]

While we are brainstorming, let's talk about FWD conversations. I am an experience racer and experienced builder with plenty of shop equipment. Have completed and successfully raced many conventional builds. However, taking on a FWD conversion for GT super stock may strongly challenge my experience.

If some of you have done a conversion in house, tell me about your experience.

My thought is, the older cars are becoming harder to find in good condition while the newer cars are easy to find and low in initial cost.

Is there a FWD "core" that is a reasonable construction base that allows sufficient engine & component room?

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Dragsinger

While we are brainstorming, let's talk about FWD conversations. I am an experience racer and experienced builder with plenty of shop equipment. Have completed and successfully raced many conventional builds. However, taking on a FWD conversion for GT super stock may strongly challenge my experience.

If some of you have done a conversion in house, tell me about your experience.

My thought is, the older cars are becoming harder to find in good condition while the newer cars are easy to find and low in initial cost.

Is there a FWD "core" that is a reasonable construction base that allows sufficient engine & component room?

Check www.9500rpm.com website for his Ford Probe conversion.

Also, since you are a GM person, check FJ Smith's website. He has all the frame pieces for the GM FWD conversions.

[JHeath]

Also checkout www.brinkracecraft.com, Ashton Hudson's Escort ZX2 SS/CS is in the gallery,many construction pics.

[cutta]

I looked at the build of the SS/CS car and saw they replaced the entire floor. I was under the impression that the stock floor had to be maintained. Looked like modified the firewall as well. More freedom with the entire build than I thought. Wonder what that escort weighed after the build was done.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by cutta

I looked at the build of the SS/CS car and saw they replaced the entire floor. I was under the impression that the stock floor had to be maintained. Looked like modified the firewall as well. More freedom with the entire build than I thought. Wonder what that escort weighed after the build was done.

It's all about creativity and whom inspects the car...

FRAME
Frame or subfloor must be stock for body used. Subframes on
unibody cars may be joined under car.

FIREWALL
Alterations prohibited. Firewall coverings prohibited.

FLOOR
Removable floor section for transmission/shifter installation
permitted; restricted to 6 square feet (2 x 3 feet, 1 x 6 feet, etc.) of
steel material identical to area removed. Stock floor may be
sectioned where rear framerails have been narrowed. Area between
framerails must be stock floor, in original location. Area between
new rear framerails (from four-link crossmember rearward only) and
body may be replaced with material equal to or heavier than
original; must be in original location. All other floor material must be
stock and in original location.

Theses excerpts are straight from the rule book...

[FireSale]

Originally Posted by cutta

I looked at the build of the SS/CS car and saw they replaced the entire floor. I was under the impression that the stock floor had to be maintained. Looked like modified the firewall as well. More freedom with the entire build than I thought. Wonder what that escort weighed after the build was done.

I went through that build link too and it didn't look like an NHRA legal GT car.


Dale

[JHeath]

The rulebook allows a few more modifications in Modified Stock, compared to the FWD GT conversion. I don't have a rule book in front of me, but at least on the firewall, it can be replaced, I believe there is a spec as to where it should be mounted. Not sure about the floor.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by JHeath

The rulebook allows a few more modifications in Modified Stock, compared to the FWD GT conversion. I don't have a rule book in front of me, but at least on the firewall, it can be replaced, I believe there is a spec as to where it should be mounted. Not sure about the floor.

You are correct about the firewall, however, it is supposed to resemble the OEM firewall. The floor must be OEM.

FIREWALL
Firewall may be recontoured for distributor or magneto clearance
only, and must be properly refinished. The lower portion of the OEM
firewall may be replaced with steel of equal or greater thickness
than OEM. Chevy Cavaliers, Pontiac Grand Ams and Sunfires, and
Ford Escorts may have firewall replaced or relocated, provided the
measurement from the rear of the radiator core support to the
firewall is 34 inches maximum. For Chevy Cobalt the radiator core
support to the firewall is 33 inches maximum. For all others
vehicles, firewall must be in the original location. A complete onepiece
steel firewall that resembles OEM must be installed, welded
in place, and sealed from the driver compartment. The firewall must
extend to and attach to the floor. The firewall and mid-plate must be
two separate pieces. All motor plates, mid-plates, etc. must be
separate from and may not be attached to the firewall. Additional
alterations prohibited. Engine must not touch firewall. Firewall
coverings prohibited. See General Regulations 7:4.

FLOOR
Stock mandatory. Floor-mounted clutch/brake pedals permitted.
Headers must fit under stock floor location. The stock framerails
from the firewall to the radiator support must retain stock
attachment configuration, stock location, and stock dimensions.
Frame may be notched for header clearance.

[FireSale]

There is an OEM floor pan under the fabricated floorboard. It's Modified Stock. Still don't know if you can do all that to a car.

http://www.brinkracecraft.com/Galler...1/P2189248.htm

Dale

[71mavlouisville]

Did not build car for GT, modified and super modified, OEM floor is in place as per rules, we put the bars above the floor, which isn't appealing, so then fab a "sub floor" for aesthetics only, I left the area under the seats open so anyone can see the original floor, the firewall can be replaced and relocated to 34" from radiator support, for escorts and cavaliers, diff for cobalts, it does not have to resemble stock, as a fwd firewall has way too many holes in its stock form and would look terrible, it does have to be steel, the mid plate has to be separate and not part of firewall, I am a long time modified guy, it is very tricky to build a FWD conversion, I did not understand why all the allowances were made either until I built one, you are making a RWD where nothing was before