The happy owner / driver, (my son who will be joining the forum soon to document this bulid):
Where we left off today:
The kit is manufactured by Triangle, (now out of business), but it looks pretty good so far. There is a LOT of work to do on this project, but it should be a great looking car, (someday). Tomorrow we fire up the Sawzall and cut up that poor old 88 Formula some more !!
[This message has been edited by randye (edited 09-05-2010).]
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08:46 PM
PFF
System Bot
IMSA GT Member
Posts: 10484 From: California Registered: Aug 2007
randye i don't know if you ever saw the murcie me build or not, but he took a triangle G kit and made it the most authentic looking replica i have ever seen, even had working bat wings, and paddle shifters.
He even seperated the bumpers like on the real car. He kind of got into a tiff with some members on the kit car forum and took his build down, but he did some really, really awesome stuff with that particular kit.
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12:27 AM
Carver1 Member
Posts: 2843 From: Edgewood, New Mexico Registered: Nov 2000
I have to admit this is the thread i'v been waiting for... It seems that not a whole lot of people on here document rebody's... this is going to be interesting.
Thanks!! The Triangle G kit is pretty complete, but there will likely be things we need to get. The instruction manuals for this thing list a lot of misc. parts, (mainly from Nissan or Honda that the kit was designed to use. Triangle G seems to have really done their homework so that the builder doesn't have to fabricate a lot of things like hinges, latches and other items. My son bought the kit from a local guy who had gotten as far as preparing the chassis for the body to be mounted and then decided that he wanted a Lambo Reventon kit. That means we also have access to a prepared chassis to help us figure out things. None of the fiberglass of the Murcielago kit had been "molested". The previous owner had simply un-crated it which saved us from having to haul that and dispose of it.
My son and I had a discussion yesterday about what drivetrain this little beasty should get and after some consideration I think we have decided on a 3800SC, (automatic) The donor car already has a decent running 2.8 with 5 speed Getrag trans. but this car obviously requires more go-power and using the whole 3800SC engine, trans and ECU seems like it will offer the best combination of power, reliability and ease of install, but if we can find a low mileage drivetrain from something better, (with tap shift), then the plans could, (will), change. regardless, the engine swap will be completed before we start mounting any of the bodywork. We would really like to mount the radiators in the rear, (like they *should be* on this car), so we are also pondering how to accomplish that. That *will* require making the bat wings work, but then why have the darn things even there and not make them functional?
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[This message has been edited by randye (edited 09-06-2010).]
You gonna sell any of that stuff? I'd love to have the bottom portion of the front bumper cover. Send me a PM if interested. Thanks
Donnie
There will be a lot of parts that we don't need from this car that will be available. Keep your eye on the Mall section. My son should be listing parts for sale on there before too long.
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10:54 AM
Alex4mula Member
Posts: 7403 From: Canton, MI US Registered: Dec 1999
You might be from Florida if you work on your car in flip flops.
You definately ARE from Florida if you work on your car wearing just shorts and flip flops... He "dressed up" for some of the photos ------------------
[This message has been edited by randye (edited 09-06-2010).]
I really want to see this get done. Tell Andrew if he changes his mind again Im gonna kick him in the head, mentally not physically.
Im pretty busy now but in a few months we will be really slow so if there is anything I can do to help you guys in your swap or build, let me know.
I have some swap parts you may be interested in here. And depending on your time frame I could make a nice wiring harness for ya.
-Joe
Thanks Joe. I'm sure Andrew isn't going to change his mind again. He is going after this build pretty agressively. Today we gutted the interior, (sorry no photos, I forgot my camera ), and the car is almost completely stripped now. He wanted to saw the roof off right away but we have to drop the cradle next and remove the engine and trans and then bolt the empty cradle back in and square up the car to get ready to cut it for the 10.5 inch stretch in the wheelbase. After that we will fabricate a structural steel sub-frame to go under the chassis and THEN he can finally saw that roof off
Here's a few more photos from Sunday that I had not posted yet:
[This message has been edited by randye (edited 09-07-2010).]
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12:25 AM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
wow - the body comes off that quick & easy? or is it just that quick & easy when you are not trying to save any of it?
Yes, it only takes about 2 hours if you know what you're doing, *and* you have the right air tools The only parts that were actually destroyed were the 2 roof pieces. The back 3 bolts on the rear roof section spun on us, so it required some pry bar action. The front roof section was already cracked. The windshield came off in one piece though. I don't think the rear window will be so cooperative... Everything else can be re-used
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10:01 AM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
Awesome build, looking forward to the progress, definitely 'favorited'.
quote
Originally posted by randye: My son and I had a discussion yesterday about what drivetrain this little beasty should get and after some consideration I think we have decided on a 3800SC, (automatic)
No offense, while it's a reliable engine that makes decent power, IMHO a car that looks exotic should sound and feel exotic too. The L67 is everything but exotic... :/ It's definitely his/your project and not mine, but may I suggest something (that you may have already thought of)?
The BMW M70 is a 5-liter 300hp V12 from the late 80's/early 90's, and they can be found easily for around $500 in nice running shape.
This mounted longitudinally with a Porsche tranny (or even a cheaper, more common Audi tranny if not abused) would be the cat's purr in a Lambo rebody. If you get frisky later on, they take to boost well and a turbo or two could put you over 500hp without much problem. It would be nearing the hp territory of the real thing, then.
Obviously it would take more work and some more money to mount then the very common 3800 swap, but it would be worth it I think, and it's already going to be stretched.
Either way, at least you're not keeping the 135hp boat anchor in there. I look forward to watching.
We just bought the 3800SC with trans, axles, harness, ECU and well...basically *everything* under the hood of a 99' Grand Prix GTP last night. It all looks to be in great shape and started and ran smoothly. The car has 80K+ on the odo, so plans are to do a quick o-haul on the engine, (bearings, rings, gaskets, etc.), before it's swapped onto the stretched cradle.
Thanks for all the suggestions on more *exotic* drivetrains, but the goal is to keep this as simple and reliable as possible and still have enough "go-power" to make the car fun, (and not a "parade float" )
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12:16 PM
ALLTRBO Member
Posts: 2023 From: College Park, MD Registered: Mar 2006
I love the Merci! Although I agree with ALLTRBO about a different engine choice (I was thinking northstar, but his idea is better), I'm glad that you're at least swapping out the stock engine for something much faster. Looks like you're off to a good start. Have fun!
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[This message has been edited by Fiero_Adam (edited 09-08-2010).]
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06:26 PM
Sep 9th, 2010
GADJet Member
Posts: 1466 From: Star City, AR, USA Registered: Sep 2010
I love the Merci! Although I agree with ALLTRBO about a different engine choice (I was thinking northstar, but his idea is better), I'm glad that you're at least swapping out the stock engine for something much faster. Looks like you're off to a good start. Have fun!
What is his idea? I am considering a 4.6L Northstar.
NEVERMIND.... I just read it. I like that idea as well. Maybe in a future project.
[This message has been edited by GADJet (edited 09-09-2010).]
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04:03 PM
Sep 13th, 2010
GADJet Member
Posts: 1466 From: Star City, AR, USA Registered: Sep 2010
This died a little preemptively, Randy any updates? Where the hell is Andrew?
-Joe
Not quite dead yet...just not a lot of progress to show right now. We did get the 3800SC separated from the trans and up on the engine stand. Since we were able to hear this one run and check it out before it was pulled from the original car, we are taking your advice and not tearing into the bottom end, but we did tear down everything else and good thing we did! This motor had the typical 3800 intake manifold leak, (gaskets), and it looked like somebody used just about an entire tube of RTV sealer trying to fix it rather than replace the gaskets... New aluminum ones will be going in. Coupler in the supercharger needs replacement of course and a few other odds and ends and this motor should be fixed up, prettied up and ready to go in before long. Now that the weather has cooled off a little, we will be dropping the cradle on the donor and will have a nice running 2.8 available I am seriously considering swapping the 5 speed Getrag into Tangerine Dream and ditching that old 3 spd. auto Should be relatively easy since everything I need is on the donor car and the Murci will be using the 4T65E auto that came with the 3800SC engine so it needs the pedals, and shifter out of my car
My son was informed that Inland Exotics, (Riverside CA), has opened up a shop in Orlando and it seems they do some VERY nice chassis stretch work with some amazing tube framing especially for the Triangle G kit, so he is in the process of trying to contact them. This would speed up the build dramatically and save a lot of headaches. ------------------
[This message has been edited by randye (edited 10-06-2010).]
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12:23 PM
GADJet Member
Posts: 1466 From: Star City, AR, USA Registered: Sep 2010
Originally posted by randye: Now that the weather has cooled off a little, we will be dropping the cradle on the donor and will have a nice running 2.8 available
What cha gonna do with that 2.8?
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12:36 PM
aNgeLeyez Member
Posts: 209 From: Hulki's House, PA Registered: Sep 2010
Inland Exotics has a good reputation on the mad mechanics forum. Did you get a g24 or a g28 triangle g? When Steve came out with the g28, audi shut him down. I think that a 3800sc is the cheapest hp you can get. Not a bad choice at all. I have a 350 vortec in mine, but after seeing the ls4 that fiero king put in dogcreeks car I had to have one in mine. The murci is supposed to be just about the most difficult replica to build so you've got your work cut out for you. Notice that I said replica, not kit car. You can buy a body but not a kit. I hope you have a good budget. They're not cheap to build, but they are a ball to drive. I hope that you like attention!
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09:52 PM
Oct 8th, 2010
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
Just a bump. I'm real interested in this build. If I can help you source anything I would be glad to share my experiences. Be careful. I've been burnt a few times. Replica building is rife with scammers and rip offs.
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12:55 PM
Oct 10th, 2010
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
Not trying to take over your post, but I'm very interested in your build. Even more since I found your thread and saw the quality of your work and your ability. Lots of replicas never get finished, but I'm betting that this won't be one of them and you sure started off with a bang.
[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 10-30-2010).]
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10:30 AM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
The Inland Northwest Boyz went on a trip around Northern Idaho a bit ago. We had 5 highly modified Fieros, but only 1 Murci. Who do you think got all of the looks?
Hi Don.
[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 10-10-2010).]
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10:40 AM
TXGOOD Member
Posts: 5410 From: Austin, Texas Registered: Feb 2006
This will be a good build to watch. I have wanted to do a replica for a long time now. I have looked at the Countach and the Diablo kits both stretched and stock length. Because I am also interested in building a muscle car of some sort I have almost decided to go a simpler route. A donor that already has a V-8 and a 6-speed tranny. But, depending on your build, I may change my mind again. I realize the front is more "bulky" if you will but that`s the price to pay for a front engine. This one uses a 93-02 Camaro or Firebird donor.
[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 10-10-2010).]
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Way cool! Good luck with the build. This should be exciting._1.JPG)
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