AI Thunderbird (for Scott) - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

AtomicLabMonkey · 2006-01-25, 03:48 PM

This is just cool...

http://corner-carvers.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=68

sperry · 2006-01-25, 03:56 PM

Hahahh! That thing looks like crap!

I love it!

Looks like a '92 or '93 Supercoupe. I'm a little surprised with the choice to stick with the turbo 6 motor... since just about any Ford V8 will drop in there and be more reliable. 'Course a boosted motor can make a ton of power more easily than a N/A motor as long as you can just turn up the boost and fuel w/o blowing a gasket.

Seems like a fun under-dog of a car!

AtomicLabMonkey · 2006-01-25, 04:05 PM

Theoretically they could have an advantage with the 6-cyl, because there is no minimum weight for a 4 or 6 cyl car in AI. V8 cars have a 2800lb min (with driver). They would have to work real hard to make that a practical advantage though.

The other notable good point is the suspension; front SLA & IRS vs. McStrut & stick axle of the Mustang. The aero Cd is probably slicker than a Fox, but it's a bigger car so it probably has more frontal area... they might even out.

sperry · 2006-01-25, 04:15 PM

It's gonna take a *lot* of sawsall work to get a 4200 lb T-Bird significantly below 3000 lbs. Are carbon fiber or fiberglass body panels allowed? You'd probably have to do the hood, trunk, all four fenders, and section the roof in c/f to get that thing much lighter.

Good points on the suspension. It's far more SVT cobra than GT mustang, though I thought the T-Bird had a McPherson up front, but I really can't remember since I never did anything to my old T-Bird's suspension (except bitch about how soft and worn out it was).

The MN12 body is pretty slick... and that car is one of the last NASCAR platforms that was actually faithful to it's racing counterpart, so it probably does alright aero-wise. Though they certainly need that front splitter, as I remember my T-Bird getting *very* light in any sort of cross breeze once the speedo's north of 90 mph. Too much air under that car.

MattR · 2006-01-25, 04:29 PM

I can't see the picture and I don't have a CC account, can someone put the pictures up here? I want to see.

AtomicLabMonkey · 2006-01-25, 04:29 PM

It's pretty impressive what he's already done - <3000lbs with driver. It looks like there's still a lot of stock bodywork on it too. And yes this year you can run quite a bit of composite panels even in AI.

The V6 is pretty small and set WAY far back in the engine bay too... I'd guess it has a great weight distribution.

{EDIT} Pics for Matt..

MattR · 2006-01-25, 05:59 PM

That is a great looking AI car. It looks as if a lot of work has gone into it, and judging by what you said about weight advantages , etc, it should be pretty competitive. I would like to try to make an AI race next year.

2006-01-25, 03:48 PM	#1
AtomicLabMonkey Nightwalker Real Name: Austin Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oshkosh, WI Posts: 4,063 Car: '13 WRX YGBSM	AI Thunderbird (for Scott) This is just cool... http://corner-carvers.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=68 __________________ "None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you.. you're locked in here with me."

2006-01-25, 03:56 PM	#2
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	Hahahh! That thing looks like crap! I love it! Looks like a '92 or '93 Supercoupe. I'm a little surprised with the choice to stick with the turbo 6 motor... since just about any Ford V8 will drop in there and be more reliable. 'Course a boosted motor can make a ton of power more easily than a N/A motor as long as you can just turn up the boost and fuel w/o blowing a gasket. Seems like a fun under-dog of a car! __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2006-01-25, 04:05 PM	#3
AtomicLabMonkey Nightwalker Real Name: Austin Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oshkosh, WI Posts: 4,063 Car: '13 WRX YGBSM	Theoretically they could have an advantage with the 6-cyl, because there is no minimum weight for a 4 or 6 cyl car in AI. V8 cars have a 2800lb min (with driver). They would have to work real hard to make that a practical advantage though. The other notable good point is the suspension; front SLA & IRS vs. McStrut & stick axle of the Mustang. The aero Cd is probably slicker than a Fox, but it's a bigger car so it probably has more frontal area... they might even out. __________________ "None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you.. you're locked in here with me."

2006-01-25, 04:15 PM	#4
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	It's gonna take a lot of sawsall work to get a 4200 lb T-Bird significantly below 3000 lbs. Are carbon fiber or fiberglass body panels allowed? You'd probably have to do the hood, trunk, all four fenders, and section the roof in c/f to get that thing much lighter. Good points on the suspension. It's far more SVT cobra than GT mustang, though I thought the T-Bird had a McPherson up front, but I really can't remember since I never did anything to my old T-Bird's suspension (except bitch about how soft and worn out it was). The MN12 body is pretty slick... and that car is one of the last NASCAR platforms that was actually faithful to it's racing counterpart, so it probably does alright aero-wise. Though they certainly need that front splitter, as I remember my T-Bird getting very light in any sort of cross breeze once the speedo's north of 90 mph. Too much air under that car. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2006-01-25, 04:29 PM	#5
MattR El Matador Real Name: Matt Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 10,660 Car: 2012 Toyota Tacoma Class: ?	I can't see the picture and I don't have a CC account, can someone put the pictures up here? I want to see. __________________ "Dallas..We have a problem.”

2006-01-25, 05:59 PM	#7
MattR El Matador Real Name: Matt Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 10,660 Car: 2012 Toyota Tacoma Class: ?	That is a great looking AI car. It looks as if a lot of work has gone into it, and judging by what you said about weight advantages , etc, it should be pretty competitive. I would like to try to make an AI race next year. __________________ "Dallas..We have a problem.”