Howdy all, Been busy and thought I would toss a brief update, the little roller motor is quite the beast to say the least, now running the stock 2.79 rear (I think that's the ratio) the little car doesn't start to let you know it's healthy until around 4k rpm in 1st and 2nd gear, don't know about 3rd as I don't want to be in the car at 4k with the 2.79 until we get disc brakes and new tires, alignment, etc. We are building a 4.11 3rd member as I write this and this will no doubt wake the car up....any guess to what kind of diff going from 2.79 to 4.11's will be like from anyone? lol I know it's going to be good only for in town with the C4 but he is going to be commuting about 3 miles to his school daily and the speed limit is 40 mph at best for about a mile, the rest is 30-35 mph zone so I figure after his junior year next summer we can address diff. trans/rear combo for better hwy driving, this first year he doesn't need to be able to go fast anyway.....I know it won't be fast but it will get to whatever speed FAST....that's just for when Dad is borrowing the car
with 411 gears he will be able to go fast and besides did you ever always obey the speed limit when you was his ageyou'll probably need more than one set of new rear tires
no no I didn't BUT he promised, his exact word's "Dad, I'm not going to be speeding or mashing on the gas". let the laughter and wise cracks begin
I have many I could toss out there.. but that statement is actually so ludicrous it's not all that funny. Hate to say it.. again.. but with that cars suspension and traction capability.. it sure seems like an accident waiting to happen. Wet roads will be the worst. Hopefully he learns all his "hard knock lessons" in 1st gear. Manually downshifting at too high a speed..or compression braking on cold roads.. is usually the first "hard knock" a teen learns since short wheelbases usually "come around on you" faster than can be corrected..especially by an inexperienced driver. In fact.. it might be worth the time to take him out to a deserted parking lot and let him beat on it past those limits to etch it in deeper without all the wrinkled sheetmetal.. or worse. I say this because my oldest boy(14) is an adrenaline junkie just like me and he would never be allowed to drive a car like this unless he could prove himself competent enough to handle it past its limits. You joke about ADD and OCD and all that.. but that stuff can surely kill you if not controlled in a 400 horsepower missile. I certainly mean no offense.. and this is JMO. I'd be absolutely devastated if my boy hurt himself in an overpowered car that I built.. or even bought him.. just to make him proud and happy.
if you put a high stall converter in it a shift kit and small rear tires he should be able to spin it all the way to school then make sure you have a good emergency brake he should be able to ''drift'' it into the parking lotseriously take him to a deserted drag strip or parking lot to learn how to drive it it doesn't have traction control airbags or electronic stability control crumple zones or abs
Quit worrying about making it fast. Make it safe for him first. Disc brakes, tight suspension and steering components with good tires should be your top priority. A stock 302 with dual exhaust is plenty for a high school kid.
Wasn't it Winston Churchill that said : I don't get ulcers, I give them Some lads do OK with go fast stuff. My first car was a 72 Pinto. Drove it home, pulled the drive line. Put a 302w & gasser FMX with 3k stall. 9" diff with 4:11s. It got rear ended (and didn't blow up ! LOL !) - wrote off. Second car was the same. (body guy thought it was funny to put an extra set of tail lights in the 2nd one)
Thanks First let me say that when I joke about ADD it's because I and my son REALLY have it, I'm not making fun of other's and certainly hope no one has been offended, I am the first to laugh at myself, second yes our personality types live for the RUSH, BUT lastly I would never turn him loose without significant seat time (he has been driving ONLY with me) and will continue to do so until I am comfortable he can handle the car and by that I mean I am going to make him utilize ALL of that power as he progresses, I want to know he can use it and handle it and explain it's only for when we are a closed track and then hope he will behave....NOW if something were to happen to him because I put him in too much car, YES it would literally kill me, what parent wouldn't be devastated. I had that over the top 66 Fairlane GT as my first car and didn't have anyone to teach me anything, I just got in, hung on and somewhere along the way I became a very skilled driver (luckily), also the little box that has AL6-2 on it gives me the ability to set his max rpm to 2500 or whatever and I assure you it will be limited BUT as I said I will make him use every bit of the power the car has while I'm with him until I'm comfortable he can handle it and then I hope he will be responsible........I have had these thoughts many times and the gratification, satisfaction and father/son time we have spent is well worth the calculated risk in my opinion, finally this car is not a drag car by any means, I mean really read what it has in it......also in closing, we are installing a 8 pt. cage with 5 way harness belts, a fire extinguisher, a impact fuel kill switch and the contact switches that won't allow the car to start unless safety belts are in use...
Another thought As I read all the comments about too fast, etc. I wonder how many of you have teenagers, I can assure you a fast car is rarely a problem, the few I know are very safe drivers, always obeying the law because they know a cop is just looking for a hot rod with a teen in it. The PROBLEM is these idiot's that are driving little 4 cylinder cars that go 0-60 in about 5 mins but they can't stop in time because they are texting their BFF's or BBFN or their NBGFWB's.....these are the problems!
Are you adopting? I make a great son and require very little go fast parts......just the expensive ones
Give him the fast car and make him respect it. I had one when I was a kid, still do. Yes, he will probably get in trouble at some time with it (didn't we all?). I wouldn't put a roll cage in it, it will do more damage than good if he wrecks it without a helmet on. Leave the roll cage for the race cars. Make him put his cell phone away and pay attention (especially with the ADD) while he is driving. More idiots own cell phones on the road, and they cause more accidents and deaths, than performance cars hands down. Teach him how to drive and respect the power. SPark
I said the same thing to my father when I drove to school for the first time lol I was headed to school then the muffler shop to do my exhaust. Needless to say 5:30 am open headers and 3500 stall burn out in front of my house. thought he would chase me down with his truck but instead I got a call saying I made him proud but you will have to explain it to my mother. Honestly though I did follow the speed limit even when the little Hondas would come up to me. I felt the cops were more focused on me 17 yr in a muscle. plus your son will have it in the back of his head if he screws up he would probably loose his car or at least that's what I thought
Not sure I can follow how a cage could do more harm, helmet or not, the one we are looking at has plenty head room and if he is wearing the 5 pt harness he literally should be fine, I'll try to find the article and ad on this brand cage, they have actual case scenarios showing one that really sticks out in my mind, a Dad had put a cage (only a 4 pt)on his Mustang convertible and his teenage son missed a corner, rolled end to end, side over side 200' down a ravine, all that was left was that roll bar and the seat the kid was belted into...I'm sold.
