Project: #becauseracecar

[bpas328xi]

AWESOME

THANKS!!

Why use a 3/8 steel plate? You've got a lot of material there doing nothing but creating weight.

The 3/8 steel plates and honda seats are in my lifted XJ....... Additional weight isn't a problem on that one because I've already added a megaton of weight to it anyway.

So, is this thing going to be an actual race car?

No. But we might take it to a track for the lolz every once in a while... Maybe..

BECAUSERACECAR!

X1,000,000,000

 

[IXNAYXJ]

It will be an actual street legal 'racecar'. Licensed, inspected, and smoged certified. Spirited street driving, windy roads, maybe some autocross, maybe a drag race or two and a dyno toy. Not a stripped down, lightweight, non smog legal, trailer racecar/trackcar.

What you describe is a "car," not a "racecar." You might even stretch the definition to "track toy." But you certainly can't fault people for questioning the purpose of your project when the word "racecar" is in the title.

 

[bjoehandley]

What you describe is a "car," not a "racecar." You might even stretch the definition to "track toy." But you certainly can't fault people for questioning the purpose of your project when the word "racecar" is in the title.

Might even be able to call it a "Street Fighter" though.

 

[kastein]

But why solid pate? Why not at least hollow it out.

Not to mention that box, c, or angle is more resistant to bending.

what I came here to say. Adding vertical webs improves strength many times over what adding thickness does for the same amount of weight, no matter how many speed holes you put in the plate.

A second nonfunctional for-show-only SC that adds what, 20-30lbs? of unnecessary weight at the top of the engine compartment is in no way a "because race car" modification. It's the kind of thing I would expect to see on a riced FWD econobox with a spoiler on the rear trunk lid.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

Might even be able to call it a "Street Fighter" though.

I suppose, but I'd rather vent my need for speed on a track than on the streets. But whatever, it's just another vision for an XJ. More power to ya'.

That being said, the idea of putting a 4-pt harness in a street car is equivalent to neon underglow, IMHO.

 

[Root Moose]

That being said, the idea of putting a 4-pt harness in a street car is equivalent to neon underglow, IMHO.

And that's being generous and not even getting into how dangerous 4-point belts are or relying on a old CRX seat for support/geometry. At least put a harness bar in... And add the anti-submarine strap.

 

[sureshot007]

anti-submarine strap.

the sub strap is useless on a seat that isn't designed for you. Just like a harness not attached to a bar/cage.

 

[CobraMarty]

The 4-pt harness would be in the red on-off-road jeep not the white street one. They would be nice on the rough crawling trails.

The maximum thickness I had to adapt the Si seats to the stock bracket was only 3/8". Any thicker and the seat sat too tall and your head crowded the roof. If you look at the pegboard template, there was no way for piece of angle, channel or strap to hit all the holes needed. There is no room to add any vertical web/piece, just no clearance. Would I make a 2nd adapter different? Probably, but I have no reason to build another set. I could build it lighter with strap, angle, channel- bend it and rebuild it heavier until it doesn't bend/break, of I could build it heavy/maximun/overkill, get it to fit right first, don't bend or break and be done with it. Optimized-no, functional and done-yes. There are multiple ways to 'skin a cat'. All your comments are note for Version2.

How many 'riced FWD econobox with a spoiler on the rear trunk lid' have you seen with 2 superchargers sticking up thru the hood? Just playing with what's in the garage. You guys are So serious, lighten up, life is too short.

The point of this white jeep is to be different, have fun, do something beside lift/offroad a cherokee and beat up on a few unsuspecting ricers. Maybe broaden the eyes of those who look at cherokees.
'I just got blown off by a 15 year old Cherokee'. The same feeling you get beating all the ricers on the track or Gradon gets beating the ricers and euros when autocrossing.

So there are 2 race track only Cherokees- the white, now red/white/blue 2 door, the blue 4 door getting the V8 swap. These are not street legal, but true race/track cars.
There are a couple of 'toy' street/race cars, if you will, Gradon for one, and a few other ones that I have found. These are the street legal, inspected, registered, and insured Cherokees.
In total, what 5 maybe 6 Cherokees of this 'lowered breed'.

Be different, have fun, You guys are great.

 

[sureshot007]

Mine's street legal...

 

[CobraMarty]

Cool, but you are 'OffRoad/RallyRaceCar'? Looking forward to your Red 2 door v2.0.

 

[sureshot007]

Not totally true. Rally takes place on public roads or all nature. So, it's on road...just not usually on paved roads. That's why we are required to be street legal.

 

[Root Moose]

the sub strap is useless on a seat that isn't designed for you. Just like a harness not attached to a bar/cage.

Exactly. Wrote my post in haste, implied seat wasn't best choice but didn't state it.

 

[Root Moose]

I don't mean to be a downer, really I don't, but if stuff is posted that is unsafe enough that I won't use it then I'm going to say something.

Dual superchargers? Sure, go nuts, have fun, whatever. Just don't run it into a wall and destroy your insides and/or compress your spine because of the questionable 4 point belt setup with no real support or geometry from the seat.

 

[sureshot007]

Didn't mean to post...hit the wrong button and can't delete it...

 

[IXNAYXJ]

Marty/OP- Have you thought about an anti-wrap/traction bar and panhard bar for the rear end? A LOT of people have suggested we do this to our road racer, but I've not felt it necessary for several reasons. Regarding the traction bar, we'll never drag race it, so axle wrap isn't a big concern (we're also sprung under, which helps mitigate this). We've never seen any issues with the rear axle trying to move around laterally, but we also have a pretty beefy spring pack and we check/replace u-bolts and centering pins occasionally.

I'm wondering how your fiberglass mono-leaf will react to the scenarios I just outlined. Just a thought.

-Matt

 

[sureshot007]

I get axle wrap like no one's business. I'm either going to convert to spring under, or 4 link. Still trying to decide which way to go. I really only have a serious issue with it on uneven surfaces though, so it might not be a huge concern if the OPs truck will never be off pavement.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

I really only have a serious issue with it on uneven surfaces though, so it might not be a huge concern if the OPs truck will never be off pavement.

I broke 3 drive shaft components in 2 weeks at Moab (then promptly got an anti-wrap bar) because there was so much traction. If this project is going to be supercharged and go to a super sticky drag strip, it could very well be an issue.

-M

 

[CobraMarty]

Still waiting for the monoleafs. They said that their racers don't have any issues with axle wrap or lateral movement. I have thought about a track bar or watts link to prevent lateral movement and a traction bar or CalTracs bars to prevent axle wrap. Have to wait and see how the monoleaf works out.

 

[bpas328xi]

That being said, the idea of putting a 4-pt harness in a street car is equivalent to neon underglow, IMHO.

I stopped at Pepboys to check out the ricer section and look at the underglow... Too expensive to use as rock lights. I'll probably just end up doing what this guy did linky for my OFF ROAD XJ. Can't wait to get the 4-pt harness in though. Off roading with the stock seat belt and inertia lock is starting to get annoying. :kissyou:

RACECAR update:Got the trackbar from IronMan4x4 and control arms from N20jeep all with poly bushings. Overkill?? :firedevil

 

[CobraMarty]

The stock track bar is like 1/4-1/2" too long when lowered, the passenger wheels stick out further than and drivers side. So instead of redrilling, cutting and shortening, etc, we got a shortened, adjustable straight track bar from IronMan4x4. Thanks Gradon for paving the way.
The stock control arm bushings are worn and need replacing, so these stock length control arms made by CF very own N20jeep will do just fine.
Called and the Monoleafs are maybe due in by the end of the week.