So I found out today that I'm getting my mom's berlinetta, she bought the car new in 84, and I rode home from the hospital in this same car back in 86, when I was born, so it's got a little sentimental value. I have been building imports for a while, now its time for a new project and this seems to be the perfect change. I'm going to **** off a lot of import guys, as well as domestic guys with this car, as Its going to be a frankenstein in so many ways. To some up the plans for this car, I'll be gutting it down to the bare chassis, tub the front and rear, gussetted cage, bucket seats, maybe a stack gauge cluster, and full out suspension. Motor is the last thing on the list, but I'm inbetween an LSX, toyota 1jz, or maybe even a turbo rotary since I can rebuild one in a day, and I know them like the back of my hand. Suspension is going to be key with this car, and I want to do more of a "roadracing style" with wide fenders, wide wheels, etc. Anybody know of any links where I can find some good aero for this car to start with? I'm talking about wider front fenders, splitters, etc, you know...Or even any links to sites that roadrace third gens? I'd like to make this car handle before anything else, so any directions that you all could point me in would be great. I'm somewhat new to the domestic world, but have always loved this car, so I want to do it justice.

Thanks for the help

-Travis

 

Is it the berlinetta with dig. gauges, swivel radio, etc? If so, keep it original.

 

Yeah, that the problem I'm having now...I really love the swivel radio and gauges, but the plans for the car definitly wouldn't allow for those. To be honest, I HATE stock third gens, but I really love the SCCA wide thirdgens soooooooo much, and always have. The engine swaps that I have in mind wouldn't really allow me to keep any of that usable. This is going to be more of a purpose built track car, so most of that might have to go :-(

Unless I change my mind sometime soon and decide to do a clean street car, I'm pretty set on all out wide caged weekend racer, heh.

 

if you want to do a track car i would find a decent roller and start from there leave the berlinetta for a street/collector car plus gutting it and building a track car out of something "sentimental" would kind of defeat the purpose i would be too afraid of wrecking something so sentimental too me or even find a nice RX7 for a track car can get lots of power out of the 13b and have a lighter car to start with

 

I know what you mean, but to my dad and I used to always talk about building up this car and doing crazy things to it, so I've talked to him about it, and he loves the idea, so I think I'm gonna go with it. Interior is going to be a while, suspension and chassis is getting the works first, I've thought about trying to keep the interior somewhat stock, at least the dash and stereo, but this car is definitly getting some fixed recaros and cage at least, trying to make everything flow would be difficult...

I can see why you guys would want me to keep it stock, but I've already built 4 rx7's, last one made over 400hp and handled on rails, and just about every other import, this is just me trying to do something crazy that I've never quiet seen done before. I'll have plenty of time to decide what motor I want, the chassis' gonna take a while :-/

 

I have to agree with everyone else, it's up to you but either restore or build a lighter car for the track.

 

I would hate to see such a rare car be a drag car, but if you do want to go with it, sell me the console. lol

 

Heh, It would be far from a drag car, more like an open road racer for the twisties :-)

 

I agree with everyone else. Berlinetta's are definitely not the most common third gen and some people do look for them for their originality. If you want to tear one up, get a z28 parts car. That way you're not tearing something that has value. also, az28 is more well-suited for race than the components of a berlinetta.