New project, as compared to the 355

Sorry, I am too jacked up not to post some pics. I do think it is interesting to see the comparison in two cars, one designed almost 15 years ago, and one designed more than 40 years back. I think they are going to make nice stable mates. Hope to have the new one at a the spring midweek VIR day, but it will have to be a busy winter.
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No supercharger. Somehow I have the impression that 550 hp and 2500 lbs. will be enough to manage. Especially when the aerodynamics were developed using strings. I like to think of it as a heavy Elise... with 2.5 engines

 

No stripes for now, the color looks better in person. We'll see.

The RCR chassis is a monocoque, but aluminum instead of steel. The roof is not integral like the original, but is fiberglass. Mine has a cage, the originals did not. The suspension is CNC machined aluminum instead of tubular steel, and the geometry is revised primarily taking into consideration the handling differences between a modern tire and an old bias ply tire. Springs, dampers, brakes, etc all modern race gear. Body is exact mold from a GT40 mark 1.

I am using a Chevy motor, because it is a better powerplant and lets me use a better tranny. Gets the Ford guys all in a huff, but it's mine, so I don't care!

 

Looks close, but not at all. Body work and paint are done, but everything else is in pieces. And I don't have quite all the pieces either. But hey, it wouldn't be a project if it were turn key, eh?

 

While they are side by side, here are some interesting facts. The 355 motor, including valve covers but excluding the intake runners and plenum, is 20 inches long, 18 inches tall, and 24 inches wide (roughly - it's harder to measure with all the stuff around it). The LS7 is also 20 inches long. It is narrower, about 22 inches wide, and taller, about 21 inches tall. Both motors are dry sump and all aluminum. So essentially they take up about the same amount of space. Of course, the difference is the LS7 is literally 2x the displacement: 7 liters vs. 3.5 liters. I can't measure, but I am sure the motor in the new GT, which is 5.4 liters, is downright ginormous in comparison, and it is 5.4 liters, but is double overhead cam (again, ignoring the intake, which in the modern GT includes a big honkin' supercharger). Point is, the overhead cams come have disadvantages, and one is size. Occasionally, smaller is better.

Of course the overall package has to include the transaxle, which is toy-like in the 355 as compared to the gargantuan Ricardo box here, which is sourced from the modern GT. GT40s are notorious for detonating transaxles because of the big torque, and the Ricardo can take it (which is one reason I am using it). The 355 box survives because the motor makes so little torque (some 275 ft-lbs). I don't think it would last long with the 500+ ft-lbs the LS7 will put out.

Picture after removing the stock manifold (will be replaced) and exhaust. Note the huge mufflers
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I know, I konw, not Ferrari stuff, but it's almost a Lambo comparison...

Audi released specs on the upcoming V10 in the R8 (same as that in the LP560-4, but detuned).
525 hp, 390 ft/lbs, and the motor weighs 569 pounds. So I thought I'd see how much the LS7 weighs. Keep in mind, this is without AC compressor or alternator. Pretty favorable though
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Ken,

I think you are right, I will get adept at pulling it and replacing it. But the future engine out service will be a breeze eh? There are definitely some challenges, but I am learning a ton and having fun. I look forward to seeing the Ultima some time this summer, hopefully with the 40 running too!

-J.

 

Crappy weather means time to work. Motor is ready to go back in - for the third time.
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Probably not anytime soon, but eventually (I hope).

 

A few pics after a day of hard work.
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