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+--- Thread: Baja (/showthread.php?tid=2467)
Baja - garage - 04-02-2011
Does anyone see a reason why a semi-stockish VW beetle can race and finish the Baja 1000, and a semi-stockish Mercedes w123 couldnt?
Serious question.
RE: Baja - Captain America - 04-02-2011
Nope. I think a 123 class would be dope!
RE: Baja - garage - 04-02-2011
I dont know about a whole class devoted to the w123..
I just meant any good reason why the chassis just wouldnt be up to it?
They way I see it, if a Beetle could do it a Benz can do it...
Oneday....
RE: Baja - Captain America - 04-02-2011
If your worried about rigidity, weld some tubes down the bitch.
An underbelly would help a lot too
RE: Baja - yankneck696 - 04-02-2011
The Beetle (being a former owner of 2 & 2 "kit"cars) is real light, the weight is in the rear. Air shocks & different tires & run the snot out of it. There are dozens of other reasons, like having a pretty flat bottom with little to damage, no radiator to leak, good power to weight ratio, small size, decent clearance for it's wheelbase & GREAT MPGs.
Ed
RE: Baja - garage - 04-02-2011
Oh the car would defo have some rigidity, from a full cage of course, not to mention welding together all the seams on the body and whatnot.
I think just skidplates covering up all the vitals would do??
I had a 79 "baja" bug at one point, didnt do much more than mudding with it but it was fun.
You can make a w123 "light", gotta gut everything, and only keep whats needed, keep it simple..
RE: Baja - ForcedInduction - 04-02-2011
The heavy weight up front and lack of 4x4 would make it sink into the sand. You'd spend a fortune in tires and building a one-off suspension to finish.
RE: Baja - garage - 04-02-2011
(04-02-2011, 08:42 PM)ForcedInduction The heavy weight up front and lack of 4x4 would make it sink into the sand. You'd spend a fortune in tires and building a one-off suspension to finish.
Theres LOTS of vehicles that compete in the Baja races that are 2wd
Well building the car is the fun of it, so a total suspension overhaul would be part of the plan of course. Along with complete strip down of chassis and redoing everything you can to possibly make it worthy of that kinda punishment.
As far as the weight with the heavy diesel engine, a race shop could shave down the block and head on areas that can handle it.
You could also shave down a 4cyl to save weight, get oil squirters for the pistons machined into it, and install a turbo.
Spending a fortune is part of racing(usually) i dont have a fortune, so this is only a dream..but one i hope to actually take on.
RE: Baja - 300D50 - 04-03-2011
I wouldn't take material off a 617 block... but that's just me. Would be OK for a one-off, but likely would cause issues latter on.
RE: Baja - dieselboy - 04-03-2011
Lol my car did fine in the sand. It's 90% driver anyways. I'm doing the 240d once this explorer is out of my yard.
RE: Baja - garage - 04-03-2011
(04-03-2011, 01:34 AM)300D50 I wouldn't take material off a 617 block... but that's just me. Would be OK for a one-off, but likely would cause issues latter on.
Hmm, you think it would be that big of a deal causing problems? There has to be some areas that could be machined down some what, without comprimising the integrity of it all.
(04-03-2011, 11:12 AM)dieselboy Lol my car did fine in the sand. It's 90% driver anyways. I'm doing the 240d once this explorer is out of my yard.
I drove your 240D through some deep sand and silt on multiple occasions, never dunes or anything, but she loved it! The cars are heavy...but not THAT heavy.
I CANT WAIT to see what you do with the 240...
RE: Baja - 300D50 - 04-03-2011
Longevity is the main concern, removal of material can, and does, weaken the block. Not saying it would die after 40K miles, but it might not live to 600K.
It also depends on what's removed, if you just take a grinder and flap disc to the AC mounting bosses, you'll likely be ok.
Then again, these things are over-engineered to the point you can push a few hundred more HP out of them with minimal ill effects, so there is overhead.
RE: Baja - stan - 04-03-2011
if someone wants a spare 616 block to experiment with, i've got the one that came out of my 240D and i'm going to get rid of it i think....
RE: Baja - garage - 04-03-2011
(04-03-2011, 04:08 PM)300D50 Longevity is the main concern, removal of material can, and does, weaken the block. Not saying it would die after 40K miles, but it might not live to 600K.
It also depends on what's removed, if you just take a grinder and flap disc to the AC mounting bosses, you'll likely be ok.
Then again, these things are over-engineered to the point you can push a few hundred more HP out of them with minimal ill effects, so there is overhead.
I agree, you are right saying they are over-engineered and that alone gives overhead with the increase in power and what not.
And your also right about it not lasting till 600k like these cars usually will do, but if your building an all out race car for desert racing it might not be such a bad idea. At least while these engines are a dime-a-dozen at the yards right now.
Does anyone have any clue as to how much (estimate) a shop would charge to shave down a block for weight?
RE: Baja - 300D50 - 04-03-2011
Yeah, like I said, for a custom one-off, it's perfectly fine.
One thing is you'll have to find areas where the coolant passages aren't close to the surface.
RE: Baja - Captain America - 04-03-2011
I haven't found the cars to sink too bad. The rear independent suspension really helps with traction over a straight axle.