Road Race Rabbit Build

[xelderx]

This will probably take me a while to start since I'm knee deep in projects right now, but I thought I would go ahead and get some pictures up and get some people's input. I'm not sure what I want to build the car for. It was originally an SCCA ITB car, but it hasn't been raced in a few years. I have the full log book, thankfully. As soon as I get one of my current projects out of the garage I'll be pushing this in and stripping it down for some new paint. I know diddly squat about Rabbits so any knowledge will be greatly appreciated. This also came with a parts car that is mostly intact minus the engine/tranny and I'm thinking it would make a nice little street car if I don't have to rob too many parts from it.

 

[dmitrik4]

my input #1: you're insane.

my input #2: cool...old VWs are sweet.

 

[khaosman]

Nice... do something crazy to it No idea what, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.

 

[dmitrik4]

1.8T or scirocco 16v transplant?

 

[xelderx]

1.8T or scirocco 16v transplant?

Well...it's not in the picture, but I actually got 2 Rabbits. The other is a little more complete and without a cage. The caged one will probably be built back to ITB specs, but I'm not sure about the parts car. It depends on how many parts I have to strip off of it, but I'm thinking about a VR6 swap.

 

[dmitrik4]

aren't VR6s heavy? i can't remember if they're iron or aluminum block.

 

[xelderx]

aren't VR6s heavy? i can't remember if they're iron or aluminum block.

Yes...they are a little heavier than other VW engine options, but not as heavy as most 6 cyl. motors of comparable displacement. They are super cheap on Ebay most of the time as well. Just under 200hp on a bone stock motor would be a hoot in a 2000lbs car.

 

[miata_racer]

Come run FSP. I'm going to build up a 76 Rabbit for FSP with a friend and run it in 2008. I sure would love to see the cheepest SP class thrive Since it looks like they're screwing me out of ES lol

David Hedderick
Houston, TX

 

[pluto316]

You should put 2 motors in it, if you don't agree YOU'RE WRONG.

 

[xelderx]

Come run FSP. I'm going to build up a 76 Rabbit for FSP with a friend and run it in 2008. I sure would love to see the cheepest SP class thrive Since it looks like they're screwing me out of ES lol

David Hedderick
Houston, TX

Hopefully I'll be at Nationals in 2007 with a FSP 1st Gen Protege. If not I'll definitely have it ready for 2008. The square headlight Rabbits are 100lbs heavier than the earlier models so it wouldn't be the ideal chassis. I'm going to keep this one as a club rcer. No sense in wasting a good cage.

 

[xelderx]

You should put 2 motors in it, if you don't agree YOU'RE WRONG.

Crossed my mind.

 

[Roywhitep5]

You should put 2 motors in it, if you don't agree YOU'RE WRONG.

and drive backwards?

 

[pluto316]

and drive backwards?

THROUGH TIME.

 

[MakeMeGoFast]

read awhile back in SportCompactCar Mag. of a Rabbit that put out close to 400 hp with a 1.8T. or you could jack a R32(GTi) of its drivetrain and goes AWD. sky is the limit when your car weighs nothing

 

[dmitrik4]

Hopefully I'll be at Nationals in 2007 with a FSP 1st Gen Protege. If not I'll definitely have it ready for 2008. The square headlight Rabbits are 100lbs heavier than the earlier models so it wouldn't be the ideal chassis. I'm going to keep this one as a club rcer. No sense in wasting a good cage.

so you're still planning on building the FSP protege (version deux)? i think will kalman is doing the same thing w/ his escort GT.

stupid SCCA classing puts my 'rolla in DSP (aka the kiss of death). that's weaksauce. i wanna come play in FSP w/ 1800 lbs and 130whp.

 

[xelderx]

so you're still planning on building the FSP protege (version deux)? i think will kalman is doing the same thing w/ his escort GT.

stupid SCCA classing puts my 'rolla in DSP (aka the kiss of death). that's weaksauce. i wanna come play in FSP w/ 1800 lbs and 130whp.

I'm still going to build the 1st Gen. It looks like I'll probably not go to Nationals this year with the Pro5 even though I was really looking forward to it. I just can't afford it right now and it will give me a chance to work on building the 1st Gen a little sooner since I don't have to worry about keeping the Pro5 competitive.

 

[mp5smuggler]

why cant you go to nationals?

 

[xelderx]

why cant you go to nationals?

I have some credit card bills that have caught up to me. I can't justify not paying those bills just so I can get new tires before Nationals. I would also have to rent or buy a trailer to haul the car out there and I just don't have enough time between now and September to save that kind of cash. i don't have any decent tires right now to even run the local events so I thought it would be wiser to stop throwing money at the Pro5 for this year and actually start building the real car.

 

[xelderx]

Finally got around to pulling the tarp off and getting dirty. Just a basic teardown. Trying to get it ready to do some bodywork and the repaint it. There was a birds nest in the dash with eggs in it. I should get a little more finished next week. I'm still trying to finish up the motorcycle I've been working on so I can move the Rabbit into the garage.

 

[xelderx]

Got bored today so the sound insulation in the spare tire well had to go.

My next project is to modify two engine stands so the Rabbit will be on rotisserie.