Build your own car from SCRATCH?!

[sgraber]

Originally Posted by vectorspecialist

yea i had read that site about a month ago.

so basically it's any engine from a car whose original drivetrain was front engine front wheel drive? does that include 6cyls. like out of a 3000gt?

and wats the meaning behind the name?

La Bala means 'Bullet' in spanish.

And yes, any FWD drivetrain as far as I know I havn't found any that don't fit yet. VR6 fits... I have measured even the Northstar will fit, but it's way too heavy. Weight of the engine is a real issue for handling in a car that weighs 1,500lbs. Obviously the lighter the better.

[vectorspecialist]

well imma start saving some money than. if it can handle like a lotus, and is cheaper...andkinda of custom built, than it's worth it

[sgraber]

Yesterday was a big day for La Bala. A photographer drove out from California to shoot the car (among other assignments including Barrett-Jackson Auction) and we scheduled for 3pm Sunday.

The photo session, located in the desert mountains northeast of Phoenix, Arizona took about 3 hours, during which time the car was driven and posed in many different positions.

I wasn't able to take many pictures of my own because I ended up being the 'photo bitch' and had to position the car, drive the car, light the car, etc.

The photographer, who was driving a brand new Viper from the GM press pool was super impressed with the car and really enjoyed driving it. He felt the car was very responsive and connected to the road and way more fun to drive than the Viper with smooth suspension and not bone jarring like the Viper. That definitely made me happy. It was a highlight to be a passenger as he took it to redline in the first 3 gears flying down a remote desert rollercoaster road. I wish I had a video of him yelling 'woohoooo!'














If you want to read the entire article and see the high-quality photos you'll need to pick up the March/April edition of Kit Car Builder Magazine.

[reagan v]

Originally Posted by sgraber

I just realized that I didn't answer your question! Sorry bout that.

I and just passing the 2 year mark. I expect to spend another 6 months on the body. Then it's registration and drive time! Drive to the track, thrash on everyone for a while and drive it home. Street/Track car.

BTW - Here is a shot of my current state of progress:


Here's a small piccy of the rear (lotsa work still needed here) Yes, that's a flat bottom and a diffuser in the works...
Now that the weather is cooling down it will be much easier to motivate into the garage!

how do i get my hands on a body of this sort ...its gorgeous ...please help me start my project

[vectorspecialist]

congrats man, it takes a lot at this point in time to get any kind of recognition, but to heve hand build ur own car and had it tested out by mags...congrats

[sgraber]

Originally Posted by reagan v

how do i get my hands on a body of this sort ...its gorgeous ...please help me start my project

Hi Reagan,

I just responded to your email. Thanks for contacting me from my website.

Steve Graber

[sgraber]

The article about La Bala is out now in Kit Car Builder Magazine.

I got permission to scan the images and reprint them on my website. I've just added them to my photo gallery for now, but will be adding a diary entry about it soon. You can read the article better in my image gallery as I scanned the text parts individually to make it easier to read.

[driftflow]

Dude that is some sick work there, Just one big question, how do u build a car? like do u get a body similar to it then form it into what u want or what?

[Johnny Mullet]

Now if a car like this could be mass-produced and sold for like $10000.00, you would be a rich man! Or maybe sold without a drivetrain for even cheaper and all the purchaser would have to do is decide what he wants to drop in it.

Good job!

[bojan26]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

Now if a car like this could be mass-produced and sold for like $10000.00, you would be a rich man! Or maybe sold without a drivetrain for even cheaper and all the purchaser would have to do is decide what he wants to drop in it.

Good job!

exactly... he shouldn't be suprised that it's price went up to $1000.00 on Ebay :P hah...

[sgraber]

Hey I replaced the original engine with a newer one.

1.6L Toyota 20 valve - 180Hp and naturally aspirated too!

[vectorspecialist]

u still making those availible to kit builders, but with a lil bigger engine, maybe the 2.0l turbo'd 4cyl from GM?

[sgraber]

Originally Posted by vectorspecialist

u still making those availible to kit builders, but with a lil bigger engine, maybe the 2.0l turbo'd 4cyl from GM?

Yes, as a DIY kit. I sell the plans, bodywork, steel tube packs, and adding more items all the time. I am hoping to start offering completed frames this year sometime.

You can build this entire car for less than $15K.

I've got someone building one with the 2.0SS Ecotec out of the Cobalt and another being built with the 4AGZE out of a 89MR2 and another doing all-electric, which is really easy to do with this car because the engine bay is so large and there is lots of room for batteries.

[mmcleo11]

Nissan Maxima VQ35DE V6(same engine as 350Z) and FWD 6 speed HLSD gearbox from the Maxima would be a nice combo 350Hp without a problem

Here is a VQ35 in a Nissan Micra/March mounted in the back
http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetev...cra_350sr.html

[sgraber]

As a small update I have been driving the car regularly to work and really just for fun and I am averaging 45mpg. It seems that the light weight and small slippery shape of the car combined with a the efficient Toyota 20 valve Blacktop engine are a great combination.

Plus the car SOUNDS great! I'm sure there are lots of great engines to power a 1,500lb car, but the Quad Throttle Bodies of the 20v and velocity stacks make it sound like music. I made a youtube video of me driving the car WOT to redline a bunch of times. You really should turn up the volume when you listen to this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UREdGDIK6YQ