Affordable Supercar Kit

[Outlaw1]

I've been thinking about building a Cobra SC kit car. After browsing around Factory Five's website I came across new updates to the GTM project. These are the first pics I've seen of a finished product. Previously they were more like spy pics of a primer black prototype. Some details. I like the idea of having an LS1, manual trans, enough room for 18x13's out back and a 2250 curb weight. I've made close to 600RWHP with LS1's while maintaining easy an 20+mpg in a 3600lb car. Even a bone stock LS1 would make for a fun ride. What do you think?

http://www.factoryfive.com/table/ffr...TM/GTMkit.html <--Check out this link for more information.

[SuperSleeper]

It sounds pretty good, but it takes a good amount of work to make them look right. I've seen a lot of kit-cars that look like they were totally half-assed.

[TheBlizzard]

What are you going to use as a donor car?

[Goat Blower]

Originally Posted by TheBlizzard

What are you going to use as a donor car?

A lot of the suspension and drivetrain parts are from a C5, but it's not based on a donor car like the old VW Bug/Fiero cheapie kits. It's a tube chassis car like the Cobras. I've thought of building a Cobra myself, you can always find a project somebody started but couldn't finish for cheap on Ebay.

[TheBlizzard]

I still thought most of the GTM projects needed a donor car for suspension, interior parts, and a few other things. I know JET was looking into these things awhile back and we were talking about it. Is there something different with this kit that you just need a motor/tranny/drivetrain?

[Goat Blower]

No, you still need all that stuff, so it'd be cheapest to buy a wrecked C5 rather than buy piecemeal parts. I thought you were referring to the old body on a stretched frame from another car kind of kit.

A hand made car came through the auction a few months back. It had a home-made square tube frame with C4 suspension and drivetrain parts with a blown big block. It couldn't have weighed more than 2100 pounds, I'm sure it'd be a handful on the street.

[CarPsyco84]

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

A hand made car came through the auction a few months back. It had a home-made square tube frame with C4 suspension and drivetrain parts with a blown big block. It couldn't have weighed more than 2100 pounds, I'm sure it'd be a handful on the street.

I remember seeing that thing I'm pretty sure at No. Saint Paul this summer, well pictures of it, with the lil brother there, I remember that thing, basicly all corvette C4 stuff, but different chassis and body, I remember hearing about that 454 SC one they were finishing, I thought It looked sick too... how much did that go for at auction?

[Pushit2.0]

Looks nice but I am sure it would take close to that 300hour mark to make it look nice and work. I say buy a nice fast car that is stock.

[Outlaw1]

GTM Supercar

Parts needed to complete

The kit comes with everything you need to build the car except for the parts listed below. All of these parts are GM parts and can be found in 1997-2004 C5 Corvette production (any model/transmission). You can purchase a lot of these parts brand new from GM or you can take them from a “donor” vehicle. The only exception is the transaxle, which is a Porsche unit. The major Corvette parts include the engine, front and rear control arm, suspension/brakes, and fuel tanks. Below is a generalized list of non-kit parts you would need to obtain to complete your GTM kit. For a complete detailed list, click here.

1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Parts

Complete front and rear suspension (minus leaf springs and shocks)

Front and rear hubs, calipers and rotors (outer CV joints on rear)

Tilt steering column w/stalks

E-brake handle/cables

Fuel tanks with pump(s) and flexible lines uncut

Radiator w/fans and plastic shroud

Engine and computer

Exhaust manifolds

Wiring harness w/engine, throttle control, & ignition sections

Wheels and tires

Oxygen sensors (4)

Ignition switch

Radiator fill tank

Wiper motor

Side and rear view mirrors

Exterior door handles

Vehicle speed sensor

Door window mechanisms

Seat belts

Gas pedal Flexible brake lines- calipers

Hood latches w/ cable actuator

Porsche Transaxle Parts from 1987-1998 2-wheel drive 911 models

Porsche G50 or G50 variant transmission

Transmission must include the clutch disk, pressure plate and throwout bearing, the slave cylinder w/flex hose, inner CV joints and starter.

Spreadsheet of Donor Parts

[Outlaw1]

I've worked on several Factory Five Cobras. One had a Fox suspension, built EFI 347 stroker and Tremec 5-speed. Lots of fun. Fit is very decent with these kits. I wouldn't be afraid of the quality of the GTM stuff. IMO, they make the best kits on the market.

I'm still trying to decide what kinda toy I want to buy next. Some possibilities are Cobra SC kit, '03/'04 Cobra, FRC C5, F-body, TT Supra, etc. Nothing crazy, just something between 20-30K & fun to drive. All cars have their weak spots. I have the time to pick and choose the one that fits me best. Decisions, decisions.

[JET]

I have been looking at the GTM's for over a year now. They really aren't a kit car in the sense that everyone thinks of. The red car you have pic's of is a prototype car, here is the preproduction car that was at SEMA this year.





They do use a lot of C5 parts and a Porsche G50 tranny from a 911. The tranny is the weak part, but there are a few aftermarket trannies coming to market soon. Both are capable of at least 650 ft/lbs and one is under $10k.

This car will be my next toy. I actually had a thread about it on here before. With a stock LS1 they got high 11's in the 1/4 mile on street tires. They have a LS7 from the new Z06 vette mocked in one and are expecting mid 10's.

If anyone is familiar with a Noble or Ultima, this is a similar type of car. It has been wind tunnel tested and it produced more downforce than a Ferrari 360 at 150 mph and basically the same as the Porsche GT! Frame stiffness is supposed to be the same as a NASCAR. It uses a custom suspension from Koni.