H/BFCC Ford Festiva

[biglady112]

Now that I am finally starting to make some decent power, I am sticking with this chassis. I will update a little later showing some of the build so far.

This pat weekend I started on the front end and belly pan. I am a rat rod guy, so it will be function over form through out this build.

Now that I have made progress after it fighting not wanting to make power, I will be moving back to a compound turbo system.

[biglady112]

Finally some good testing with the new cylinder head.

395hp 315tq@42psi

[biglady112]

https://youtu.be/bCYORa5OZGc

[biglady112]

Front end and beginning of belly pan.

[biglady112]

Safety chassis will be next after more aero work.

Lots of home made parts in here though. Ask questions if you need to know.

[bambrose]

Cool little build.

I would look at the Hondata CRX and HASport Insight cars for aero ideas (or what maybe to not do?)  Both had hatchback bodies and were unstable at really high speeds due to rear lift from the videos I have seen of their spins.  You may need to weigh down the car to get the CG really low and in the rear.

I remember seeing a blue "Fastiva" article over 15 years ago in Sport Compact Car magazine and have always liked the idea.  Hope to see you on the salt!

[biglady112]

I am sure it will be an experiment. I am aware of the Hondata car and their crashes and spins in the past. That car is loosely what this will be based off of.

I will be testing at half mile and mile events later this year. Hopefully I learn something. I will go where the car takes me of course.

[jacksoni]

Although a pavement car might get away with it, the salt is different. I am sorry to disagree with Bambrose. CG low is good, no problem. You do not want it in the rear of the car. That makes it aerodynamically unstable and if you get even a little loose you will spin. The car is front drive anyway, why screw with the handling? Weight in general is ok as there is much less penalty drag wise than if you design for aero downforce but the CG must be in front of the CP. If you are going to the trouble to build the aero front package, why did you leave that big hump at the hood? Or am I misinterpreting the photo?

[biglady112]

I am waiting on materials to move further. This is just the basic shape and it not complete. It will be mostly a cone when done.

[jacksoni]

Got it! Onward and upward! 

[bambrose]

Although a pavement car might get away with it, the salt is different. I am sorry to disagree with Bambrose. CG low is good, no problem. You do not want it in the rear of the car. That makes it aerodynamically unstable and if you get even a little loose you will spin. The car is front drive anyway, why screw with the handling? Weight in general is ok as there is much less penalty drag wise than if you design for aero downforce but the CG must be in front of the CP. If you are going to the trouble to build the aero front package, why did you leave that big hump at the hood? Or am I misinterpreting the photo?

I agree completely jacksoni, thanks for pointing this out with more context.  I shoudl have been more specific in stating that the rear of these FWD hatcback cars seem to lift at high speeds so they need either some rear weight added (although the CG is still heavily tilted towards the front due to the drivetrain), or rear downforce is needed.   It seems like they all get extremely light on the rear tires at top speed and lift off, starting a violent spin.  It doesn't help that these cars are sub 2000lbs in street form.

 

[biglady112]

This car has been as light as 1530 in drag form. I fully expect it to be 1800-1900 in full salt trim. Once the nose is finished I will begin on the belly pan, rear diffuser and rear wing.

[biglady112]

Progress

[biglady112]

Started laying fiberglass today.

[biglady112]

I had to go backwards a bit. On the right track now. We decided to do the hood and fenders. It will need to be a little thicker. 4 layers is a little floppy. I will do some body work, straightening and repairs then start adding layers. Glad to be moving forward.