86 x1/9 conversion to track toy

[dsmithwc04]

Hello all! I’m new here and venturing into a fun project with an X1/9 I just purchased yesterday. My past experience included racing open wheel formula cars around the country but these days I moonlight on exotics such as Ferraris and Lambos for my passion projects. This is a side gig to my career as a Digital Forensic Examiner for an investigation and research company in Indy. I’m just finishing a Scuderia motor transplant in an F430 track car and will soon be putting my time into the x1/9
I plan on doing something inspired by a Dallara only with a k20/24 6 speed that will stay NA at first. I restored a 1991 Ferrari 348 a few years back and now it’s time for a little change in scope. I will be keeping an eye in budget as a matter if exercise so this should be something most people can use any info gained for their own project. Most importantly never be afraid to venture into the unknown! That’s where you learn the best skills and have the best experiences!

Ci Vediamo Presto!

Dan

PS. I listed a few things for sale that I won’t need such as a top to bottom rebuild of the original 1.5 engine if anybody is interested.

 

[JimD]

Welcome to Xweb Dan!

Good luck with your project.

 

[Dr.Jeff]

Yes, welcome aboard.

Sounds like a very fun project. It will be interesting to see your progress.

I have a spare "parts car" X that's quite rusty and rough that I might do a similar project with. Just for a track day toy to thrash on. But my biggest hurdle right now is the list of existing projects already exceeds my available time....and the fact I seem to be slowing down physically with age.

 

[kmead]

Hello all! I’m new here and venturing into a fun project with an X1/9 I just purchased yesterday. My past experience included racing open wheel formula cars around the country but these days I moonlight on exotics such as Ferraris and Lambos for my passion projects. This is a side gig to my career as a Digital Forensic Examiner for an investigation and research company in Indy. I’m just finishing a Scuderia motor transplant in an F430 track car and will soon be putting my time into the x1/9
I plan on doing something inspired by a Dallara only with a k20/24 6 speed that will stay NA at first. I restored a 1991 Ferrari 348 a few years back and now it’s time for a little change in scope. I will be keeping an eye in budget as a matter if exercise so this should be something most people can use any info gained for their own project. Most importantly never be afraid to venture into the unknown! That’s where you learn the best skills and have the best experiences!

Ci Vediamo Presto!

Dan

PS. I listed a few things for sale that I won’t need such as a top to bottom rebuild of the original 1.5 engine if anybody is interested.

Welcome, you certainly come with some provenance.

You failed miserably on the first rule of Xweb which is to at least offer up a picture of the victim, I mean of the car.

Sounds like a great project. If possible start a thread here in the workshop forum for the entire project in that one thread. It helps people follow along. We do tend to prattle on around here so don’t be offended if we wander with your thread a bit. If you read through Lookforjoe’s build thread and Rodger’s build threads you will get a sense of how others have approached it.

All the best and welcome aboard.

 

[dsmithwc04]

Nice! I may start a stand alone build thread as you recommended.
And here is a pic of the deceased. It shall be reborn again.

 

[Dr.Jeff]

Funny, that is the same year and color scheme as the rusty parts car I was referring to earlier. Who knows, we end up with "twin" cars someday.

 

[dsmithwc04]

Update:

to save a bunch of time I bought a car Braden’s built for a client back in 2019. They never did much with it and it sat neglected for a while but I may have struck gold with as far as time savings goes!

listing final sale of things I don’t need for dirt cheap in sales thread shortly. Includes a whole x19 shell

 

[Longitudinal]

Update:

to save a bunch of time I bought a car Braden’s built for a client back in 2019. They never did much with it and it sat neglected for a while but I may have struck gold with as far as time savings goes!

listing final sale of things I don’t need for dirt cheap in sales thread shortly. Includes a whole x19 shell

That's certainly a big time saving, even considering the time saved by buying the kit. Which K20 car is this? What color is it?

 

[dsmithwc04]

it will be a k24 with k20 head shooting for minimum 300rwhp NA.

 

[lookforjoe]

it will be a k24 with k20 head shooting for minimum 300rwhp NA.

Have you built K24/20 franken NA's before? 300 to the wheels is extreme for an NA setup, judging by the builds on K20a.org.

 

[dsmithwc04]

I'm local to 4piston. Look them up, they have up to 400rwhp NA engines they will build.

 

[dsmithwc04]

Have you built K24/20 franken NA's before? 300 to the wheels is extreme for an NA setup, judging by the builds on K20a.org.

Also, where did you source the wheels and wing?

 

[lookforjoe]

I'm local to 4piston. Look them up, they have up to 400rwhp NA engines they will build.

I may do that, however it would be easier for you to provide details of what specifically your build will include to get you there, IMO.

Also, where did you source the wheels and wing?

Wheels are Rota Kensei 5x8 & 5x9 4x100 zero offset, 67.1 hub bore. When I bought them 3 years ago, they were available through eBay, Amazon.
1.5" hub-centric spacers in the rear, .5" hub-centric spacers in front

If you can't locate a set, I may sell mine as I'm going to a different Rota wheel.

Dallara wing is made by a forum member - George Cozzi (I think, I have his email if you want to enquire)

his car:

 

[dsmithwc04]

The build for the motor isn't set yet. 300hp is not unheard of but once you start hitting 325whp and up it gets more expensive for every 10whp you go.

K24 87.5mm 12.5:1cr
4 piston head
RBC intake
ASP header, 3in exhaust
93 high quality pump gas

This gets you to 300rwh. The secret sauce is really in the head and 4 piston takes care of that.

I'll reach out regarding your wheels and see what you wanting for them, thanks!

 

[dsmithwc04]

Update.
Following have arrived:

Roata Kyushu wheels.
Series 3 wilwood brakes for front
Front sway bar
Custom 4x98 to 4x100 wheel adapters/spacers
Original front brakes moving to rear with full rebuild along with racing pads
SS brake lines
Adjustable camber plates all around
Fiberglass Engine bonnet.
Dallara wide body kit

Sandblasting has begun on suspension to be followed by red oxide primer then epoxy paint.

 

[kmead]

Update.
Following have arrived:

Roata Kyushu wheels.
Series 3 wilwood brakes for front
Front sway bar
Custom 4x98 to 4x100 wheel adapters/spacers
Original front brakes moving to rear with full rebuild along with racing pads
SS brake lines
Adjustable camber plates all around
Fiberglass Engine bonnet.
Dallara wide body kit

Sandblasting has begun on suspension to be followed by red oxide primer then epoxy paint.

You need a glass hood to get some more weight out.

 

[dsmithwc04]

Any recommendations on sources for a glass hood?

 

[My1stCar]

Any recommendations on sources for a glass hood?

Not sure if they ship to the US (they're based in Czech Republic), but this seems a reasonable price to me:

Fiberglass hood Fiat X1/9 | PESCH - motorsport - shop with fiberglass car parts

www.pesch.cz

Best regards, Marc

 

[308slegs]

Andy at Phoenix does amazing work! He Makes everything except the rear Dallara wing.

Fiat X19 fibreglass panels, and body kits. Eurosport and Dallara, Quality Lightweight, rust free. — Phoenix Classic Auto Panels

Quality replacement fibreglass Fiat X19 body panels and body kits. A range is available from single standard bumper parts, to bonnet, boot lids, engine covers, and wings. We also manufacture full body kits, 1300 Eurosport bolt on, and Bertone Dallara wide body style kit. Lightweight, sturdy and rust

www.phoenixclassicautopanels.com

 

[dsmithwc04]

UPDATE:

Couple of goodies arrived but I may need some temporary assistance from anybody local to Pendleton, Indiana. The coilovers arrived without the necessary shoulder required to rest inside the spherical bearing within the camber plate. Until I get this sorted out with the manufacturer I need to be able to roll the car so I can transport it to the welder to get the cage installed but in order to do this I need struts and springs.

So the question is does anybody have struts and springs I can loan or buy cheaply in order to transport the car to the welder?

Pics below of the cage and coilovers as delivered. I wanted rebound and bump to be separate adjustments as well as a remote reservoir to help keep the oil cool so I went with GAZ in uk (Track Dynamics)