COMING: The Rally Beast

[Joe_Black]

Ah, the Lancia Stratos! In a previous life I was a FIAT/Lancia freak. Okay, I still am. Especially since I've still got three twin-cam engines and a handful of 5-speed trannies around the shop. LOL!

This is by far my most favorite Lancia...

[Hotsauce]

T25 will give instant response, and good boost up to about 12-14 psi, then you will run off the map and make just heat. You will probably get away with 550cc injectors at that level.

If you want to run high boost(25-30) you are going to need a bigger turbo, like a 16g or 20g, but I doubt our block will take it.

Are you allowed to mount the radiator where the rear seat was, and duct the heat out the back? It would simplify the intercooler install, and make the radiator invoulnerable to rocks.

John C.

[Joe_Black]

Yeah, we're not planning on big boost. Since we're going with a one-piece tilt nose the radiator will pretty much be in the OEM location. There's little likelyhood of anything whacking the radiator unless it's enough to stop the VX altogether.

The intercooler will be horizontally mounted over the engine, like in a Subaru. That will allow for very short runs from both turbos (dual inlet) and and to the throttle body. Simple, simple, simple!

Going with the one-piece front end opens up the engine bay considerably as all body structure ahead of the firewall will be completely eliminated. We're hoping to shed nearly 1000 lbs. of the stock curb weight and distribute the remaining mass more evenly.

[TEN36VX]

One piece front end... How's that?

[Joe_Black]

One piece front end... How's that?

We're going to pull a mold from the IronMan's front end to create a FRP tilt-forward nose. Basically, the whole front end ahead of the windshield and doors. It will tilt forward using hinges mounted at the front of the frame rails that have quick-pins so the whole nose could be removed in an instant.

Here's a similar tilt nose...

[Joe_Black]

The TOD never once failed me during 2+ years of rallycross, and the professionally rallied VX's used a panel to push-button select preset torque splits using the OEM TOD unit. So it's got a proven competition history.

[Joe_Black]

You have to remember with the VX's TOD you're always in 4X4 with no less than a 85/15 torque split. Rear-wheel slip of any kind will progressively apply more torque up to the full 50/50 split based on accelleration and slip. Only the TOD Axiom and Trooper have the ability to go into 2WD, the VX is full-time 4X4.

It might do you some good to get out in a field or open snowy area and throw the VX around so you can get a good "feel" for the system, then you can have a better idea of what it'll do in the conditions you're currently uncomfortable with.