Non Cobra build--Cheetah

[john chesnut]

I've been slowly working on the frame. A friend gave me a C4 Vette roller. I stripped it down and turned it over. Then I tack welded 2 by 2 tubing to the frame rails. Then tacked together jigs for the suspension points.

I had a jig base from an earlier build. I turned it over and tacked the C4 jig to it. The C4 wasn't perfectly square so I'm addressing that in my build.

My idea for this frame is to be able to use it with a few different bodies. One is Lakester style T bucket. I wanted to keep the wide rear to narrow front look for the T bucket so I'm building the frame with that taper. For the Cheetah body I'm planning to weld up body supports that will attach to the frame. I'm not sure if that will work or not. I'll see when I get the Cheetah body. Anyway here is my progress.

[Mark IV]

So you have one of the three Mercury Capris still extant?!?!?

[john chesnut]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

So you have one of the three Mercury Capris still extant?!?!?

Yes I do! I have a couple of Miata's too.

It's amazing how many people have my banks. I'm very grateful for every one that has purchased one over the past 24 years.

I believe the frame would handle a Big Block. But, I"m doing this on the cheap. I have a 305 SBC with vortec heads, flat top pistons, a lumpy cam, and an air gap intake. I think that its putting out around 290HP. In a previous version of the frame I had the car together on springs. It weighs, on my race scales, 1498lbs. Even with modest power it should be fun to drive.

I'm leaving for a couple weeks of vacation on Friday. When I get back I'm going to be finishing the Lakester as fast as possible. I'm suppose to get the Cheetah body around Dec 1. Can't wait.