Fantasy Time: What Restomod Would You Do?

[homeforsummer]

Another car that could use a power plant improvement. I get that for some people the idea of wringing a car out to get to its power is the fun, but this car could have been so much more to so many people if it didn't require wringing to really enjoy. Because having to do that marginalizes the fun to a few select moments.

Drove that very S2K recently and for me it was a problem of gearing rather than the engine itself. Essentially the same engine is fine in an EP3 Civic R, but it seemed to take forever to get going in the S2K. Possibly doesn't help that the S2000 is heavier than the EP3 too...

Also the steering isn't great. That might be more difficult to sort, but assuming a typical resto-mod budget maybe it'd be easier than expected.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

I have a couple of Ford based resto-mods I would love to do given infinite time & money. One involves one of these; a Crown Victoria P71 P.I. Either that or just get a regular Crown Victoria and put the P.I. grill on it. I like the grill on these Crown Vic models the most. Anyway, it would have of course improved suspension (shocks, springs, and whatever else). Brembo brakes, swap the engine with a Coyote 5.0, do any other methods I could do to improve the handling further. A stick shift would be placed in this car, one probably from a coyote Mustang. If not that, something better.

For the interior, I don't have much imagination here, I would just have bucket seats. Probably Recaros since most performance Fords now have those. If it wasn't, I would have it painted in the red like in this picture. I honestly like how this shade of red looks on these; my uncle once had a P71 in this color during his time on the police force. Lastly, I would want to put the wheels from a Mercury Marauder on this or the wheels from a Crown Victoria LX. My idea is to just have some kind of "ultimate version" of the crown victoria. A what if Ford applied their performance treatment to the Crown Victoria on a crazier level than the Mercury Marauder.

Technically, this isn't a resto-mod since the car isn't old enough to be considered that, but I partially want to have a Ford Fusion Sport, but put the 400hp ecoboost V6 found in the Lincoln MKZ in this. Give it a better transmission for good measure. Recaro seats are placed in the interior, brembo brakes applied, and better suspension of course. All of this to create a "what if" Fusion ST.

 

[Aerocoupe]

I think it'd be cool if there were a way to combine this:

With one of the Atlas 5-cylinders used in the Colorado/Canyon. I'd go for a later 3.9L engine and leave it stock aside from an exhaust and intake upgrade, plus whatever it needs to be mounted transversely. For the car there would be a total suspension and brake overhaul, along with a set of 90s aftermarket wheels and sticky modern rubber.

 

[Danoff]

Is it a restomod to make a car that was not made but should have been? Like a left hand drive NSX-R (apparently spoon made ~20 of those?) or RSX Type R (I think some of these actually exist as well)? Is that a tribute car? Or does it have another name?

Stick-shift CSL E46 M3 would be cool.

 

[TexRex]

Or does it have another name?

Modified.



Generally speaking, restomods are vehicles "restored" to a state beyond what they were originally, typically by using modern equipment or equipment that was more advanced than what was equipped originally despite being present at the same time.

 

[Pete05]

Modified.



Generally speaking, restomods are vehicles "restored" to a state beyond what they were originally, typically by using modern equipment or equipment that was more advanced than what was equipped originally despite being present at the same time.

^ This

The cars @Danoff refers to probably come under the tag ‘Retrotech’.
Making your own improvements on what you feel the manufacturer left out.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Because they are all busted to hell:

DC Chassis Honda/Acura Integra
H22A Engine with a 6 speed gearbox and an LSD, modified to around 250hp (entirely because I don't like the look nor sound of the K series engines)
Extensive use of carbon fiber and other weight reduction to get the car under 2400lbs
Japan-market front end
Bespoke interior (with red recaros of course)

I'd call it an Integra Type H

I consider this a restomod because knowing the condition of every single Integra out there, the first step would definitely be RESTO.

 

[Danoff]

Volkswagen Beetle

Bigger engine (air cooled fuel injected), disc brakes, air conditioning, and improved headlights would be on my list of things to do.

 

[TexRex]

Now for something completely different...

The Wedge.

The Harris Mann-designed Princess is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine; I just love the wedge styling from the guy who famously designed another British wedge--the Triumph TR7--combined with the nifty drivetrain in the form of an available 2.2L E-series SOHC inline-6 that sits transversely in the engine bay, above the transmission, not unlike a classic Mini.

Of course, British Leyland was better known for its unhappy workforce than its build quality, and even the top-spec 2200 HLS suffered poor reliability. This and fit-and-finish would have to be addressed, probably by utilizing a more modern structure underneath the wedge sheetmetal.

My ideal configuration would be a Princess 2 in the aforementioned 2200 HLS trim, with only the rear pillar clad in vinyl and the rest of the roof painted to match the body as pictured above. Also pictured above is a 4-cylinder car with its quad headlights, my preference, while the 2200s got a pair of wedgy units as Mann originally designed.

As nifty as that drivetrain is, it's far from ideal from a driving dynamics perspective. In keeping with engine capacity and cylinder count, I'd opt for a fantastic little engine in the form of a 2.0L Mazda KF V6 with the cylinders punched out 2mm (to 80mm) and the 2.5L KL crankshaft (74.2mm) fitted for a total displacement of 2238cc, just 11cc over the E-series six-pot. To aid forward progress, a Rotrex supercharger would by tacked onto the rear of the motor, above an MX6 5-speed manual, and shaft-driven from the front. The KF produced 140hp minimum and 170hp in Lantis Type-R spec, so the increased displacement and mild forced induction should easily bring it to 100hp/L, doubling the E-series' 110hp.

Exterior would be finished in two-tone utilizing the 2200 HLS Club 100's pattern with Royal Blue main body and roof, Navy Blue insert and a beige coach line; black vinyl on the rear pillar is retained. Wheels are to be custom, styled after TVR T-slot alloys in a 15" diameter (+1) with "Princess" script on the caps and shod with 195/60 rubber.

An updated dash and console adorn the interior, wrapped in black vinyl with tiger maple inserts in both, polished stainless bezels, knobs and toggles, and black gauge faces. Low back buckets wrapped in beige leather flank the console in front and a matching bench brings up the rear. Black carpet lines the floor and black, rubber-clad pedals don't call attention to themselves, while a Nardi Classic 390mm steering wheel with black spokes should look a treat.

 

[Dennisch]

The Harris Mann-designed Princess is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine

This man completely lost it somewhere today, we got to send help his way.

Also.

Golf 2, with either a Synchro or Quattro running gear, and a Turbo 4.
Buddy of mine had a 2 with an 225 Hp 1.8t from a TT. It was FWD only, but it was an experience to drive. 4wd would make it perfect. Keep the in and exterior as stock as possible, as it is pretty much period perfect.

 

[TexRex]

This man completely lost it somewhere today, we got to send help his way.

 

[Dennisch]

Using words like nifty drivetrain etc didn't help either.

The only way to help your case is saying : Take the body, and interior, remove everything mechanical and electrical and replace with actual functioning (read : Japanese) parts, and continue from there on.

 

[TexRex]

Using words like nifty drivetrain etc didn't help either.

Begging forgiveness; how does "neato-burrito" suit you?



...

The only way to help your case is saying : Take the body, and interior, remove everything mechanical and electrical and replace with actual functioning (read : Japanese) parts, and continue from there on.

I mean...I kinda did...

utilizing a more modern structure underneath the wedge sheetmetal

So there.



I didn't specify which modern structure, but having indicated the Mazda V6 and 5-speed, something like the final 626 which also had a K-series option could make for a suitable candidate. The MX3 and 323 (Lantis) are substantially smaller and still got that engine, so while the 626 is a hair too wide in its standard configuration, the engine ought to still fit once it's been cut in half lengthwise and narrowed by 3cm (yeah...the US-spec 626 is 1760mm while the Princess is 1730).

 

[Volksauto]

Bigger engine (air cooled fuel injected),

Would you use a Type 3, Type 4, or a late model Type 1 engine? They all were available with fuel injection.

 

[Danoff]

Would you use a Type 3, Type 4, or a late model Type 1 engine? They all were available with fuel injection.

You got me! I actually don't know what engine I'd use. Type 4 seems like the best of the options you presented. I think the really hard thing would be to get AC in the car.... wow, apparently not! There is a pretty slick kit for that.

Well, that pretty much takes care of everything. The things I hated about that car were power (and the final gear ratio for cruising on modern highways), AC, brakes, and headlights. Otherwise it's pretty darn fantastic.

Won't go, won't stop, can't see is not a great combo.

 

[TexRex]

(and the final gear ratio for cruising on modern highways)

Easy peasy. A "freeway flyer" gear replaces the factory .89:1 4th with a .82:1 ratio, bringing 65 to 70 at the same RPM.

Of course you can go absolutely bonkers with your gearing for a bit more money, swapping the standard 4.12 ring and pinion for 3.88 (which actually offers less benefit than the freeway flyer, but imagine combining the two) or even a 3.44.

Then there's the Berg 5-speed conversion that uses the existing transaxle case, but they're rather spendy and more oriented toward performance with no change in top gear RPM (unless you utilize the changes mentioned above), instead offering a sweet launch gear and shorter rev drops when shifting.

 

[Pete05]

You got me! I actually don't know what engine I'd use. Type 4 seems like the best of the options you presented. I think the really hard thing would be to get AC in the car.... wow, apparently not! There is a pretty slick kit for that.

Well, that pretty much takes care of everything. The things I hated about that car were power (and the final gear ratio for cruising on modern highways), AC, brakes, and headlights. Otherwise it's pretty darn fantastic.

Won't go, won't stop, can't see is not a great combo.

Get nuts & shove a WRX driveline under the Bug

 

[Volksauto]

I think the really hard thing would be to get AC in the car.... wow, apparently not! There is a pretty slick kit for that.

Or you can find a car / engine that came with factory AC. Air conditioning was a pretty uncommon option for air cooled Volkswagens. They were more common on Type 3s, 4s, and Karmann Ghias but are really rare on Type 1s.

 

[20832]

'57 Bel Air in Black. Conversion to modern suspension and disk brakes all around. LT1 engine with some bolt-ons, most likely with the 8-speed auto. Keeping it simple, while still retaining the old-school and beautiful lines of (for me) one of the most iconic and most beautiful american cars and making it a daily driver, still capable to have some fun on the back roads. And to round up the design, probably some AMR Torq Thurst rims.

 

[Volksauto]

while still retaining the old-school and beautiful lines of (for me) one of the most iconic and most beautiful american cars

You're not alone.

 

[05XR8]

I'd donate my EK1 to see a mid-engine conversion to NSX-R running gear. Like a Clio V6 version. Stock power. Everything NSX-R, for a factory clean look. Championship white w/NSX-R wheels. Just to see how it would go.

 

[Joey D]

I'd donate my EK1 to see a mid-engine conversion to NSX-R running gear. Like a Clio V6 version. Stock power. Everything NSX-R, for a factory clean look. Championship white w/NSX-R wheels. Just to see how it would go.

I wonder if that would fit? Even just taking the B16B out of a Type R and putting in the back of a Civic would be pretty cool though.

 

[Pigpin13]

I would restomod a Mustang 2. By far the ugliest Mustang ever made. I would go with a modern coyote, and some subtle 18" wheels. Matte black paint and make the stance wider.

 

[TexRex]

I wonder if that would fit?

I'm not up on my Hondas, but I'm thinking the transmission may be the wild card here. The engine itself ought to be comparable in length to the outgoing DOHC 4-pot, if not shorter.

Opposing cylinder rods in the V6 get their own crank journals, making the cylinder head stagger more considerable than if they're shared, so you're probably looking at an engine that occupies similar space laterally.

So if there's considerable difference in length between the NSX transmission and the Civic's, there may be an issue with getting enough tire in the rear to account for chassis rotation...but remember that the rear wheels don't need to steer and you can get away with the tires being closer to the bits between them.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I'm not up on my Hondas, but I'm thinking the transmission may be the wild card here. The engine itself ought to be comparable in length to the outgoing DOHC 4-pot, if not shorter.

Opposing cylinder rods in the V6 get their own crank journals, making the cylinder head stagger more considerable than if they're shared, so you're probably looking at an engine that occupies similar space laterally.

So if there's considerable difference in length between the NSX transmission and the Civic's, there may be an issue with getting enough tire in the rear to account for chassis rotation...but remember that the rear wheels don't need to steer and you can get away with the tires being closer to the bits between them.

J swap (Accord V6) Civics are relatively common, though I haven't seen an MR example. I have seen an MR Del Sol, which is pretty awesome, but it was a 4 cylinder IIRC. I'd imagine an NSX engine would fit just fine in the back of a Civic.

 

[TexRex]

J swap (Accord V6) Civics are relatively common, though I haven't seen an MR example. I have seen an MR Del Sol, which is pretty awesome, but it was a 4 cylinder IIRC. I'd imagine an NSX engine would fit just fine in the back of a Civic.

I think it's probably one thing for it to fit and another to have enough rubber to make such a venture worthwhile and not have the car try to spin any time you lift off the gas while subjected to any lateral forces.

 

[-Fred-]

I wonder if that would fit? Even just taking the B16B out of a Type R and putting in the back of a Civic would be pretty cool though.

 

[Dennisch]

J swap (Accord V6) Civics are relatively common, though I haven't seen an MR example. I have seen an MR Del Sol, which is pretty awesome, but it was a 4 cylinder IIRC. I'd imagine an NSX engine would fit just fine in the back of a Civic.

Good stuff. Tree'd with the same Integra.

 

[Joey D]

 

[TexRex]

Sure, sure. Counterpoint...

factory clean look