The AMS Unlimited AWD TA EVO X build! -

[Rich@AMS]

I figured I would hop on here and share with you guys the build progres of our Time Attack EVO X which we'll be campaigning in the Unlimited AWD class this year under NOS Energy Drink colors.


Here are some pics of the car's debut from the SLB finals where the car was debuted in the street class:













































Here is what the car looked like 2 weeks after the event, stripped and ready for acid dipping

[Rich@AMS]

Dec 22 2008


This is how the chassis left to get dipped....


after acid dipping




Ivan working on removing some of the unnecessary brackets from the chassis.




One down...plenty more to go!



Ivan and Shane have been doing an AMAZING job at shaving the weight off the car!

[Rich@AMS]

Jan 8 2009

Originally Posted by Ivan@AMS

With the help of Shane and Shaun, we have been able to get quite a bit of weight off the chassis. The running total of weight removed is 153 pounds in the boxes and ? pounds in the vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, some of that weight is going to go back in (trunk floor, rear seat area floor and lower core support) but it will "net" a loss in weight.

Justin has been working on getting the cage in the car. Planning and fabricating the cage is not going as quickly as we had wanted. We are trying very hard to keep the cage to a minimum while maximizing driver protection and chassis rigidity. We are being very creative with the cage as you will soon see. Keep in mind that we need to incorporate a support for the steering column, mounts for the seat, a mount for the pedal box, and mounts for the fuel cell into the cage structure. We have had several changes in our design that have been taking up a lot of Justin's time but will be worth it in the end.

Justin and I modified the subframes to help correct suspension geometry that is changed with a lowered stance. These both came out very nice. I had to reinstall the rear suspension and make some modifications to the frame rails to get full suspension travel. I am pretty happy with the end result. A 295-35-18 tire will now tuck all the way up till the top of the wheel is even with the top of the wheel well.

I spent a bit of time trying to decide what to do with the rear doors. Doing the normal "gut and cut" is just not going to work for this car. I wanted to do pin on rear doors but I just couldn't find a good way to modify the stock rears that was tasteful. We ended up ordering new rear door skins from Mitsu and I already have one pinned in place. I am pretty pleased with the looks. The door skins are 8 lbs each so this will be a significant weight savings. I wish we could do the same for the front doors....

Thank you

Ivan
-special projects technician-

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The TA-X chassis just chilling on the lift in the fab area...



A little interdepartmental meeting...



Progress of the roll cage build...



Modified rear subframe



Rear suspension mock up...



Ivan and Shaun mocking up the rear door





Justin welds on the tabs that hold the door skin in place







Shaun prepping the chassis for the roll cage



More progress of the roll cage, the seat is jut there for mock up purposes an will actually by mounted way back, behind the b pillar.



Justin working away on the cage.



Rear door with lexan window





bolts securing the door skin to the body






Door skin attachment points

[Rich@AMS]

Jan 22 2009

Here are some updates of the most recent progress on the build. Ivan, Justin, Shaun and the 2 Shanes we have here have been kicking some serious butt on the project and I can't wait till the project is finished!

Now for the pics


Ivan gutting the front door


Progress on the roll cage


Ivan the surgeon


The front door on the car




More progress on the cage


The driver seat mocked up in the car




Swiss cheese FTW!




Ivan and Shaun re-installign the front subframe to check for clearances.


Stitch welding on the chassis


Body panels making their way back to the car for clearance purposes




Ivan working on the front release handle




More Stitch welding...




The finished door release/handle

[Rich@AMS]

Here is the latest progress as of 24hrs ago:



To help us pack more rubber Ivan and the team decided to make a wide body kit for the TA-X


Ivan reworking the factory fender


Tony welds in the fender extension part


and Shane works his magic to make it flow better


A rough rendition of the front fender


another angle! Kudos for Ivan, Shane and tony for the AWESOME work! Its their 1st attempt at body work!!!!


Justin fits in the collapsible steering column and the pedal box


looking good


Another angle of the column and the mounted driver's seat


Ivan begins work on the rear over fender


Matt welding in the strut mount supports


Engine bay - ready for the dummy engine




More cage work..


Matt welding away on the chassis




More progress on the cage work and chassis strengthening


Matt fills in unneeded openings in the firewall


AP Air jacks mounted to the cage/chassis


Little bit more progress on the cage work


Ivan and Justin having a little morning meeting, notice the fuel call mounted in the back of the car


Everything is coming along quite nicely! Cage is almost done!


A side shot of the cage and the driver seat position


Front strut mount support


Ivan mocking up the dashboard out of cardboard


a few hours later




Ivan prepping the dashboard panels ....




for the sweet alligator and ostrich cover!




Just daydreaming in the driver's seat!


Another angle of the dash in the car!

[GTsolutions]

looks awesome!

[M.Bonanni]

Love this build. Been following it on EvoM.

[gstmike]

Wow that looks badass! Can't wait to see it on track!

Mike

[ZZW30]

Wow! Look how far back that seating position is! What a radical build. I like the new fender work quite a bit.

[balang_479]

Insane.