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LS7 Pontiac Solstice

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Old 06-08-2006, 10:20 PM
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Talking LS7 Pontiac Solstice

Hot Rod mag built an LS7 powered Pontiac Solstice...weeee!!

http://www.hotrod.com/projectbuild/h..._engine_build/

here's a pickature:



2800lbs + Ls7 =

(I searched, nothing turned up, my apologies to the tsoper popo)
Old 06-08-2006, 10:27 PM
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mine's better
 
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dang... hard to say how it'll perform, but it'd be interesting to hear what mallett has to say about it.
Old 06-08-2006, 10:36 PM
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Looks like the engine tucks in behind the front axle nicely.
Old 06-08-2006, 11:16 PM
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I bet that thing is uncontrollably fast. I hope they have some bitchin' brakes on it.
Old 06-08-2006, 11:29 PM
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More importantly, I hope they can get it to hook up.
Old 06-08-2006, 11:33 PM
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Final Assembly
Old 06-09-2006, 04:52 AM
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The stock front looks nasty
Old 06-09-2006, 08:03 AM
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Has anyone made a AWD system for the LS2, LS7, or heck LS4?

In a car that is so light with so much HP, AWD might really help it get the grip it needs. But then again, if they can build a 650HP RWD (rear engine...might make the difference???) McLaren F1 grip comming in at less than 2800 pounds why can't they do it for this LS7 Solstice?
Old 06-09-2006, 08:35 AM
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it would appear that the brakes in the rear are bigger than those up front...
Old 06-09-2006, 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by zaglo6204
it would appear that the brakes in the rear are bigger than those up front...
I think you're right, might have to check out the article(s) to get the scoop, they mention it somewhere. I wonder if a Denali (or similar) drivetrain would work with an LS7 etc., they have V8s in them from the factory. Probably be heavy as all hell, but if it would give the extra grip that would be awesome
Old 06-09-2006, 11:25 AM
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I would rather have seen it in the Saturn Sky. Same basic car but looks so much nicer.
Old 06-09-2006, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by FROM PAGE 4
Our target weight is just under 3,000 pounds, which will be difficult to achieve since the V-8 powertrain adds about 800 pounds.
Um yeah. You think? Lets see here:

2800 (starting) + 800 (powertrain only) = 3000 (target) + 600 (over goal)

I'm not sure how they plan to loose 600lbs. Then again, it should be mighty quick without that... so who cares I guess?

Though, I think I'd rather have a miata with a renesis in it...
Old 06-09-2006, 01:24 PM
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Part of your question was found in a picture caption:

To reduce the overall weight of the car and add to the cool factor, Specter Works in Troy, Michigan, (248/583-9559) built some carbon-fiber panels for the HOT ROD Solstice. Here the carbon hood is being laid up in a mold created from the stock hood. Both the carbon hood and decklid retain the stock mounting locations to simplify installation and usage.
And then this...

Now a word about that body; the stock Solstice is plenty sexy, so visually there really weren't any major changes to the basic shape or size. But our number-one goal was brutal speed, which meant that anywhere we could shave weight, we would. The drivetrain swap, rollcage, and other stuff we did to the car added about 700 pounds to it, so we went looking for ways to take weight out in other areas. That led to the decision to go all out and create a complete carbon-fiber body, and while we were at it, we did custom front and rear fasciae to give it a more aggressive appearance. The rear view turned out especially spectacular!
Old 06-09-2006, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
Has anyone made a AWD system for the LS2, LS7, or heck LS4?

In a car that is so light with so much HP, AWD might really help it get the grip it needs. But then again, if they can build a 650HP RWD (rear engine...might make the difference???) McLaren F1 grip comming in at less than 2800 pounds why can't they do it for this LS7 Solstice?
The McLaren F1 is nothing special in the handling department...
Old 06-10-2006, 01:13 PM
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Old 06-10-2006, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by rotarygod
I would rather have seen it in the Saturn Sky. Same basic car but looks so much nicer.
ask an yee shal receive
http://www.mallettcars.com/sky-conversion.htm
Old 06-10-2006, 11:46 PM
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yea... it would be much nicer.

but... nevertheless... i'd like to see how it'll perform.
Old 06-14-2006, 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by snizzle
Part of your question was found in a picture caption:



And then this...

Yeah, I read that but didn't think it would make that much of a difference. Consider me better educated. (though educated in general may be a stretch...)
Old 06-14-2006, 11:46 AM
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I seen and followed this article... omg.. I loved it. GM was helping them the entire time and if I read correctly where thinking of making this a package of some sort. No I dont mean you can order this car from the dealer but possibly through parts numbers via the service dept. Akin to ordering a Mustang racecar yanno.

Be interesting though if a Import mag decided to do a engine swap of a Rotary into say a Mazda 3 or 6. I know it wouldnt be the same but if you looked at all the modifications of the Solstice they pretty much left nothing untouched. Turn a 3 into a mini rx-8 with the weight balance and handling.. doubtful but be a interesting experiment. Why I read HotRod at times they had odd combo's of engine swaps, A Mustang with a Chevy V8 for starters.
Old 06-14-2006, 12:28 PM
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^ I'd have to agree there, on another note:
I know a lot of folks were like "mallet already did it" and blah blah blah. but Mallett didn't do the work the HR mag guys did, there's no full cage in the mallett cars, pretty sure the body panels aren't real carbon fiber etc. I wouldn't have even posted it if it was just another swap. I'd love to see someone plop a 13b or a Renesis into the new Miata, seems like it would be the perfect car for it
Old 06-14-2006, 10:35 PM
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Mallet cars has a full warranty and options for more power (supercharger). You don't need a roll cage (which is ugly by the way) on a street car. Racecar or if you want to track it a lot... yeah, but otherwise...
Old 06-14-2006, 10:59 PM
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Not only that, but the LS2 is a lot different than an LS7.
Old 06-15-2006, 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Japan8
Mallet cars has a full warranty and options for more power (supercharger). You don't need a roll cage (which is ugly by the way) on a street car. Racecar or if you want to track it a lot... yeah, but otherwise...
true I guess, I did notice a 4 point and an 8 point is available in one of the Mallett "option pacakges". (oh to have enough money to shop an "option package" on a Mallett lol) Cage or not either their's or Hotrod's would be a blast to drive, I think the HR one was more purpose built however (somewhere in the article they harp on how they wanted to build it to run it hard at the track etc.) which probably explains the exotic materials and such.
Old 06-15-2006, 12:32 AM
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06 MX5 vs Solstice video
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=107290
Old 06-15-2006, 01:56 AM
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Originally Posted by canaryrx8
true I guess, I did notice a 4 point and an 8 point is available in one of the Mallett "option pacakges". (oh to have enough money to shop an "option package" on a Mallett lol) Cage or not either their's or Hotrod's would be a blast to drive, I think the HR one was more purpose built however (somewhere in the article they harp on how they wanted to build it to run it hard at the track etc.) which probably explains the exotic materials and such.

Agreed. The HR one does sound to be more purpose built, whereas the Mallet is more of a speciality production car. I'd be more than happy to have either one... talk about a blast to drive.... on the street, drag or track...

BTW... the mallet car is setup with 50/50 weight distro.


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