Build your own vehicle?

[CharBaby]

I've often wondered! Gee, if I could build my own vehicle for a daily driver(DD) what engine, tranny and all of the most important thing to me, what would I build? Which companys engine...Diesel, gasoline, Hybrid? How about the tranny...Auto, manual, CVT? If 4wd or AWD, whos diff and TC? How about body structure? The electrical system? Interior features and materials? How about options? For example, ask youself: I'd like a front/rear/awd wheel drive, 4cyl/V6/V8, auto/manual/CVT tranny with cloth/leather seats and what options but, I want an engine that got ??? mpg city and over ??? hiwy. There are certain items that I want for function and others that I'd like only for looks(e.g. 17" wheels min). How many doors and will seat how many people? I'd like the body structure of an Audi with the engine of a Toyota, the electrical system of a Honda and the tranny of a Buick and the quiet of a Caddy...I am only throwing some names out there as this isn't the exact combo that I'd actually pick but, you get my point! Who has the best paint work and rust protection? The most reliable wheel bearings? Engine gaskets? 4WD/AWD system? Best TC? Brake system? Engine/Tranny? Keep all of these thing and more in mind while building your perfect vehicle...What would you build? IMdHO, the perfect vehicles are mini-vans but, that's just me! This is just for fun! Anything really. Even a home build with a crate motor/tranny for an old PU truck chassis from Texas, front end from California and doors from South Carolina??? What would you want to drive(only 1 vehicle) every day?

 

[Cujet]

I've done it, many times! I worked for companies who produced these cars for "clients". There is much R+D required to get the little things right. Chassis dynamics become a time consuming situation. But, it's a great though exercise because you can pick certain products you really prefer. The LS3 Chevy engine for example, is one I would avoid. Not because they make plenty of power, are lightweight, compact and reliable, but because they are nowhere near as refined as the new Ford 5.0. Same goes for transmissions. There are many that are "tough enough" but few that are actually fun to shift. After driving a Carbon Fiber Enzo, I have to say that the CF chassis is not a great thing. Noisy, horrible cracking sounds over severe bumps, harsh. Believe it or not, I prefer a steel unibody. If I were to build a car, the Factory Five Racing "GTM Supercar" would be on my list. However, I'd probably not install a Chevy small block, regardless of how "easy" and powerful it is. Today, there are much smoother, higher HP/cu-in engines that reliably rev to 8000RPM without thrashing the driver. I used to build these, by myself: This is what I would build, given the choice:

 

[CharBaby]

WOW! You are the first to reply and have already exceeded my expectations with what I thought would be forth coming.

 

[Nick R]

Honestly I'd probably take my Cruze, and slap the 3.0L HFV6 and 6T70 transmission in it. Maybe soften the suspension a little for comfort. I'm not very creative with this kinda stuff.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I took a nice kit car, an austin healey 3000 replica, and started from there. Built a super sweet all aluminum small block stroker Chevy, 419 cubic inches and 550 super tractable horsepower, linked up to a 6 speed from a Vette. All the rear end is Vette, the front is sourced from old Ford parts. Chassis and brake tuning has been my passion in this car as I hope to get it to stop and turn as well as it goes!

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

I took a nice kit car, an austin healey 3000 replica, and started from there. Built a super sweet all aluminum small block stroker Chevy, 419 cubic inches and 550 super tractable horsepower, linked up to a 6 speed from a Vette. All the rear end is Vette, the front is sourced from old Ford parts. Chassis and brake tuning has been my passion in this car as I hope to get it to stop and turn as well as it goes!

Must be almost as easy to make two as it is to make one? I'll take one in british racing green... Maybe a bit much for a DD though and not so good in snow... What would really be handy right now is some thing like a 2000 3 series wagon, just built by Ford or Toyota, not the germans... 3ish litre inline 6, manual trans with a good OD, rwd, double a-arms all round, and around 2800lbs would make a good DD for me and nice family trip vehicle.

 

[SteveSRT8]

That is one of its problems. Despite a ton of exhaust tuning to keep it very quiet it is still just a bit intense. This means an hour or two in the saddle is plenty.

 

[Cujet]

A long time ago, I purchased a Kawasaki KLR600 Dual sport motorcycle. It had a water cooled, 550CC single, with dual counterbalancers, 4 valve cylinder head and double overhead cams. Comfy, super smooth, 8000RPM, made plenty of power, was a joy to ride on 1000 mile trips. Good "off road" too. It's great, even by today's standards! The reason I bring this up... is that so many DIY projects are horribly unrefined, and therefore, fall far short of reasonable expectations for modern vehicles. Engine choice is very important. As is just about every aspect that affects NVH (noise, vibration, harshness). It's really the little things that make a vehicle "superb". People often want hot rods with plenty of power. Sure it's faster than the next guy, but you won't be driving it to work. Why? Because it's truly miserable to drive. It's my contention that the "daily driver" should be the "fun" car. That way, you get to enjoy it when the conditions are right, which is often when driven daily. The "KLR600" if you will. Does everything well, is comfortable, fast, competent, and willing. One engine that I like is the VW VR6. I'd consider a turbo's 500HP version of that engine for a DIY or "kit car". Very smooth and revvy. Compact, light weight. Adapts to a Porsche or Audi transaxle just fine.

 

[artificialist]

I want something that Looks like a Nissan R-34 GT-R, but uses a BMW twin turbo direct injection inline six. The turbos would be a few sizes larger, giving up low end, but pulling strong between 4000 to 8000 RPM. So far, I like the new AirWerks turbos from Borg Warner. The car would have true dual exhausts, unlike the Nissan it resembles. The car would have all wheel drive, I guess that can come from a BMW as well. Suspension would be Audi. The interior would not use one of those annoying menu-driven devices found in a BMW or Audi, but their interior pieces would. Brembo brakes would be at all corners.

 

[PandaBear]

Did that back in college as a student project, lots of fun but if I were to drive one every day I'd be very worried. There is something about mass produced quality controlled process, that no matter how bad you get you're still likely more reliable than your own custom design.