Ok, so we've got this Sidekick tintop parts car here at Lakeview Motor Sports.  We can't just let is set.  I've been toying with the idea of a Rally-Kick for a while.  Today the idea kept sounding better and better in my head.  So, after discussion with other LMS officials over a cup of Tim Hortons Mudd, the plans were laid for possibly the most outrageous Zuk ever.  This would open a whole new genre of Zuki's, since I've yet to see a Zuk geared toward rally use.  Here's where we're starting.  Said tintop body gets a Northstar out of a 92-93 Caddy donor car.  That is then bolted to the tranny and all wheel drive system from a Chevy Astro.  The suspension would be lifted for ground clearance and fitting of tires, a wider series AT tire on possibly XL-7 wheels to accent its zuk heritage, BUT the body would be channeled down for better stability.  Inside would merely be a plastic racing bucket and a tach, with the hatch, doors and windows removed and replaced with aluminum half doors, and netting for the windows and hatch to cut weight.  A later addition could be a blower for said Northstar pushing it from 300+ hp to 400+ hp, still revving |removethispart|@7000.  But that's some real $$$ there!

What do you think? Zukiworld input is needed .  Also, where would I run something like this? I'd take it to the track with some street tires, but the original concept was to represent LMS and the Zuk community at a rally.  What rally would let me in with that machine?

Ok, so we've got this Sidekick tintop parts car here at Lakeview Motor Sports.  We can't just let is set.  I've been toying with the idea of a Rally-Kick for a while.  Today the idea kept sounding better and better in my head.  So, after discussion with other LMS officials over a cup of Tim Hortons Mudd, the plans were laid for possibly the most outrageous Zuk ever.  This would open a whole new genre of Zuki's, since I've yet to see a Zuk geared toward rally use.  Here's where we're starting.  Said tintop body gets a Northstar out of a 92-93 Caddy donor car.  That is then bolted to the tranny and all wheel drive system from a Chevy Astro.  The suspension would be lifted for ground clearance and fitting of tires, a wider series AT tire on possibly XL-7 wheels to accent its zuk heritage, BUT the body would be channeled down for better stability.  Inside would merely be a plastic racing bucket and a tach, with the hatch, doors and windows removed and replaced with aluminum half doors, and netting for the windows and hatch to cut weight.  A later addition could be a blower for said Northstar pushing it from 300+ hp to 400+ hp, still revving |removethispart|@7000.  But that's some real $$$ there!

What do you think? Zukiworld input is needed .  Also, where would I run something like this? I'd take it to the track with some street tires, but the original concept was to represent LMS and the Zuk community at a rally.  What rally would let me in with that machine?

First, do more research on the Northstar powerplant. The modern Northstar engine has known issues with high reving over long periods of time. Overheating and broken parts seem to be the issue. Dune runners and Baja competition vehicles/people could be a good resource for information.

Second, do you have a sanctioning body ie. SCCA club in your area that does rallys? If you're looking to compete, you'l want to get their latest rulebook and look up what class you want to build your car to.

-Good Luck, Eric

didn't even think of that but now that you mention it there are about 8-12 scca races here each summer I went to a few of them last year and the rules are mostly saftey ruled.





  We all work for a multiple gm frachised dealership and have done loads of research on said northstar please ignore lawdogs 7000rpm quote . From what I herd if you keep up on the oiling system(known for lots of leaks) and cooling system you can beat those mills all day long .  















     this concept is still a long way out. were currently starting work on our demo derby cars for the local county fair aug 22nd( ;Dwhere we will take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and except nothing less make it hert!!! ). and we still need to make a front bumper for lawdogs sammi for his new winch. theres also talk of the real red wagon gettin' some 33s

Eric, the 7000 R's was an exaggeration, like "i was going like a million miles and hour" or somthing like that.  Integral parts would be closely monitored, tested, and maintained before the Caddy powerplant was really abused.  But thanks for the SCCA tip.  This project is still in it's larval stages but, income depending, should be close to reality in a year or so.  More input will be appreciated and updates to follow.  Let me know what you think, Zukiworld!

Wouldn't it be cheaper/easier to just use the entire drivetrain from the Astro? 4.3 vortec and all? Don't vortec's have quite a bit of modifiability to begin with? It'd be plenty powerful in a 2500lb vehicle, I think. :-/

Wouldn't it be cheaper/easier to just use the entire drivetrain from the Astro? 4.3 vortec and all? Don't vortec's have quite a bit of modifiability to begin with? It'd be plenty powerful in a 2500lb vehicle, I think. :-/

I think they would have to build the hell out of an Astro 4.3 V-6 to come close to hanging with the Rally cars. You need alot of HP to keep all 4 spinning hard drifting the curves and accelerating through the streights.
Zig

LawDog,
Any certin reason for choosing the Northstar (size, weight, HP)? Or was there just one hanging around waiting to be used and abused
Zig

Eric, the 7000 R's was an exaggeration, like "i was going like a million miles and hour" or somthing like that.  
!

Yeah, I know... The reason I mentioned it is that I have had conversations with people about and have seen the Northstar overheat and blow steam under mild room-a-zoom-zooming. So, who knows?

As a side note, the Suzuki 2.7 V6 is a mighty good platform. This is the same basic engine that Tajima has hopped up for his hill climbers. Numbers like 995HP and 209 LB/ft of torque sound pretty good... In fact, I think he is the record holder of the highest trap speed at Pike's Peak... and he's WHOOPED 'em two years in a row at Queenstown in the Silverstone Race To The Sky.

Good Luck, Eric

I chose the Northstar mostly because of weight.  In weight to power ratio's the 4.3 is a boat anchor in comparison.  Plus I've already seen the benefits of a aluminum, power producing Northstar in a smaller vehicle(VW Golf)...Plus a Northstar is about 100x cooler on top of the afore mentioned practicality

the rally cars only run something like 450hp with a turbo dont they?? they also run no blow off valve  

Ahh LawDog, I see you have seen the light.  Your gonna ditch that solid axle Sami in favor of an IFS Sidekick!  I don't know why more people don't believe in IFS.  I used to have a Sami, and then I saw my buddies Trackick tearing it up.  Bonus, way better daily driver.

Bonus, way better daily driver.

Nuh uh! I made my Tracker a much worse daily driver vehicle than a stock, solid-axle Samurai ever could be

IFS, I'm highly suspicious that you are real_red_wagon using a penname. He's all about the IFS.  No, I'LL NEVER DITCH MY SAMMI.  SFA is my thing, I'm an old school guy, a Zuk purist if you will.  But each setup has it's advantages.  It'll take a ton more work to get your IFS rides as high as my Sammi.  Just two nights ago the real red wagon had to stay home because our normal access to LMS's regular muddin grounds was blocked and we had to go over a downed tree on a different trail to get in.  But i'm not knockin' his (or anyone else's) Trackick.  We're all Zuks.  I love my Sammi, he loves his Tracker.  He's a little more comfortable and roomier in his rig, and claims better articulation.  But I digress...the more zuks we have around the better, whatever type.

Oh, and you wanna see tearin' it up, come see me, real red wagon, and real red Sammi in action.  Tracker or Sammi, LMS makes it HERT!

oh,IFS, i checked your profile and you're from Buffalo too huh?  Are you sure your not Real_Red_Wagon in disguise.

IFS is got nothing on me!!!