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Author Topic: Backbone chassis under a capri shell  (Read 3167 times)

Snigalfriz

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    • 1991 NA Capri
Backbone chassis under a capri shell
« on: June 30, 2017, 12:11:59 PM »

Hey folks,

Anyone ever think of putting a "backbone" chassis under the shell of a capri?
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Why? I have more time than money, that's why I work on this car!

1991 Mercury Capri 5-sp
1992 Mercury Capri 5-sp swap
1999 Ford Contour SE 24v v6
2003 Lincoln LS
2007 Saturn Outlook XE AWD
2014 Chevy Cruze LT

Snigalfriz

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    • 1991 NA Capri
Re: Backbone chassis under a capri shell
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2017, 02:57:53 PM »

Or a tube chassis.
Logged
Why? I have more time than money, that's why I work on this car!

1991 Mercury Capri 5-sp
1992 Mercury Capri 5-sp swap
1999 Ford Contour SE 24v v6
2003 Lincoln LS
2007 Saturn Outlook XE AWD
2014 Chevy Cruze LT

SHOwn

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  • Posts: 287
    • 91 XR2
Re: Backbone chassis under a capri shell
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2017, 06:33:06 PM »

Sorry, if I'm going that far I'd use a Miata or Rx7. The Capri as a whole doesn't seem to me to be that good of a car to go nuts with. I think the beauty of it is that it's cheap, a hardtop convertible, and you can generate decent speed with inexpensive turbo upgrades. I think the body is no better than paper mache and if I was looking to build a handling car, I'd look at what flynMiata offers. They have backbone kits for them.

My buddy built his own tube frame RX7 about ten years ago and won his class at SCCA finals. To me the beauty of Capris is their price point. Very nice ones can be had for under $3000, sometimes around $2000. Fantastic ones under $8000. I just looked at a 93 XR2 with 26k for $7999 on Hemmings site.

As far as building a serious racer, I can't imagine the upside. It isn't a platform for it and they ain't all that beautiful.
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R. Powell
'91 XR2, LM 16" Chrome Drifters, White Gauge Faces, Kuhmo 40's, Big Brake UG, 2.5" Mandrel Bent CATback, BMW318 Heated Seats, `94 console, '99 Dodge Neon Spoiler, '94 XR2 Sideskirts Bumpers and taillights, Fresh Basecoat-Clearcoat Cardinal Red (Jul2014), vj11/vj14 hybrid, manual boost CTL.

WashiestSnake

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    • 1991 Mercury Capri
Re: Backbone chassis under a capri shell
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2017, 09:11:31 PM »

Idk SHOwn I agree on the most part, I mean yea if you have the money and the time I say go for it, but otherwise I don't see much of a point. Even me with all my asperactions towards my car would never tube frame it, because all I want is a peppy little car to compete with cars like the Focus ST, and newer Mustangs. My only disagreement is on the look factor of the Capri personally your Capri, and the Clubsprint models are some of the best looking cars I've seen in awhile. I think the 94 bumpers really help out for sure.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2017, 11:56:44 PM by WashiestSnake »
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1991 Mercury Capri 68,xxx Miles--Project(AWD)
1996 Lincoln Continental -- The Boat(Given to my Brother)

SHOwn

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  • Posts: 287
    • 91 XR2
Re: Backbone chassis under a capri shell
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2017, 10:36:49 PM »

I hear ya, I love the 94 look, but it is still an overall strange body, rather strange in some ways. I had a difficult time finding some body lines when I was straightening it out (roughly 80 dings and pan dents).

I like the look of the later Miatas, but have always loved the Pontiac Solstus. I'd go for either of those but live in a snow belt and actually like fwd. I'll stick with the Capri, despite it being the most maintenance intensive car I've ever owned. I hope it gets better. It has never run as good as it does today.

Oh, and wheels - 5 spoke wheels make the 2nd most improvement in the looks department. Man most of the stock wheels look bad, especially the 91 XR2 wheels. But that's just my opinion.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2017, 10:39:39 PM by SHOwn »
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R. Powell
'91 XR2, LM 16" Chrome Drifters, White Gauge Faces, Kuhmo 40's, Big Brake UG, 2.5" Mandrel Bent CATback, BMW318 Heated Seats, `94 console, '99 Dodge Neon Spoiler, '94 XR2 Sideskirts Bumpers and taillights, Fresh Basecoat-Clearcoat Cardinal Red (Jul2014), vj11/vj14 hybrid, manual boost CTL.

Snigalfriz

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    • 1991 NA Capri
Re: Backbone chassis under a capri shell
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2017, 10:23:34 AM »

I just think it would be a cool project.  I like the capri looks.  I have 2 and have been drive one for ~5 years ( paid 500 for it) and the other for 3 years (paid 275 for it) so I am not deep into them financially.  It would allow for cool options to just try something different.

I get the points you both are making.

To me these cars lend themselves to trying unique stuff cause you can get them so cheap.
Logged
Why? I have more time than money, that's why I work on this car!

1991 Mercury Capri 5-sp
1992 Mercury Capri 5-sp swap
1999 Ford Contour SE 24v v6
2003 Lincoln LS
2007 Saturn Outlook XE AWD
2014 Chevy Cruze LT

Snigalfriz

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  • Posts: 211
    • 1991 NA Capri
Re: Backbone chassis under a capri shell
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2017, 10:27:01 AM »

Both of my cars have more cash in the wheels and stereo than the rest of the car.
Logged
Why? I have more time than money, that's why I work on this car!

1991 Mercury Capri 5-sp
1992 Mercury Capri 5-sp swap
1999 Ford Contour SE 24v v6
2003 Lincoln LS
2007 Saturn Outlook XE AWD
2014 Chevy Cruze LT