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Post by aquaticharpy on Oct 21, 2019 8:10:22 GMT -5
Hi. I was wondering what frames the Bradley GT2 could sit on with modification. What do you guys think? Pontiac Fiero? Toyota MR2? What else?
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Post by jspbtown on Oct 21, 2019 10:14:42 GMT -5
Here is what you want to hear: Putting a Bradley GT body on another car is easy.
Here is the fact: While anything is possible if you have the right tools, the right knowledge, and a large amount of cash you no longer have a need for, the fact is that there is really nothing you can put a Bradley body on. Most cars are unibody and you can't cut them all up and put a fiberglass body on the remaining parts and expect it not to fold up.
If you really have a need to make your Bradley body into something its not then you will need to consider a custom chassis (http://www.kitcarchassis.com). Now you will sink in WAY much more money than the thing will ever be worth so make sure it is totally discretionary income.
Or...get a cheap VW pan. Rebuild it and improve it a little, and put in a healthy VW motor and use the car for what it was designed to be....an exotic looking car for relatively cheap money
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Post by Gary Hammond on Oct 21, 2019 11:00:44 GMT -5
Hi Aquaticharpy,  Hi. I was wondering what frames the Bradley GT2 could sit on with modification. What do you guys think? Pontiac Fiero? Toyota MR2? What else? Pay attention to what Jeff (jspbtown) is telling you. He has lots of experience building kit cars and knows what he's talking about. There was a member here known as Skip20 who had a lot of experience fabricating a large variety of vehicles who passed away recently. He started a project putting a Subaru engine in a highly modified Toyota Supra frame as a mid engine car with a modified Bradley GTII body. He never got it finished before he passed away. Here's a link to his old web page that shows this as well as some of his other work. linkGary Hammond,   |
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r3fab
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Post by r3fab on Dec 5, 2019 0:03:12 GMT -5
"what frames the Bradley GT2 could sit on with modification"
Almost any if you have the skill and dollars, some will fit easier than others.
Fiero track is about six inches too wide, but that is what fender flares or clever 'Glass modifications are for.
The II would be harder to modify than the original Bradley as the body lines are more complex.
Do not forget the II windshield issue.
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Post by jspbtown on Dec 7, 2019 9:46:25 GMT -5
The Fiero uses a space frame and you better have an engineering degree from a great school before you start hacking into it.
Plus that doesn't even for a moment take into consideration of a cooling system. A Fiero cooling system will not fit nor work.
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r3fab
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Post by r3fab on Dec 9, 2019 14:21:25 GMT -5
It's not the difficulty that is most likely to be an issue, you can learn new skills, it's time and money.
Forget using an existing frame, plane to make your own, the Fiero sub-frames may work at each end of custom rails.
Radiator can be moved, perhaps twin side-pod mounted?
I just got a free '88 four cylinder five speed Fiero to experiment with.
Now need to grab that $300 GT that's sitting down the street.
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Post by jspbtown on Dec 9, 2019 23:07:36 GMT -5
No.....it is the difficulty.
Front and rear Fiero subframes use McPherson struts. You are going to have to do a TON of fabrication to make them work. And a suspension re-design.
No room for twin side mounted radiators. Nor is there any airflow.
Don't forget you will have to relocate the rear mounted fuel tank to where exactly?
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r3fab
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Post by r3fab on Jan 23, 2020 1:18:49 GMT -5
There have been several companies who made "Bug" chassis from scratch to accommodate many needs, genuinely stiff space-frame chassis design and even V8's
A custom chassis is not that difficult.
Struts have been converted to an upper ball-joint MANY times.
As to the OP's question and my current research.
A Geo Metro has a 54" track, so if there is enough space forward of the wheels you might be able to do a mid-engine conversion.
1.3 Geo engine has about twice the HP of a stock VW and they are CHEAP to buy.
Alternately, KEP sells an adapter to put the Geo engine on the VW trans.
That is my plan, with a 1.0 3-Cyl., for a more peppy engine that gets better mileage than a VW and is good for 150K miles.
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 24, 2020 9:56:59 GMT -5
"There have been several companies who made "Bug" chassis from scratch to accommodate many needs, genuinely stiff space-frame chassis design and even V8's".....Agreed. I mentioned that in a previous post.
"A custom chassis is not that difficult.".....OK. Would love to see one you have made.
"Struts have been converted to an upper ball-joint MANY times."....Which fit under a Bradley body? Would love to see some pics of that Fiero conversion....front and back of course
A Geo Metro is a unibody. Are you suggesting pulling off drivetrain components for a custom frame?
Or if you decide to swap a Metro 3 cyl into a VW pan and transmission have you determined where the radiator)s) will go? Fuel tank (fuel injection on the Metro right?). Is it dimensionally similar to a VW engine?
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r3fab
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Post by r3fab on Jan 24, 2020 23:11:17 GMT -5
Yes I am currently building a custom tube chassis, Alfa Romeo engine, trans, and suspension.
Dry-sump, Webers, headers, fiberglass body.
Not just another Cobra wanna-be, a genuine sports car that will require some skill to drive fast rather than just mashing the pedal at each strait line
Not my first chassis, actually I am about to begin producing them.
Metro engine is actually smaller than the VW, and around a hundred pounds lighter.
Front to mid-engine conversions are pretty common, actually how the Fiero originated.
Metro drivetrain mounting is pretty simple despite not having a dedicated "Cradle".
2x the front and you get disc brakes at both ends.
Simpler yet is that KEP makes a VW trans adapter for 1.0 and 1.3, #1400
Several post on varied forums to convert struts to upper arm and ball joint.
Does require adding a shock absorber. Can be done in a cantilever system.
Hoping a pending significant $ale goes through soon, if it does the Bradley will happen this summer.
Looking at using the 1.0 three-cylinder with a hot cam and bike carbs.
Will probably only get about 35 MPG in that configuration and the added drag of the wider Bradley tires.
Engine is so small the radiator may be fitted to the rear if necessary, but I expect a front mount.
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 25, 2020 21:04:46 GMT -5
Sounds interesting. What's the overall height of those Metro motors?
Would love to see those links you referenced on converting upper strut mounts to a arm conversions….especially any that take that front end of the Bradley into consideration.
Front mount rad? Have you looked at the front of a Bradley room wise? You might want to. Will the stock metro water pump handle such a duty? Or will you have to have some sort of electrical pump to assist?
And you should post some pics here of the car you are fabricating. We all love to see custom work being done.
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r3fab
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Post by r3fab on Feb 1, 2020 1:04:17 GMT -5
"Check is in the mail" on my sale.
Once it's in my hand I will grab the GT.
Cannot be my immediate project as I have others that must take precedence.
Now researching fabricating the doors as I will need to be able to drive it in winter.
Will probably do a 'Glass lower section and Poly upper for simplicity.
Looked at the GT just a couple of days ago, Geo radiator is also tiny.
Can probably just mount it to the rear.
Need to measure the Geo engine, but it's certainly shorter in height than a VW "Dog-house".
Will want a heater and defrost, so rad up front may be an advantage.
Great thing about 'Glass, easy to modify.
Best forum for strut conversion details is probably Locost UK.
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