Mexxspeed

Got Colors?

2010-04-01T15:42:00.003+01:00

Yes the Mexxspeed Ghia paintjob is already done. After 250hrs hard work by ToxicTom and Mexx the finished result is just amazing. ToxicToms artworks and paintjobs are one of the best in whole Europe.

The finished product

Slideshow direct link

Time goes by

2010-03-31T14:03:00.011+01:00

Whilst kids, family and work keep me off writing news, my old friend Mexx put another 2500hours work in his Ghia Racer. The hell knows who gave him the energy to move forward on the project this fast. You may say other racers are built in one year. Thats right but they are built from shopped parts. This one is built from 100% Mexx parts. Still the maxim is “how to modify dam everything…” which was overruled the last years by “how to fabricate dam everything…”

Pictorial overview ( take your time, about 400pics)

Slideshow direct link

First rollout this summer? Hopefully there is a lot of work left.

If you want to read some comments from Mexx go to www.cedrag.com and scroll down the news to March 8th and 3rd. To contact Mexx use info@mexxspeed.com

Terminator's wishbone?

2008-03-14T13:34:00.003Z

Not at all, just Mexx's new Shifterhandle.
Note the neat releaselever adopted from Shimano.

Gateshifter

Steering progress

2008-03-14T13:11:00.003Z

Quick release hub installed

Rack & pinion

Tie rod

Drivers view

Quick release ...

2008-02-24T22:02:00.003Z

... steering wheel hub extension. Needles to say its lighter than lightweight.

Vertigate Shifter

2008-02-24T21:43:00.007Z

...mechanics are done. Shifter by itself will follow,
according to Mexx's quote “how to modify damn everything…”

1-2-3-4 sliding mechanism, red reverse lever...

...and a release lever for downshift

Transmission mods

2008-01-14T22:34:00.000Z

To make the Porsche 5-speed work in conjunction with a vertical gate shifter it was necessary to get rid of the original single shift rod. The mount was cut off and the topcover was modified to accept three indvidual rods with heim joints.

cut off shiftrod mount

modified topcover

trial fit

Pedal Box

2008-01-07T21:30:00.000Z

The more simple construction, the lighter it is. Yeah baby, this is a no-brainer, just three moving parts. A shaft where the clutch pedal is fixed to turns freely in three mounts. Brake and throttle pedals turn on the shaft. Easy to take apart.

Engine mount

2008-01-01T14:26:00.000Z

Engine/transmission mounts are finished. They look a little different to the first plan. Engineplate is about half an inch thick, front trans plate about quarter an inch. Both have straps welded on for stiffening. Transplate is screwed to tranny topcover, except for two bolts holding top cover to prevent oil spillage while disassembling.

engine plate

trans plate

trial fit

Building A-arms

2007-12-16T13:41:00.000Z

Front suspension...

2007-11-20T22:11:00.000Z

... is done. Its a Mcphersonstrut with a lower A-arm made from CromeMoly steel. Brakedisks are mounted directly to the wheels for weight reasons, titan nuts and bolts are used. Weight of knuckle, strut, caliper, disk and wheel less coilspring is about 6900grams (see pic) !!!

machined parts

before welding

joined

finished

caliper mount

disk mount

stopper

upper mount

complete assembly

6903grams

frontsuspension installed

Engine Plate

2007-11-12T21:37:00.000Z

How it looks right now

How it should look in the end

Materials used ...

2007-11-12T21:13:00.000Z

during build of the Karmann racer.

CromMoly tubing for chassis, suspension, ...
Aluminum for shocks, calipers, wheels, ...
Composites for roof, body panels, ...
Titanium, stainless for screws, ...

These come from austrian and american suppliers and when you are a lucky like Mexx you can buy titanium stocks at ebay for nuts :-).

titanium stocks

Pix summer 2007

2007-11-11T20:37:00.000Z

Frame is almost done, kevlar roof is done, suspension is missing.

Shifter

2007-10-13T19:51:00.000+01:00

Its a tiny little engine, to move fast forward, you have to shift. To do it fast and in sequence the decision comes down to the Liberty shifter www.libertysgears.com. To make the shifter work with the Porsche Transmission will be a project on its own.

Liberty shifter

Wanna have convenience,

2007-08-23T21:08:00.000+01:00

run sub 10s in comfort, then you have to build your own Kirkey seat.

...take some sheets of aluminum

...weld together

...make some cheeseholes

...done

...put into your car

...onemore for the fearless passengers

4 link , ...

2007-07-17T14:33:00.000+01:00

wheelhubs, diskhubs, calipermounts and QA1 shockmounts are done on the Karmann tube chassis racer.

New chassis pix

2007-07-17T14:30:00.000+01:00

Measurements...

2007-05-25T10:52:00.000+01:00

...were taken before the fibermolds are done. You can see the big hump for the rearslicks on top of the quarterpanel ? :-)

... maybe the tuberacer will look similar to this.

Ready again...

2007-05-25T10:33:00.000+01:00

...after the nitrous damage. Whats inside the Agent Orange 2595cm3 Type 1 engine ?

waterboxer case
100 barrels nikasil from Porsche 993 GT3
100 Mahle pistons from Porsche 993 GT2 Biturbo
custom Pauter roller cam
home built Competition Eliminator 51,5x41
kennedy clutch stage1 (228mm) Quatermaster disc
lightened 914 flywheel
52mm throttlebody EFI
MSD dizzy+MSD Digital6+Blaster HVC II

Weight is the enemy

2007-05-04T11:51:00.000+01:00

A quote from the most famous industrial designer Raymond Loewy . No one should forget when building a racecar. Lightened motorbike brakes for the tubechassis racer.

752g the bigger rear rotor
792g caliper with pads

Nitro afterglow

2007-05-03T14:00:00.001+01:00

Last post we have seen what nitro does inside. Now the spectatorside of view. Same car, same engine and some beautiful nitrobackfire.

Mexx

Nikasil vs Nos ...

2007-05-03T13:59:00.001+01:00

... and the winner is: NOS. Thanx to Mexx's engine research and developement we know now that Porsche piston and Nikasil cylinders cannot handle 200hp nitrous shots. Peakpressures smashes the ringlands down, blowby and disaster follows.

Mahle piston

Nikasil cylinder

The beauty takes ...

2007-05-03T13:58:00.001+01:00

...shape. No name yet for Mexx's chopped Karmann. Suggestions welcome!

CroMo tube heaven

Megasquirt

2007-05-03T13:55:00.000+01:00

The last time I visited my friend Mexx we did testdrive his Karmann Ghia with a new engine. Waterboxer block with widened borespacing, Nikasil-cylinders and pistons from Porsche 911, rollercam and the proven selfmachined heads with SBC Valves. A premiere was the Megasquirt DIY EFI which replaced the outdated GEO Storm EFI. The Megasquirt was really amazing and worked flawless over the rpm band. Still things for refinement are coldstart, coldidle at low temperatures, but its not easy to obtain smooth operation with a radical camshaft. For further info and purchase on Megasquirt go to MegaSquirt Electronic Fuel Injection Computer by Bowling & Grippo .

You wonder ...

2007-05-03T13:53:00.000+01:00

how a VW Type1 magnesium enginecase designed for 34hp can handle 400hp. It can frequently in Mexx's Agent Orange but not for ever. Sometimes it seperates by its own after 6 to 10 races for the sake of Mexx who is on edge to put a new better engine in.
Quote of the Q-mile: "Renewal & progress from destruction"

Mahle, Scat mix

Agent Orange

2007-05-03T13:42:00.000+01:00

My friend and long time dragace companion Mexx thinks about selling his awfully fast Karmann Ghia Convertible to be in favor of building a tube chassis Karmann. Featured in various magazines and articles this is obvisiously one of if not the fastest Type 1 engined Street Karmann Ghia Convertible in Europe. Top restored and modified with uncountable hours of machining and labor. Car runs high 13's with long streetgearing (150mph topspeed) and low 11's with slicks on nitrous. Car is built with lot of Porsche parts (5sp.tranny, drive axles, cooling), lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber parts, big brakes, datalogging and various uncountable details (i.e. carbon throttle blades). Engine is a fuelinjected 2.6litres Type1 with about 250hp naturally aspirated and about 400hp on nitrous. Asking prize is 30k € obo which reflects about 50% of investment. For further details mailto: info@mexxspeed.com

11s strike at airport

Start

2007-05-02T09:26:00.001+01:00

Test!