Got Colors?

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

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?

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


Gateshifter

Steering progress

Quick release hub installed


Rack & pinion


Tie rod


Drivers view

Quick release ...

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

Vertigate Shifter

...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

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

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

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

Front suspension...

... 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

How it looks right now


How it should look in the end

Materials used ...

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

Shifter

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,

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 , ...

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

New chassis pix