Project: Chevette Turbocharged Ecotec...

[twosaturns]

this thread has been revived at least twice now- check the posting dates guys!
the OP started it in oct '07, and last posted sept '09. almost a year now, no posts, no updates.
that's what you call a dead thread unfortunately.

[absintheisfun]

that's what you call a dead thread unfortunately.

so sad. I remember watching this one a long while back, and then again when it was revived...it was a helluva cool concept!

[XLexusTech]

Well either the car is sitting in his garage or someone else owns it... either way if their is a car their is hope ...!1

Glass half full my friends.!

[67camaro*z]

Was a great idea!

[PhillipM]

I hinted around to him on PM a year or so ago about buying the GXP motor from him. He wasn't iterested so I'm guessing he plans to finish it someday. Ended up ditching the 4cyl idea and just slapped a LS in there for darn near the same money. Scary. Anywho, I hope he does come out cause this project was cool.

[linkstar69]

shame this one hasn't progressed any further.

[dafabricata]

Well as I'm sure most of you have guessed, Project Ecovette has been discontinued...by me anyway.

I ran out of money and plan to move out of state so I need to sell it.

This really sucks as you guys have been absolutely amazing with all your positive feedback, and encouragement!! Thank you all! Great community here!
With the economy and other factors that life has thrown my way, I feel its best to let someone else have a go at it and will hopefully be able to finish what I started or better yet, improve on it!

I have a TON of time and more money in it than I care to admit.
It will come with everything I purchased for it and I'll be taking a big loss here.

ALSO WILLING TO PART OUT.....Chevette with all related parts / GXP Drivetrain / Vette Rims

These items include:
1978 Chevette 2 door body with all original glass and mounted to 2x3 frame jig (Title Included)
Body is in amazing condition for it age with minimal rust and a dent on the passenger side quarter panel.
Jegs Jegster frame kit- modified with roll cage specifically for this body. Also a decent amount of box and tube steel for misc additions
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP engine/ trans/ wiring harness with electronic gas pedal
Basically brand new drivetrain.
Drivetrain has ONLY 12 MILES on it...THATS RIGHT 12 MILES!! Pulled from a new car who's rubber seals were bad resulting in interior flooding and insurance claim.
Also comes with a Sparco front mount intercooler and pipes that is already set up for the mounting on the custom bumper brackets.
Drivetrain was purchased from Shrams Auto Parts in Mason Michigan. They deal with only late model GM vehicals.
New Clear headlights with new adjusters.
All misc. nuts and bolts and anything else I forgot to mention.
C6 Corvette 5-star rims. VERY LOW MILES (less than 500 miles) and in almost new condition.

It pains me greatfully to have to sell this, but given my current finanial situation, it would sit for many years before I could realistically move forward with it.

I'm willing to take my time selling it as I'm not looking to "Give it away" but I will offer everything for a reasonable price.

Please contact me to discuss price and details.

Email : dafabricata (at) yahoo (dot) com

[craigs73]

oh CRAP!! sorry to hear this i was wanting to see this happen would be a fun car

[absintheisfun]

damn man..sorry to hear your going through a tough time. Good luck with the sale--just make it conditional that the buyer keep adding updates to this page!

[dafabricata]

Thanks so much for the kind words guys!
It is rather sad that I'm not going to be able to finish it, but it was a good time and an excellent learning experience.

The Drivetrain is SOLD PENDING FUNDS, and it sounds as though the gentleman purchasing it has some VERY cool plans for it!
He's a member here and will no doubt have his own thread when the time is ready!

The Body, frame and frame jig are all still available, along with the seats, and C6 vette rims.
Please feel free to email me if interested!

[TomT]

14 hours of driving today - Kentucky to Michigan and back. A long day but worth it. The ecotec made it safely to its new home. We're sorry project Ecovette has been discontinued but excited about the possibilities of project EcoVega (hopefully we can think of a better name than EcoVega). We have to finish the Chili Pepper first but the wheels are already turning on the Vega. Thanks for everything Tim and good luck with your move and best wishes otherwise.
Tom

[craigs73]

sweet tom i had this exact thought like a month ago for the vega cant wait!! hurry up and get chili pepper done and start the vega lol i will be watching both builds!! what year vega?

[TomT]

sweet tom i had this exact thought like a month ago for the vega cant wait!! hurry up and get chili pepper done and start the vega lol i will be watching both builds!! what year vega?

I just picked up a 72 GT out of Arizona that should be pretty much rust free. I also have a line on a solid 76 (but I would back date it so it looked like a Gen1 if I went that route). I'm really excited about this one - I had a bunch of Vegas when I was a kid and I had some friends with V8 Vegas. Maybe once the Chili Pepper goes out for paint I'll have a chance to test fit the Ecotoc and see what it's going to take.

[The Stickman]

14 hours of driving today - Kentucky to Michigan and back. A long day but worth it. The ecotec made it safely to its new home. We're sorry project Ecovette has been discontinued but excited about the possibilities of project EcoVega (hopefully we can think of a better name than EcoVega). We have to finish the Chili Pepper first but the wheels are already turning on the Vega. Thanks for everything Tim and good luck with your move and best wishes otherwise.
Tom

Project Vegotec? Good luck with it.

[andrewb70]

I just picked up a 72 GT out of Arizona that should be pretty much rust free. I also have a line on a solid 76 (but I would back date it so it looked like a Gen1 if I went that route). I'm really excited about this one - I had a bunch of Vegas when I was a kid and I had some friends with V8 Vegas. Maybe once the Chili Pepper goes out for paint I'll have a chance to test fit the Ecotoc and see what it's going to take.

EcoVega? I have been bugging various builder friends to do an Ecotec powered Vega for years. That will be a very cool project. Somewhere I have some prints that may help you out.

Andrew

[twosaturns]

EcoVega? I have been bugging various builder friends to do an Ecotec powered Vega for years. That will be a very cool project. Somewhere I have some prints that may help you out.

Andrew

it will be cool, and a great example of how a modern RWD compact could be built. the V8 vega that Schwartz built was nice of course, but different powerplants have a certain appeal as well.
I find it amazing that any vegas are left, those things were rusting when they were new!

[Tony_SS]

Ehh... for some silly reason I like the idea of an Ecovette over the Ecovega...

[TomT]

Ehh... for some silly reason I like the idea of an Ecovette over the Ecovega...

Tony - Ecovette sounds better I'll grant you that. How 'bout I do the Vega and you do the Chevette and then we'll race?

Personally, I prefer the styling of the Vega and I have a bit of a historical attachment to them. I'm also thinking that the H-body platform will be a little more accomodating of the engine swap and suspension mods.

[TomT]

it will be cool, and a great example of how a modern RWD compact could be built. the V8 vega that Schwartz built was nice of course, but different powerplants have a certain appeal as well.
I find it amazing that any vegas are left, those things were rusting when they were new!

The Schwartz LS V8 Vega is very cool - I saw it run at LS Fest. It was a pretty simple build and yet it was very fast on the autocross course. I thought about doing an LS motor in one but I'm just digging the thought of the Ecotec (it kind of looks like a Cosworth which I just think will look right in a Vega engine compartment). The Ecotoc should be much lighter than an LS with better balance but I guess we'll see. My preliminary guesstimates on weight and horsepower put it better than a C6 Corvette but not quite in Z06 territory from a power-to-weight ratio standpoint.

I'm pretty sure Vegas started rusting BEFORE they were actually assembled. It also seems like most of the ones that did survive were turned into drag cars. I think it would be fun to tear up an autocross or roadcourse in one.

[TomT]

EcoVega? I have been bugging various builder friends to do an Ecotec powered Vega for years. That will be a very cool project. Somewhere I have some prints that may help you out.

Andrew

By all means dig up those prints and send them my way!