TRACK the STORM!

WR3 V-Storm Build: by Steve Hammen - Detroit,MI I completed building my V-Storm kit car in the summer of 2014. This Subaru powered Exo-Skeleton car is the 1st to hit North America! Kit Info: Manufacture - SDR Sportscars, Manchester England (not in business anymore) Type - Exoskeleton, Mid-Engine, RWD, 3-Seater Engine - Subaru Boxer 2.5L Turbo (Impreza WRX/STI) Power - 250HP+ (TBD) Car Weight < 1700lbs Contact: [email protected]

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It's legal! Passed inspection, then a trip to the Secretary of State and we have temporary registration. In a few weeks someone will come out to place the official VIN on the car.

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Side panels made and installed. Started with a 4x8' sheet of polycarbonate, made a template to fit the opening, cut and trimmed the poly sheet, and drilled and tapped all the mounting holes. Finished it off with flat head cap screws to give a clean finished look.

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V-Storm Complete...well close enough anyway for the safety inspection and registration.

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Hood has been trimmed to fit the new windshield.

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Windshield Install #2

The urethane adhesive was laid down and the three pieces of glass are now in place, secured with clamps for now.  You can see I taped off the areas where the frame will touch the glass. I used a black primer here so you don't see the adhesive but rather just a black strip.(similar to the edge around any car windshield.  

One finished custom V-Storm windshield!

This windshield project was a lot of work but now the car can be registered for street use.... and is much safer to drive now!

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Windshield Install #1

This weekend I did the final installation of the windshield. 1st was the two steel mounts that I made so the windshield frame could be securely mounted to the car frame. Above you can see one of them already powder coated and bolted in.

Now with the body work in place, all you see is a clean little pad to mount the windshield frame too.

And finally with the windshield frame mounted.

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Windshield Frame under fabrication

With a custom windshield comes a custom frame. The (3)pc glass windshield will be secured to the frame with urethane adhesive. From the outside the look will be clean as you won't see a frame around the glass.... this is the idea anyway.

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WIP - Windshield In Process

I made a few different windshields out of polycarbonate this weekend.  This being the best in both looks and functionality.  It will be made of (3) separate flat pieces so finding someone to cut them out of autoglass should not be that hard or expensive. Then I can begin work on the frame for the glass.

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Front Bumpers...check!

All bumpers are complete and secured in place.  Now time to design a windshield!

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Rear Bumper

Rear bumper is installed and turned out nice. License plate will be mounted to the bracket on the left side, just need to wire in the license plate light and the bumper is done.

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V-Storm Official Tow Vehicle

Here's a pic of my new Jeep.... and my boy "Sarg" keeping watch over it. This is partly why the V-Storm is not getting much attention lately.

2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited, 3.6L Pentastar engine, 3.5" suspension lift, 35" Toyo tires with 20" Fuel wheels.

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Rear Bumper

Rear bumper during fabrication and then mounted to the car. I think I will add a little more steel to the bumper for some added protection.           Next.... clean up front and rear bumpers and drop off for powdercoating.

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Front Bumpers... check!

Looks simple but these bumpers were a bit of a challenge with the various angles and moving suspension parts and tires, and they are removable. On to the rear bumper and then these parts can go out for powder coat, black or gray, haven't decided yet.

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Heat blankets

The turbo and exhaust up-pipe got blue heat blankets.  The main reason for this is to keep overall heat down around the engine and help protect other parts close to the turbo and exhaust.  Minor performance gains can be seen by using heat blankets on the turbo.

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Front Bumper - Concept #1

Started laying out what the front bumper could look like. Used foam pipe insulation with stiff hanger wire to hold the shape. This will need to be duplicated on the other side of course.  Not bad for a 1st go at it!

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Project Delayed

I met with a local police officer yesterday to go over the Vehicle Inspection Checklist. The officer was very interested in the car and impressed with the workmanship. He did however leave me with more work.  The main items that are missing and need to be fabricated are a full coverage safety glass windshield ....with wipers and washers, and a front and rear bumper. This will delay the registration process but I'll hopefully still be on the road this summer. Oh yeah, and if you are riding with me and I use the washers ... you're going to want to keep your mouth closed.

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Lights completed!

Finished wiring all the lights and everything is working perfectly!  Above picture is all the brake lights coming on.