Aztec 7 newbie project

[dmason]

Here comes my first post on this forum. Hello guys and girls.

I have the opportunity to finish an Aztec 7 project. Long story but a heartfelt one. The car belonged to my son's best friend. 2 months after returning from Iraq he committed suicide, very sad and very close to our family. His family gave the car to my son and felt he was the right guy to have and or finish the project. It has set idle for 2 years and I think I want to take it on.
Particulars:
No interior
Was running previously on a vw motor
I can't believe this next part....motor was turbo with a holley 750. Now, I am a sbc man and have built a 550 hp race motor...that motor could run with this carb....what were they thinking?
VW chassis intact but needs new floor pans
Wiring has been gutted
Fiberglass is all there but needs a little repair and of course paint
No weatherstripping on doors
Windshield intact

I have rebuilt cars before so this would not be my first time with a wrench. Even worked on an air cooled in my previous life, although sure is a far cry from my loud and obnoxious sbc that the neighbors want gone!
Should I do it? Leave the air cooled and carb it correctly? I feel like this could be a project from the heart which is a rare opportunity...would you go for it?

[letterman7]

Well, Aztecs are fairly common, but running ones aren't. The hardest part is keeping the windshield intact - that's the most expensive piece. That said, there are no replacement panels available to me knowledge. But having a project that sounds like it needs little work like this is a rare find. If all the chassis needs is pans and wiring, I'd certainly say go for it. Since you've worked on aircooled in the past, go with what you know. Carb the engine correctly and go for it!

[Sneaks]

You must finish this car, it's the right thing to do.

Now, about that motor, do you know what size it is? I've seen big VW motors with turbos and 4bbl carbs. If that is a stroked motor with big jugs, a 750, depending on how it is jetted, just might not be too big. I run a 750 on my .030 5.0 Ford...a blown 2.3 or 2.4 VW motor *might* just handle the carb...but I question how streetable it would be. I suspect it is a draw through?

[dmason]

I don't know how big the motor is, all I know at this point is that it is dual ported. I have some....some being a little experience with air cooled, so this will still be a learning experience, but heck that's part of the reason I want to do it.

As best I know the turbo is off a small v6 "american" car, like Buick or Chevy. I want to make this street friendly but I need some hp or it will just be too boring for me. I have one car already that is not street friendly and I have learned my lesson, no fun if you can't drive it!

Dumb question: Can I visually check the motor and determine what size it might be? I realize that without a tear down and measuring the cylinders there may be no accurate way to know for sure. This motor was running prior to the "event", it even has a Holley red pump on it. For us sbc guys that's practically enough for a 600 hp motor. So the guy who put it together must have done something to the heads? Right?

[dmason]

Here's a couple of the "before" pix. There is no headliner nor any panels on the doors, do most people do them in leather?

[Stray Catalyst]

Interiors can be done in leather, but it may be expensive... I'd advise that you get it roadworthy, THEN worry about non-critical stuff. It's far too easy to get tied up in the minutae of a project and never get the meat of it done - that's why there are sooooo many half-finished projects for sale.

Start with the drivetrain and electrical system, worry about paint and fabric later. You can make it pretty after you make it go.

There's no easy way to determine the engine's displacement or what's been done to it (internally) without tearing it down. You can find out what kind of heads it has, and what carburetor, but it's more difficult to figure out the size of the pistons, crank type, etc. Is the engine able to turn? If it's seized, then it's a moot point, you'll (probably) have to take it apart anyway.


Stray

[dmason]

Engine was running a couple of years ago. The guy who built it used some kind of domestic turbo and a Holley 750 on it. I was thinking of simplifying that side of things and eliminating the turbo for now and just carb it. It looks a lot rougher than it really is. My son began to dismantle it in order to start over on it. I need to get it out of the "storage area of his garage" and start working on it.

Recommendations on wiring. I know for the domestic stuff Painless makes a hot rod wiring kit that makes life easier. How is it normally done here?

[Stray Catalyst]

For a kit car, Painless is probably the way to go. I rewired my bug with a rebuilt stock harness, but you really can't get a "stock" harness for a kit car. Be careful and read the diagram, watch the videos, etc, and you'll be delighted with the results. If you have any unusual power requirements (rally lights, huge stereo, flux capacitors, etc) then it's the perfect time to run the heavier wires, as well.


Stray

[PeterF]

I have aan Aztec 7 that I just purchased. It is a 78 and never mounted. It t is allmost complete for fiberglass parts and all glass. I would sell it for parts or complete. I have a 73 Ghia running gear that could go with it. If anything is of use let me know by Email.

Peter

[Stray Catalyst]

That's best posted in the "for sale" section.

[VW_Man_87]

i wouldnt mind seeing more pics of the exhaust on that thing, looks different

[letterman7]

i wouldnt mind seeing more pics of the exhaust on that thing, looks different

Plumbed for a turbo. You can see the exhaust tube head over the engine to the turbo housing, then back down again.

[jspbtown]

I have a very similiar Aztec 7 project waiting for completion as well.


I agree with some of the prior suggestions...especially one that stated "get it running and then update it".

Pull that turbo stuff off..save it..and add a nice exhaust, a set of dual carbs on it and drive it. Build a nice turbo motor later.

You have lots of options for wiring harnesses. Painless, EZ wiring, Rebel, etc. All will provide you with a generic set up that will not be taylored to your application. In wiring my curretn Avenger project I used an ezwiring harness. I have over 260 feet of ground wire and probably 100 feet of colored wire in addition to the main harness. Some of that may be due to where I chose to mount the fuse block (behind the seats versus under the dash.




If your Aztec has the overhead console like mine than that will add some wire to the process for sure. Mine is 21 circuits and I have 3 left over, but I am using things like linear actuators for the front and rear hatches, electric bearclaw latches to secure the hatches, & power windows.

[Stray Catalyst]

That's a beautiful job you've done wiring it! Most of the kit cars I've owned have had rat's nests of similarly colored wires, I'd have given a lot to get one as nicely done as yours is.

I agree about the turbo - simplify it, get it going correctly, THEN add performance (and complexity).

Stray

[jspbtown]

Thanks Stray.

Wiring is one thing I enjoy on these builds. You can see on the last picture (near the bottom) that every wire is inserted into a lettered connector which matches up with the same letter on a connector in the car. The whole wiring will come with a 5 page wiring outline for the new owner to chase any problems. I also run all grounds back to a common terminal strip so your never chasing grounds.

This was my last projects wiring...an original Meyers Manx: