The vehicle for the X-Project

The X-Project has been in the design and development phases for quite some time, but I am ready to let the cat-out-of-the-bag, so to speak. I want to go fast. Really fast. Faster than you would think with a home built turbine engine.

I'm now ready to start going for that goal. I may not get to go as fast as I would like, but it sure will be fun! I'll bet you would do the same thing if you had the chance.

This is the X-Project vehicle

I knew that if I wanted to go fast, I would have to have the right vehicle. A rail dragster seemed like a great vehicle to go fast in, but they still weigh a lot. Too much actually. This is where the insight comes in to use a junior dragster frame. These little cars weigh a lot less than their full sized counterparts, and still have that sleek styling and ability to cut through the wind that I was looking for.

Looks fast standing still

The main problem I was having was finding a junior dragster that I could actually fit in. You see, these cars are made for kids to fit into. I finally found a car that seemed to have the width I needed for my big, wide..... shoulders. Ahem. The length would also have to accommodate me, as I am over 6 foot tall. This car seemed to have those attributes built right in to it.

Lots of room for an engine

The car also needed lots of room for an engine. When I purchased the car, it looked as though the back end would be large enough, but some modification would be necessary. Once I received the car, I knew that an extensive rebuild of the rear end was in order.

Longer than it looks

The car has lots of room for things like the oil tanks, engine, fuel tanks, and other goodies. I'll still have to worry about that rear end though, as mounting a jet engine into one was probably never though of by the guy that designed it!

The driver cabin

I must be crazy! I am actually going to stuff myself into this cramped space and have a jet engine inches from my backside while traveling down a drag strip at top speed! I'd better not think about that too much anymore, after all you do want to see me finish this thing don't you?

Comfy seating

I can honestly say that the seating arrangements have not been designed with the comfort of a 6 foot tall person in mind. To say that the cabin or cockpit area is a bit sparse would be an understatement.

This back end will never be the same

Originally intended to be powered by the engine, these wheels will soon be rolling along happily with the car being pushed by pure thrust. How much thrust? Good question! How about we take a look at the monster turbo I picked up just for this project.

Big, no huge, turbo

If turbos to make jet engines were animals, then this one would be a sasquatch! Big, mean, generally nasty, and highly dangerous. Did I mention that it is big? Really big?

That's a big turbo

I told you it was big. I hope to get a bit of thrust out of this nice little turbo. I am sure it will be very docile and quiet. At least that is what I am telling my neighbors!

A good pedigree doesn't hurt anything

The turbo is made by a company called Air Research. They know a thing or two about how to make turbos, and also jet engines. Matter of fact, I think the two are tied together by the past of this company. At any rate, I think that I can make a nice, fast, little vehicle out of these parts. Now the fun begins! Oh yeah, if you think you have the stuff to compete with this hopped up little hotrod, give it a go building your own. I think you might get a race for yourself!