Just spitballing at this point...
andkilde - 19/12/08 at 03:33 PM
I've got a "lightly" blown up SVT focus (ST170) engine lying about (bad cambelt failure -- 8 broken exhaust valves couple of dinged
pistons and a smashed exhaust valve seat) -- I've started eyeballing it as a starting point for a Tiger ERA inspired single seater (this engine
is probably beyond economic redemption but suitable for mocking up -- it's a decent engine in the focus but i imagine it would sparkle in a
1,000lb-ish car).
The Passat 1.8t gearbox has been mentioned in other threads, I'm not sure if it would look as pretty as the Hewland but it definitely fits the
budget better.
Bodywork looks simple enough, perhaps a glass nosecone/ring and a few sheets of aluminum formed and riveted, locost-like chassis and suspension arms.
Build in a bit more space for my, err, North American proportions 
Perhaps some minimal lights and cycle fenders attached with quick disconnect pins:
to allow you to drive to the track.
Any thoughts? Should I just scour the ads for a thrashed formula ford instead?
Cheers, Ted
speedyxjs - 19/12/08 at 03:55 PM
Sound like a good project to me 
I agree with your comments about the engine
MikeR - 19/12/08 at 05:28 PM
i've thought of doing something similar for the last few years - although i'd probably just use an Audi engine as well (prob v6 for looks).
DIY Si - 19/12/08 at 05:30 PM
I've always loved the ERA, but not at the price that Tiger want! As you say, it doesn't look too hard to sort out, as it's a tiny car.
Although to drive it on the road, I would want some mirrors too! As said, a V6 would look even better. Maybe the smaller Mazda lumps could do it? IIRC
they make a 1.8L V6 that would do the job nicely.
russbost - 19/12/08 at 06:01 PM
Wouldn't recommend the Formula Ford route - been there done that! It's a nightmare trying to get the ride height up to a sensible clearance,
plus if you have "err, North American proportions" you would have to mod the chassis to get in it!
hellbent345 - 19/12/08 at 06:26 PM
also are you looking to track day it? if so there might be a few issues with the single seater type thing, they dont normally like them do they,
unless they are road legal with mudguards on them? so if you were formula fording it youd also have to make the ford legal for the road 
love your
build it idea tho, that is a nice car in the pic!
[Edited on 19/12/08 by hellbent345]
Dave Ashurst - 19/12/08 at 08:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
i've thought of doing something similar for the last few years - although i'd probably just use an Audi engine as well (prob v6 for looks).
Whoa there, Mike! 
andkilde - 20/12/08 at 02:47 AM
quote:
Originally posted by hellbent345
also are you looking to track day it? if so there might be a few issues with the single seater type thing, they dont normally like them do they,
unless they are road legal with mudguards on them? so if you were formula fording it youd also have to make the ford legal for the road love your
build it idea tho, that is a nice car in the pic!
[Edited on 19/12/08 by hellbent345]
I just go to open track and marque club days, nothing competitive and no real desire to do any serious wheel to wheel racing.
I'm in it for the cheap thrills of beating myself from last time.
Cheers, Ted
ceebmoj - 20/12/08 at 03:41 PM
hi,
looks like a cool project to me. does anybody know what uprights the tiger uses? or have some pictures of one being built?
blake
ceebmoj - 20/12/08 at 03:52 PM
you might all so want to look at the LCC rocket for inspiration in a simaler direction
andkilde - 21/12/08 at 05:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ceebmoj
you might all so want to look at the LCC rocket for inspiration in a simaler direction
Nice, looks a bit like an old Vanwall F1 car. The bodywork looks a lot more challenging though.
There are very few (none aside from the nose to my eye) compound curves in the ERA and almost nothing aft of the cockpit.
Raises one technical question for me though. Would it be possibly to longitudinally mount a motorcycle engine in the chassis and mount it up directly
to an IRS diff with no propshaft? Or would it vibrate itself to bits?
Cheers, Ted
DIY Si - 21/12/08 at 10:39 AM
The Spire GTR runs just like that. The prop shaft is just 2 UJs bolted together! Although it might look a bit odd, as you wouldn't have the big
hewland type box hanging off the back, but maybe it's look better.
andkilde - 21/12/08 at 04:47 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DIY Si
The Spire GTR runs just like that. The prop shaft is just 2 UJs bolted together! Although it might look a bit odd, as you wouldn't have the big
hewland type box hanging off the back, but maybe it's look better.
Hmmn, cool, I can see lots of pictures of the finished car, seen any of the drivetrain guts floating about?
Perhaps a single guibo joint would suffice as well.
t
DIY Si - 21/12/08 at 06:17 PM
Looks like I was lying. The prop is 293 long.
Have a look here for a lot of build pics and further info.
This is the prop he used.
[Edited on 21/12/08 by DIY Si]
andkilde - 22/12/08 at 03:41 AM
293mm is a bit less than a foot, so pretty minimal, looks to have a slip joint in it still -- appears the side cover on the engine extends a bit so
the foot of prop shaft may be required.
I need to grab a motorbike engine and a diff and start mocking things up.
Cheers, Ted
ceebmoj - 23/12/08 at 10:38 PM
keep posting to let us know how you get on as it looks like an interesting project to me
andkilde - 24/12/08 at 02:18 AM
quote:
keep posting to let us know how you get on as it looks like an interesting project to me
I've got a Mitsubishi pumpkin and shafts with a viscous LSD (3.54:1) across town in my lockup and I'll go visit my pals at the uni after the
holidays, they have a selection of bike engines I can start measuring, mostly 600s but I think they're dimensionally similar to 1000s.
I've been chatting/planning a D-sport car with a friend and we have some napkin scribbles that might cross over to this project, though it's
a full bodied, BEC chain drive ground effect car more similar to a 750 motorclub racer.
Cheers, Ted