andkilde
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posted on 19/12/08 at 03:33 PM |
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Just spitballing at this point...
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
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speedyxjs
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posted on 19/12/08 at 03:55 PM |
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Sound like a good project to me
I agree with your comments about the engine
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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MikeR
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posted on 19/12/08 at 05:28 PM |
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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).
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DIY Si
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posted on 19/12/08 at 05:30 PM |
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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.
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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russbost
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posted on 19/12/08 at 06:01 PM |
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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!
I no longer run Furore Products or Furore Cars Ltd, but would still highly recommend them for Acewell dashes, projector headlights, dominator
headlights, indicators, mirrors etc, best prices in the UK! Take a look at http://www.furoreproducts.co.uk/ or find more parts on Ebay, user names
furoreltd & furoreproducts, discounts available for LCB users.
Don't forget Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses, made to your exact requirements in any of around 16 colours.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/furoreproducts/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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hellbent345
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posted on 19/12/08 at 06:26 PM |
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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]
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Dave Ashurst
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posted on 19/12/08 at 08:33 PM |
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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!
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andkilde
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posted on 20/12/08 at 02:47 AM |
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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
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ceebmoj
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posted on 20/12/08 at 03:41 PM |
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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
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ceebmoj
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posted on 20/12/08 at 03:52 PM |
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you might all so want to look at the LCC rocket for inspiration in a simaler direction
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andkilde
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posted on 21/12/08 at 05:45 AM |
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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
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DIY Si
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posted on 21/12/08 at 10:39 AM |
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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.
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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andkilde
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posted on 21/12/08 at 04:47 PM |
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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
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DIY Si
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posted on 21/12/08 at 06:17 PM |
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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]
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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andkilde
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posted on 22/12/08 at 03:41 AM |
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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
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ceebmoj
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posted on 23/12/08 at 10:38 PM |
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keep posting to let us know how you get on as it looks like an interesting project to me
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andkilde
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posted on 24/12/08 at 02:18 AM |
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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
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