Modifying the Sylva - maybe.
zilspeed - 31/10/09 at 01:36 PM
I've just bought some Striker bits.
I don't actually have a striker, but that doesn't matter. I bought them with the intention of building a chassis to suit my size - I
don't really fit a striker.
Anyway, being curious, I tried the nosecone onto the front of the Leader / Star, call it what you will. I reckon it's a Star because it has allly
side panels, but the front section is definitely Leader.
I digress.
The Star chassis is very broad at the front and uses the unmodified Viva crossmember, hence the body shape.
So here's the Striker nosecone on the Star chassis.
Striker Nosecone
.
As you will see at the NSF, the crossmember and chassis sticks right out, but I have done a quick and dirty job in paint to 'remove' these
bits on the OSF.
I have also done some measuring up and extrapolated the chassis shape if it were to continue forwards tapering in and binnig the Viva Xmember and
square front chassis section.
The nosecone lines up exactly.
What do we think ?
Get the hacksaw out ?
Guinness - 31/10/09 at 01:43 PM
Great idea Zil. Should make it more aerodynamic, save weight and look better.
Are you thinking of buying / making new wishbones / front chassis similar to an Indy / MNR etc?
But, I'm begining to think you don't actually like driving 
Mike
zilspeed - 31/10/09 at 01:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Guinness
Great idea Zil. Should make it more aerodynamic, save weight and look better.
Are you thinking of buying / making new wishbones / front chassis similar to an Indy / MNR etc?
But, I'm begining to think you don't actually like driving
Mike
Mike
I'm just too much of a procrastinator / too skint.
I would be looking at a new front section of the chassis.
Oval section wishbones / pushrods.
I wouldn't see any point in copying someone else's design, especially when using completely different uprights.
It would be a clean sheet front end, so I guess I can do whatever I want to it.
bmseven - 31/10/09 at 03:29 PM
Interesting food for thought, but we already have 2 leader front ends 
zilspeed - 31/10/09 at 03:47 PM
quote:
Originally posted by bmseven
Interesting food for thought, but we already have 2 leader front ends
So you think getting the reciprocating saw out is a bad idea then ?
Or is it too good an idea ?
Steve Hignett - 31/10/09 at 05:01 PM
Get it chopped off... (said my Rabbi )
D Beddows - 31/10/09 at 05:33 PM
Noooooo - I actualy LIKE the shape of the Leader! (and yes I know I'm in a minority 
) and imo it'll be far too easy to make something
that looks like you've cut and shut a Leader and a Striker rather than made a new model - if you get what I mean 
zilspeed - 31/10/09 at 06:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by D Beddows
Noooooo - I actualy LIKE the shape of the Leader! (and yes I know I'm in a minority ) and imo it'll be far too easy to make something
that looks like you've cut and shut a Leader and a Striker rather than made a new model - if you get what I mean
The scuttle would be unmodified, as would the existing wheelbase, track and side panels.
The standard front would fit back on if required.
The standard front weighs 34kg, the crossmember and wisbones another 25kg.
The Striker nosecone weighs 4kg. The tube to replace the crossmember and bones, 10kg.
So, I get to lose 45kg from the car, which was already quite heavy.
That's 7 stones in old money. Who wouldn't want to lose that kind of weight from their car if they want it to go quick ?
(I've just checked all of these weights.)
I know the wheels will be exposed and there are possibly some aerodynamic disadvantages at higher speed, but I'm talking about relatively low
speed events where I don't reckon aerodynamics play a massive part.
Weight certainly does.
bmseven - 31/10/09 at 06:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
quote:
Originally posted by bmseven
Interesting food for thought, but we already have 2 leader front ends
So you think getting the reciprocating saw out is a bad idea then ?
Or is it too good an idea ?
It's your car it will certainly be unique and the weight loss is not to be sniffed at.
I guess its always reversable(ish)
D Beddows - 31/10/09 at 07:28 PM
Oh I understand exactly why you're thinking of doing it - but you're talking about fairly major modifications so, if you're after
something lightweight, may I suggest you might be starting from the wrong place anyway?? I always love seeing the more unusual cars
sprinting/hillclimbing and a parade of 7 alikes isn't much fun to watch tbh as one pretty much looks like the next..... a Sylva Leader on the
other hand 
bmseven - 31/10/09 at 07:48 PM
Just be very careful with the angle grinder
zilspeed - 31/10/09 at 10:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by D Beddows
Oh I understand exactly why you're thinking of doing it - but you're talking about fairly major modifications so, if you're after
something lightweight, may I suggest you might be starting from the wrong place anyway?? I always love seeing the more unusual cars
sprinting/hillclimbing and a parade of 7 alikes isn't much fun to watch tbh as one pretty much looks like the next..... a Sylva Leader on the
other hand
Yep you're right.
It's more than probably the wrong starting place, but it's the starting place I'm at.
I'm more than aware of how much all of the leading competitors spend and know that I can't join in that game either.
There's a well known Scottish phrase which I can't repeat in here, suffice to say it goes along the lines of having to make do with what you
have 
Besides, in these parts, hand knitted one offs are almost traditional.
I give you an S2000 powered Gemini and a spaceframed FWD Reliant Kitten with an Imp engine on top of a mini transmission as examples of Scottish
thinking.
Memphis Twin - 3/11/09 at 04:45 PM
I used to hillclimb and sprint a well sorted Leader. I really do love the shape, but the heavy fibreglass front end was always a hindrance (75lbs!). I
managed to source a complete lightweight body (so thin you could see through it) and managed to shave off a massive amount of weight. But even then it
still weighed about 600kg....
...so I bought a Striker MK2 complete with crappy 1300 x-flow, transferred all my trick bits onto it (Race 1700 X-Flow, Bullet gearbox, LSD etc) and
immediately lost 100kg. Entered 10 events the next season, won 8 and crashed in 2!
I loved the handling, shape and sheer eccenticity of the Leader, and I had some great times with it, but the lighter Striker was a much faster
animal.
And the Mallock was even faster....
