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What to look for when buying a BEC?
hobzy - 25/6/08 at 05:52 PM

What are the key things to look for/ask about when looking at a s'hand BEC? As every one is so different even if made on the same chassis are there specific things one should check for?

Seen this one in particular (sorry if its someone on here - if it is I'll remove it so not to discuss it specifically):

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/581647.htm

but its in middlesborough, so I'd like to get all the relevant info before I commit to driving all the way there from Portsmouth!

Appreciation in advance...


Wadders - 25/6/08 at 06:07 PM

sorry if its someone's on here
but would have to question a few of the details.

AFAIK 'Indy' is short for independent, as in the suspension. A cortina back axle is live, not independent.

420kg is maybe a bit ambititious, although not impossible.

Price seems a bit strong for a carbed blade engine

No mention of SVA

There seems to be better buys around for less money.

Just my opinion of course.

Al.





Originally posted by hobzy
What are the key things to look for/ask about when looking at a s'hand BEC? As every one is so different even if made on the same chassis are there specific things one should check for?

Seen this one in particular (sorry if its someone on here - if it is I'll remove it so not to discuss it specifically):

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/581647.htm

but its in middlesborough, so I'd like to get all the relevant info before I commit to driving all the way there from Portsmouth!

Appreciation in advance...



hobzy - 25/6/08 at 06:14 PM

Cheers gents. Thats what I need. He has rung me already and sent me some more pics. I shall ask him the relevant questions...

The cortina axle did flash up as a question mark for me.

Out of interest, how long did it take those of you with sequential boxes to get used to it? I'd have to drive it home as I've got nowt to tow it with!


hobzy - 25/6/08 at 06:28 PM

Thanks - looked to good to be true.

Apart from here, and Pistonheads, where else is worth looking to find them? Google seems to throw up random sites with only 1 or 2 on. £8000 is my limit or the Mrs will lynch me


Wadders - 25/6/08 at 06:37 PM

There are loads of fine looking Bec Indys for sale on Pistonheads, within or around your budget. have you looked under Kitcars-MK, rather than bike engined cars?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=485



Originally posted by hobzy
Thanks - looked to good to be true.

Apart from here, and Pistonheads, where else is worth looking to find them? Google seems to throw up random sites with only 1 or 2 on. £8000 is my limit or the Mrs will lynch me



Snuggs - 25/6/08 at 07:10 PM

According to mycarcheck.com it is a JAGO JEEP


https://www.mycarcheck.com/check/KOL689P/

[Edited on 25/6/08 by Snuggs]


hobzy - 25/6/08 at 07:17 PM



What about this one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230262364390&fromMakeTrack=true

Sorry to be a pain...Its not like you can pop to the dealers and have alook is it


worX - 25/6/08 at 07:19 PM

Like Chris I know what my car weighed.

Thats because I had it corner weighted three times, but the reason I did that was firstly to get it set up spot on, but secondly, because I spent SO MUCH time and money getting mine down to as low a weight as I could (446 kilos) that I really had to know!

For those reasons I would heavily question whether and Indy could be down to that weight just from the lightweight chassis.

As above I also think it's a locost - the rear axle is the main thing, but also the 2.25 shocks that quite often found their way onto the locost's would make me believe...

Keep looking mate, and stick your findings on here for "us" to check!

Steve


hobzy - 25/6/08 at 07:38 PM

Cheers steve.

BTW, I'm glad you got yours sold, even if it wasn't to me . I even got dispensation from the mrs to spend extra on yours

So what about the ebay one - would give me some cash to play with to change a few things - lightwieght seats etc. I would need to add a reverse as well as the drive into the garage is on a slope and an angle.


kurt - 25/6/08 at 07:46 PM

Hi,

This is my car for sale, have a look on Pistonheads

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/421369.htm

Cheers, Kurt


JUD - 25/6/08 at 08:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by kurt
Hi,

This is my car for sale, have a look on Pistonheads

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/421369.htm

Cheers, Kurt


[thread hijack]

Good colour scheme

Do you get any cooling issues with that grill?

[thread hijack]


worX - 25/6/08 at 08:33 PM

That seems like a relatively well built car (from the photos) and also quite a well writted sales advert, which is a nice change from ebay and some on PH!

I would change a couple of bits on it myself (but then we are all different aren't we!) However one of the things I'd change for definite is the grille as I think it will restrict airflow for cooling.

Steve

ETA - sorry didn't mean to double up on the grille - JUD's post wasn't there when I started typing!

quote:
Originally posted by kurt
Hi,

This is my car for sale, have a look on Pistonheads

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/421369.htm

Cheers, Kurt


[Edited on 25/6/08 by worX]


hobzy - 25/6/08 at 09:09 PM

What is the real world difference between the R1 cars and the blade engined cars, presuming roughly equivalent weight etc? are we talking bits of a second? If so it looks more sense to go for something like that blade engined one on ebay leaving myself some cash to change the bits I want. Tricky.

That R1 does look good Kurt, but do fancy paddles - might as well go the whole hog
And why are they all up north for flips sake!!!


JUD - 25/6/08 at 09:25 PM

It's all subjective.

On a public road - I doubt you would notice the difference as the performance of both would be galactic compared to everybody else on the road. Plus crap road surfaces, friendly rozzers and other road users tend to level the playing field somewhat.

On a track - I would have said that the difference would not be enough to overcome a bad setup or inexperienced driver. So if you can wring every last ounce of performance out of the car (go, stop and handling) plus you are a close relation to M Schumacher then you may feel there is a noticeable and significant difference. For mortals like me there isn't - my ability is the limiting factor on my lap times. If you start moving onto bigger engines then the step change can be more noticeable - watch Paul Fishers Bruntingthorpe video where he passes both Reman and me. We were both in Blade engined cars and peddling pretty well - Paul's ZX10R car on the new chassis is much quicker - and it can't all be down to his driving skills

Martin


Gezza - 26/6/08 at 05:41 AM

hi mr hobzy, i have an r1 indy, nearly finished and will be or is for sale as is so you could finish to your liking u2u me for more info or my phone number.

gerry


hobzy - 27/6/08 at 11:00 AM

I'm in contact with someone with an r1

in th meantime, havent seen many blackbird engined ones come up - like the colour scheme on this - bugger to keep clean though Thoughts?


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/585167.htm


Jubal - 27/6/08 at 01:58 PM

I went from a blade (98 - carbed) to an R1 (03 - injection). Both engines standard (ish) and nothing special on the exhaust front. It's not chalk and cheese but there is indeed a considerable performance difference. It's most noticeable in acceleration as the car pulls better out of lower speed corners and gets to the limit in top more easily. I bet though I'm only a car length or two ahead of where I would have been.


ChrisGamlin - 27/6/08 at 05:41 PM

Yup Id agree with Jubal, I converted from a carbed blade to 03 R1 in the same car so exactly like for like comparison. When I had the blade it was unsuprisingly nigh on identical to a mate's blade Westfield, we'd pull out to overtake or accelerate from a slow corner on track and there was no perceptable performance difference.

The R1 definitely has a lot better mid range and continues to pull significantly harder when into 3 figures. Id say now from say 30 to 100mph, I'll pull 3-5 car lengths on the blade Westie now, and only lose two or three car lengths to a busa powered car.

[Edited on 27/6/08 by ChrisGamlin]


hobzy - 4/7/08 at 11:46 AM

Hurrah! Off to pick up an MK INDY R1 on Sunday. Pray for a dry day as its in Yorkshire and I've got to get it back to portsmouth!


simoto - 4/7/08 at 01:11 PM

Thats great, know how your feeling im pleased as punch with mine and i cant even drive it, lol.
Good luck Sunday.


hobzy - 7/7/08 at 10:47 AM

Well what can I say. Unbelievable! Picked the car up in Ripon Sunday morning, Rich took me out to show me the ropes and let me drive back - plenty of stalls! The car is an absolute credit to him and his workmanship. I drove it all the way back to Portsmouth in the driving wind and rain and it didn't bat an eyelid. I however spent most of it hanging on for dear life because of the vicious crosswinds.

Despite all I still had a ridiculous grin on my face and still have it this morning. Just about getting used to pulling away without either revving the nuts of or stalling it

Cannot wait to get out in it again - come on sunshine where are you?