Kwik
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| posted on 30/1/11 at 07:44 PM |
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any terrapin builders?
hi, im going to hopefully buy the book and plans soon and was wondering if anyone had built one whos on here?
how easy is it to build? are the plans easy to follow? anything i should look out for?
ill be using the A series as i own a mini, and well im just used to them now...
this project is also going to be my "learning to weld" project, though i will make sure all my welds are sound before sitting in it it,
dont worry
any info appreciated
chris
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prawnabie
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| posted on 30/1/11 at 07:52 PM |
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I sure some onewith a v8 Viento on here is building one, I have the plans and the staniforth (RIP) books and hope to make a start on one at some
point!
[Edited on 30/1/11 by prawnabie]
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Paul (Notts)
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| posted on 30/1/11 at 08:34 PM |
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I have started building a terrepin based on a mini but not made much progress due to work and other issues.
So far just welded up one bulkhead.
Having thought about it a lot over the last year I think that the final version will be based on a different engine as the mini unit lacks power.
The target is to have one built before I am 50 so just seven years left.
Paul
edit
No chance of getting one road legal and I would not risk using one for track days as they have NO chance of absorbing any type of impact at speed.
I am just thinking about sprints and hill climbs for fun.
Plus the final version will be based on the terrapin and the haynes single seater + lots of other ideas I have.
[Edited on 30/1/11 by Paul (Notts)]
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designer
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| posted on 30/1/11 at 10:17 PM |
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I built one in my youth and it went together quite easy. Didn't win any prizes, but it was great fun, and cheap.
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Kwik
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| posted on 30/1/11 at 10:32 PM |
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making it road legal has crossed my mind a few times, and really, its not going to be much more dangerous than a mini is...
you can buy race car crumple zone cone things (a carbon fiber cone basically) which can go on the front, i know there isnt any side or rear impact
zones though...
anyway, thanks for the replys and it looks like something i might enjoy making my own. i plan on making it in the summer and other holidays during
uni, there is a great mini place round the corner from me where i can pick up mini bits, and using mini parts i might be bale to have it as a mini
based kit car? (if road registered) as their will be axle, steering (?) and the brakes and hubs aswell as engine...
anyway, next job is learning to weld, most likely mig and i guess once i have the settings right and done a bit of practicing, ill be flying 
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minitici
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| posted on 31/1/11 at 09:47 AM |
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One of my many projects is to build a Terrapin.
I have the plans for the Mk1 single seater and the MK5 sports racer.
It is just about finding time to make a start.....
The Terrapin chassis was designed using nickel-bronze "welding" [as per a lot of period single seater chassis].
However, with the advent of decent (cheap) mig and tig welding machines, there is no reason why the chassis can't be welded.
Another feature of the Terrapin design is the curved stressed side pontoons which help with the chassis stiffness and enable the chassis to use very
light and small diameter tubes.
Allan Stanniforth put a lot of thought into this design but a few builders/owners (who think that they know better) omit this essential feature -
build it as per the plans!
Allans design of suspension using Mini uprights is a good starting point for incorporating in other designs.
I am considering doing away with mini subrames in one of my GTMs and using Terrapin suspension front and rear.
The High Speed Low Cost book was reprinted a couple of years ago and is sometimes available.
Plans are still available from Allan's daughter Claire.
There is a forum for the Terrapin Terrapin Forum
Richard Walker also has a very useful website dedicated to the Terrapin Terrapin Site
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Kwik
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| posted on 10/2/11 at 03:25 PM |
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book came in post yesterday
not had a lot of time but have read the first 3 chapters, i love the style of his writing and how he explains everything and why he done it. i
recommend it to anyone who wants to get into race car engineering, even if you don't particularly like single seaters and the terrapin.
hopefully i can get the money together and start it this summer, no idea how long it will take to complete but i have a long summer and a lot of time.
then im off to uni, so will only be able to do it over the holidays.
i still haven't really decided what im building it for yet, i really want a road legal one, and i am stupid/brave enough to want to drive it on
the road. as for bodywork im stuck between 2. the original bullet shaped design as featured on most terrapins, or something more like the caparro T1,
a modern formula 1 style body.
engine wise i have no idea, if i do decide to make it road legal, i will want to use as many mini parts as possible to gain enough points. as their
will be engine transmition uprights steering etc all from the mini, will it be enough points?
or should i just throw a similar weight modern Japanese engine (maybe a new micra) or a modern German engine (something VW) and have the luxury of
modern engine and ECU, but maybe not have enough points to register it as a kit car based on the mini. decisions decisions.
either way, when im underway i will make a thread and show my progress through lots and lots of pictures.
chris
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