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Bigger chassis?
pbura - 12/3/04 at 08:27 PM

There are clearly many builders going wider and/or longer than the book...

The question is, how many?

Manufacturers take note!

Pete
+321.5


200mph - 12/3/04 at 08:35 PM

every as per...... it did help that i got a running escort for £70 though.

Mark


JoelP - 12/3/04 at 08:37 PM

mines 50 inches wide at the cock pit, so thats a +8 chassis. and its longer than the donor


steve wheeler-smith - 12/3/04 at 09:20 PM

Made mine 2 inches wider, and the trans tunnel 1 and half inches thinner. makes a lot of difference. Pleased.


pbura - 12/3/04 at 09:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
mines 50 inches wide at the cock pit, so thats a +8 chassis. and its longer than the donor


How are you doing that? Bicycle tires?

Joel, you've GOT to put some pics up some time


dblissett - 12/3/04 at 09:48 PM

i have made mine 442
the extra width has helped me get standard cobra seats in just
plus it seems to suit the sierra track
that bit was just plain old luck
dave


Mark Allanson - 12/3/04 at 10:10 PM

In the initial fact gathering stage, I really wanted to make a Fiat FIRE engine based car, Panda 4x4 rear axle, Panda front uprights, Escort rack, I had it all planned out except the Panda rear axle was far too offset, and no RWD gearbox seemed to be available.

I really like lightweight, nimble cars, and a 450Kg 70BHP car really fitted the bill. The thrill of drive a relatively low powered car really fast, using skill rather than grunt is what I feel it is all about.

I would have made a book chassis, but 6" shorter, to improve turn in on the tiny cornish country lanes.

But, practicality won the day and I am now using a 2.0i Pinto with a Capri axle


M@Triton - 12/3/04 at 10:14 PM

To make this viable we would need a minimum of 10 confirmed orders to cover costs as pattern and mould making is time consuming and therefore a costly process.
Regards
Mark(Triton)


Stu16v - 12/3/04 at 10:25 PM

4" wider, 3" shorter than 'book'.


M@Triton - 12/3/04 at 10:29 PM

Only one vote for shorter!.....


M@Triton - 12/3/04 at 10:33 PM

Bit dicey racing about with all those damn nutters towing caravans in sunny Cornwall


JoelP - 12/3/04 at 10:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
The thrill of drive a relatively low powered car really fast, using skill rather than grunt is what I feel it is all about.



ah, another mclaren fan.....

damn mercedes...


JoelP - 12/3/04 at 10:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by pbura
How are you doing that? Bicycle tires?

Joel, you've GOT to put some pics up some time


do ya know, i actually took some pictures the other day, with my brothers camera, but he said they were too dim and never emailed them to me... i'll ring and see what they are like!

quite proud of the exhaust i made, but the chassis looks a bit crap cos its too high behind the seat still, the glory is in the struggle...

twin bike single seater's the next project...


Mark Allanson - 12/3/04 at 10:43 PM

"Bit dicey racing about with all those damn nutters towing caravans in sunny Cornwall"

There are two sorts of road in Cornwall, the ones that the locals know, and the ones that the holidaymakers use. We know all the long-cuts, which are quicker in summer and so much more fun.


robinbastd - 12/3/04 at 10:43 PM

Mark "shortass"(Triton) Don't get Mark A and I started about caravans again...............oh no,it's too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ian


Mark Allanson - 12/3/04 at 10:57 PM

My brother in law used to have a Volvo, he also used to tow a caravan (he never went camping, he just used to tow a caravan!). The car had a special button on the transmission tunnel to lock the gearbox in 1st gear. This was specially fitted by Volvo so as soon as the Volvo owner was the first car in a long trail of traffic, the owner could press this button and slow the long trail of traffic to a maximum of 20mph - it was VERY effective. He had hours of fun just driving around the roads of Cornwall pressing his special button.

A long time ago, I had a Montego estate as the family car, it had a Caravan warning light on the dashboard, but it never seemed to work! - Ex montego owners will know what I am talking about!


stephen_gusterson - 12/3/04 at 11:43 PM

i had a caravan and a montego - how cool is that!



It was a brand new 1.6 L estate B reg.

I remebr the light. I used to tell the kids it was to warn you if a caravan had grabbed the back of your car.

well, it was funny for a 5 year old.

Its actually to tell you the flashers are working on the caravan.

Saw a bumper sticker once

'If you can read this, I have lost my caravan'


no, - Im giving up then


atb

steve


PS - the car is 6 ins wider




[Edited on 12/3/04 by stephen_gusterson]


pbura - 13/3/04 at 12:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by M@Triton
To make this viable we would need a minimum of 10 confirmed orders to cover costs as pattern and mould making is time consuming and therefore a costly process.
Regards
Mark(Triton)


Mark,

I'll bet you don't receive inquiries for +4 nosecones because folks know already that you don't have them.

No pressure, because I know you're very busy with the new kits, but I think if you were to come on here and ask for +4 orders, and name a price, you'd get your 10.

All the best,

Pete


type 907 - 13/3/04 at 08:59 AM

Hi,

I'v added 4" to my chassis for several reasons;

My engine lays over at 45 deg and only just goes in.
My gearbox is huge and I wanted eng/box back as far as possible, and footwells to remain book.
Sierra dif / drive shafts (IRS) unaltered at the back.
The bonus is a wider transmission tunnel giving more elbow room for driver & passenger, ( see picky of the delightful "Mrs Mark" on the other thread).
Nothing worse than clashing elbows at every gearchange.

The nose cone is going to be the "spanner in the works" though.

Paul G


James - 13/3/04 at 07:49 PM

Mine's a:
+? Something else, but still bigger

Cockpit is just under 4" wider than book.

All I can say is that it seemed a good idea at the time (2 years ago! ). If I knew then what I know now...

I might well buy a +4" scuttle if one was available- I might have to chop a bit out but it would be better than having to add a bit in!

James


Bigfoot - 14/3/04 at 10:14 AM

My donor was a Rover SD1 V8, the chassis is 1250mm (49.2) at the cockpit, and all other dimensions similarly increased.
The front uprights have been modified as per the Sierra ones but using rose joints. Used a 5 speed manual box and the Rover diff, looks OK so far. I just couldn't fit into the book sized chassis.

Bigfoot.

[Edited on 14/3/04 by Bigfoot]


Simon - 14/3/04 at 10:05 PM

book +4"

Reason? Better chance to get seats in (and more comfort for me), and both halves of my engine lay at 45 deg

Made all bodywork meself (well, currently making bonnet, and widened bought nosecone!

ATB

Simon