Home Mechanics / Kit Car
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<p>A few years back I was thinking of a Lotus 7 kit-car - they manufacture these in Auckland</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.fraser.co.nz/the-car/'>http://www.fraser.co.nz/the-car/</a></p>
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<p>Problem is, with all the stupid high 4WD vehicles around today, I wouldn't want to drive one on the road - cars would just not see you and drive straight over you</p> -
<p>I would love to do one of these,<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.dynacorn.com/'>http://www.dynacorn.com/</a> they are 1mm galv steel and right hand drive is an option on some models. </p>
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<p>Good luck with your build. For anyone interested the history of these comes from Lotus. Colin Chapman sold the 7's in Kit form to get around UK taxes at the time. Then Caterham bought the IP from Lotus and have been offering these in various engine formats for years - mostly factory built.</p>
<p>They would be great in NZ - a real drivers car for our type of roads where people start thinking the world will end if you do over 150kph.</p>
<p>I have a 2 litre Toyota race engine that pulls like a school boy, if you want a high performance engine. Located in the UK though so would cost you quite a bit to get to NZ.</p> -
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<p>Good luck with your build. For anyone interested the history of these comes from Lotus. Colin Chapman sold the 7's in Kit form to get around UK taxes at the time. Then Caterham bought the IP from Lotus and have been offering these in various engine formats for years - mostly factory built.</p>
<p>They would be great in NZ - a real drivers car for our type of roads where people start thinking the world will end if you do over 150kph.</p>
<p>I have a 2 litre Toyota race engine that pulls like a school boy, if you want a high performance engine. Located in the UK though so would cost you quite a bit to get to NZ.</p>
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<p>I'll be building it in Surrey so all good from that perspective!</p> -
<p>Caterham 7s have an awesome power to weight ratio, obviously more so with the bigger engine models. I had a dice with a Caterham500 when I was driving a Merc 350SLK (no, I am not a hairdresser's apprentice). I knew the Caterham would have the edge over me, I just wasn't ready to see just how big that edge was. He was stuck behind me at the lights and I took off like the proverbial scalded cat and he did the same, keeping inches behind my rear bumper then just flicked his wheel and overtook me on the inside and lost me within about 100 yards. Just totally blew me away. Amazing for a car designed in the 1950s.</p>
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<p>Mind you, stick a radio and a heater in them and the power to weight ratio becomes somewhat more sane.</p> -
And so it begins .... delivered yesterday ...
Delivered the below, plus 4 wheels, and engine, a gearbox, and about 30-40 other significant parts. Oh, and also bout 900 bolts, washers, rivets etc etc.
And a 285 page instruction manual. I'm 50% excited,and 50% feeling like Mike Catt at one point during 1995 ...
Seriously, at the moment in my house, in the garage, there is a diff on a wooden shelf. How fucking masculine is that!!!
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@MajorRage said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
And a 285 page instruction manual. I'm 50% excited,and 50% feeling like Mike Catt at one point during 1995 ...
You'll be fine - it's only 6 steps:
and you've already done 3 of them...Expect you'll have it finished by the time I type this.
So exactly which model did you go for? Couldn't see the 2.0 toyota engine option on the website? Not one of their usual ones? Did notice the seven620R starts at 50,490 pounds (gulp) but 0-60mph in 2.79 so must be worth it. They are all pretty damn fun though.
Oh, and build it in the kitchen, your wife will love it.
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It would be great to see a timeline photo collection MR. Good luck with the project mate.
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@Catogrande said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
It would be great to see a timeline photo collection MR. Good luck with the project mate.
Likety Like Like!
Do it!
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@Hooroo said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
@Catogrande said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
It would be great to see a timeline photo collection MR. Good luck with the project mate.
Likety Like Like!
Do it!
I'd love to see that too. I have just got my TVR back after a 6 year rebuild. It had some corrosion in the chassis outrigger and then...new clutch, shocks, brakes, etc, etc,. While it is pulled apart might as well do this, and this, and this, right? I didn't do all that much of the work myself but do understand what @MajorRage is undertaking. It's big, but should be really good fun.
The seven is a similar concept to the TVR I think? Seriously overpowered, lightweight deathtrap designed and built by a bunch of insane Brits. I have just amused hundreds of people sitting at a busy intersection by completely running out of talent. I was out in the car for the second time since getting it back and it rained. Steering one of these things with your right foot is one thing but if you haven't done it for a while...end result was fishtailing and over correcting for about a km to actual applause from onlookers. I can only assume that they thought that the whole show was deliberate. It's hard to make your fuck ups inconspicuous when a 4 lt v8 is shouting "look at me" to all and sundry.
Anyway. I shat myself. Be warned MR.
(Is there some way that I can stop TR from reading that? He insured it).
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@Snowy Aaah! The good old TVR. Great beasts. I saw a road test by some motoring magazine years ago who had been told this Tuscan did 0-30 in 3.9 seconds (early 1970s so seriously quick). The test driver couldn't beat 4,2 seconds, so the owner went out with him. "Oh, I see what you're doing wrong. You're changing up into second..."
I had heard that the name TVR came from one of the original owners, a Mr T Wilkinson. First name TreVoR. They lost some of their allure immediately.
Which model have you got @Snowy ?
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@Catogrande said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
"Oh, I see what you're doing wrong. You're changing up into second..."
"Oh, I see what you're doing wrong. You're changing up into second..."
Rookie mistake - even finding second takes time.I have a Chimaera. 4.0 HC. It is basically just a fun way to die and yes my car is named Trevor - agreed that it isn't very sexy as a name. The car has a bit about it though - shape, curves, and just flat out noise. Not always a thing that one would want in a woman but great in a grossly overpowered car it is a bit of a giggle.
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@Snowy said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
@Catogrande said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
"Oh, I see what you're doing wrong. You're changing up into second..."
"Oh, I see what you're doing wrong. You're changing up into second..."
Rookie mistake - even finding second takes time.I have a Chimaera. 4.0 HC. It is basically just a fun way to die and yes my car is named Trevor - agreed that it isn't very sexy as a name. The car has a bit about it though - shape, curves, and just flat out noise. Not always a thing that one would want in a woman but great in a grossly overpowered car it is a bit of a giggle.
Massive understatement! I am already feeling a pang of jealousy.
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@Catogrande said in Home Mechanics / Kit Car:
I am already feeling a pang of jealousy.
Don't. I am driving a plastic coffin and it rained again today with similar results to earlier post.
Funny how cars reflect the stereotypes I have of nationalities. The TVR is batshit crazy like my Brit friends and rellies .The RS4 is so refined but kind of lacking in personality. They both have their place - as does the hilux which really has nothing Japanese about it other than a faint smell of wasabi after lunch the other day.MR has gone very quiet. Assume that he is still reading a "how to" manual.
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I'm still here! Abeilt not very often.
As per the Bucket list thread, I've been away for a bit, but now that I'm back and the kids start school tomorrow, time should free up!
If I can work out how to post photos from the iPhone, then I'll dump some on here.
So far, have done front suspension, as well as some other prep work ... slow going!
For the TVR vs Caterham debate ... they are similar but completely different! TVR have big fookin engines, essentially on a light space frame - although they have much more creature comforts than the 7. Caterhams are skeleton cars which weigh basically nothing, and subsequently only come with 1.6-2.0 engines. Both are easy enough to end up facing the other way, and should not really be driven in the wet by amateurs!