Designing a locost style Lotus 7 Replica

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:22 pm

Caffeine and others. I have just read an article in Australian Classic Car 9/07 #170 telling in words / pictures ( R McGown words) of Warwick Williams who built a Maserati 250F racing special- track car. He bought the Champion book and went from there. About the only thing the guy did not build was the radiator. Chassis aluminium body work Skyline engine with Dellorto carby's ( he removed the fuel injection) and from the photo's it is a thing of automotive beauty. Stunning what people are capable of doing and thru his skills and determination. Suggest try yr library ( thats where I get them) or of course go to ACC for back issue or subs. I have no connection with them. Ph 02 9319 4277 www.ccar.com.au

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Sun May 25, 2008 6:45 pm

Thanks Bigdog!!!! and Mrs Bigdog!!!!

Well, BJ & I went to see Bigdog's clubman, and sit around talking cars for a whole day, with a BBQ lunch, does it get much better than that?

The clubman is an awesome piece of gear, certainly inspirational and very interesting to see how it was put together... And the other race car, wow, that was awesome!

After much discussion, it seems an NC based, duratec 2.0L clubman with extended body (width, length & height wise) will be the way to go, and it looks like we'll be building more than one

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Sun May 25, 2008 6:54 pm

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:01 pm

Caffeine,
PM'ed you about a copy of the Cad drawings.
What's Bigdogs other race car? It looks a bit like an Elva in that pic.
Jake

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:27 pm

Blue94t wrote:Caffeine,
PM'ed you about a copy of the Cad drawings.
What's Bigdogs other race car? It looks a bit like an Elva in that pic.
Jake

A Buchanan

Mokesta · Postby **Mokesta** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:28 pm

Great. NC running gear will make for a good clubby.

May I humbly suggest that you use the NC front suspension arms rather than following the \"book\" instructions. The factory arms will be stronger and maybe even lighter than fabricated arms.

I also suggest supporting the front pivot pins where the front arms meet the chassis, on both sides. The book method of just having a through bolt supported at one side is under-cooked and a poor detail.

Happy building! For many of us it is the building that provides the real pleasure. No speed cameras in the garage!!

M

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:43 pm

Mokesta wrote:Great. NC running gear will make for a good clubby.

May I humbly suggest that you use the NC front suspension arms rather than following the "book" instructions. The factory arms will be stronger and maybe even lighter than fabricated arms.

I also suggest supporting the front pivot pins where the front arms meet the chassis, on both sides. The book method of just having a through bolt supported at one side is under-cooked and a poor detail.

M

Excellent suggestions

thanks!

We're thinking engine, electrics, gearbox, diff, suspension, axles, hubs and brakes

We'll also investigate using the PPF as well.

Interior wise, I like the look of the Recaro Profi seat, wonder if a couple will fit. Depends on the condition of the NC seats I guess...

Postby **orx626** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:49 pm

Caffeine wrote:Depends on the condition of the NC seats I guess...

Caff, how about these two to get the project going? :mrgreen:

http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=29767&highlight=

Drop me a line when you want NC running gear.

Cheers,
Danny

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:54 pm

orx626 wrote:
Drop me a line when you want NC running gear.

Cheers,
Danny

I gather you have the engine / gearbox & diff, what else do you have??

bjones · Postby **bjones** » Mon May 26, 2008 1:20 am

Caffeine wrote:
orx626 wrote:
Drop me a line when you want NC running gear.

Cheers,
Danny

I gather you have the engine / gearbox & diff, what else do you have??

Hopefully 2 of each of everything ;-P

BJ

bjones · Postby **bjones** » Mon May 26, 2008 1:22 am

Caffeine wrote:Thanks Bigdog!!!! and Mrs Bigdog!!!!

Well, BJ & I went to see Bigdog's clubman, and sit around talking cars for a whole day, with a BBQ lunch, does it get much better than that?

The clubman is an awesome piece of gear, certainly inspirational and very interesting to see how it was put together... And the other race car, wow, that was awesome!

After much discussion, it seems an NC based, duratec 2.0L clubman with extended body (width, length & height wise) will be the way to go, and it looks like we'll be building more than one

I second all of the above...Fantastic day, fantastic company ..Awesome all round garage will be finished soon , then off to buy some gear ;-)

BJ

Postby **orx626** » Mon May 26, 2008 10:23 am

Caffeine wrote:
orx626 wrote:
Drop me a line when you want NC running gear.

Cheers,
Danny

I gather you have the engine / gearbox & diff, what else do you have??

Just about everything! Let me know what you need.

Cheers,
Danny

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Mon May 26, 2008 11:19 am

Caffeine wrote:
Blue94t wrote:Caffeine,
PM'ed you about a copy of the Cad drawings.
What's Bigdogs other race car? It looks a bit like an Elva in that pic.
Jake

A Buchanan

More info here - mine is a Buchanan Holden special on a Buchanan designed chassis called 'The Woftam'

linky

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Mon May 26, 2008 11:37 am

orx626 wrote:
Caffeine wrote:
orx626 wrote:
Drop me a line when you want NC running gear.

Cheers,
Danny

I gather you have the engine / gearbox & diff, what else do you have??

Just about everything! Let me know what you need.

Cheers,
Danny

Awesome

BJ, finish your shed!!! :mrgreen:

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:28 pm

Started rebuilding the SolidWorks model of the car, based on discussions and ideas for impreovements we had with Bigdog on the weekend.

Now that we've decided to go with an NC as the donor car I'll be adding a simple, visually approximate but dimensionally accurate model of the NC drivetrain and suspension to the solidworks assembly, and adjusting the chassis to suit the NC hardpoints (i.e. engine / gearbox / diff mounts, suspension pick up points etc)

Has anyone got an NC they don't mind me disassembling to measure stuff? :shock:

what fun this is!