Description
This is going to sound totally mad to many of you but here goes. I am looking at a car that makes even short journeys an event. I have a friend with a
3 wheeler Morgan and that is just more fun than any super car that I have ever been in but to me the motor does not feel happy. I would describe it as
"snatchy" at anything less than 2000rpm even though it is belt drive. There is also very little width in the pedal box when the pedals are
fully forward. I also have knowledge of a Westfield and that ticks all the boxes except that I don't like the sound of a 4 cylinder engine very
much.
So I am 6ft 3in (190cm) tall and I am looking at a Lotus 7 type car but I need the cockpit length of a modern Westfield or a wide bodied Caterham. It
is not the width so much as my leg length and the size of my feet conflicting with the lack of pedal box width on the narrow bodied cars. I can sit in
a standard Caterham if you throw out the modern seats & fit very thinly padded squabs & backrest, as was Chapmans intention in 1959, but I
find the wide bodied cars much more comfortable.
I also intend to fit a 5+ cylinder engine and an automatic gearbox (yes really - did you know that 80% of Morgan Plus 8 sold are automatic) so I might
need to widen the tunnel a little.
Which of the Lotus 7 type chassis should I be considering?
You could look at the Birkin as the new XS3 is 70mm wider and 100mm longer than the standard chassis ( westy & Caterham )
I am 6ft 1 and with the seat back and peddle box ( adjustable ) down to the floor, I can not fully press the clutch and barely touch the peddles.
I am the new UK distributor for Birkin as of the 1st September 2015 and I will have the XS at the Total kit car live show at Brands for everyone to
see.
Depending on engine and gearbox choice or just a rolling chassis ( loads of options with carbon fibre, paint, finishing touches )
then I can put a price together for you.
XS3 with the pic I have posted with the Orange and black combo, 175BHP Zetec with 15 inch black alloy's, full winter kit, heater, heated
windscreen, 5 speed type 9 box, Subaru diff etc will be retailed at £25,000 plus VAT
that also includes 12 months tax, full tank of fuel and IVA completed and car registered.
07787 989 290
Terry Ingram
Luego Viento is a large Seven Type car with tall drivers and big engines in mind. The biggest engine I have seen in person is a Dodge Viper V10
fitted to a Viento. Its approx 6inch wider and 12 longer than a standard Westfield/Caterham. I took mine for IVA yesterday. Check my archive for
some more pics.
Description
the Quantum Xtreme is bigger too, the wheel base width seems about the same I think, but the monocoque and seating area is definitely more accommodating especially for longer legs. http://www.quantumcars.eu/
The longest cockpit you can put in a Haynes Roadster from seat back to pedal box is 6200mm as that is longest the material comes in without having to join it, how wide do you want it to be do you have a budget limit for the half shafts?
Another vote for the Luego Viento, plenty of room, wide footwell, long cockpit and an engine bay that is designed for a small block Chevy engine. Steve has a straight six bmw engine in, irony a v8 and my little v6 looks minute. Should be no probs with a 5 cylinder engine
Another vote for the Luego Viento, plenty of room, wide footwell, long cockpit and an engine bay that is designed for a small block Chevy engine. Steve has a straight six bmw engine in, irony a v8 and my little v6 looks minute. Should be no probs with a 5 cylinder engine
Thank you.
I am going to have a look at the Luago Viento.
Tug Chaser, where are you in the country? Always welcome to have a look at mine if you are in the area
If you are building then there's a way of increasing the footwell length by 75 to 100mm,
without changing any chassis dimensions.
I'm actually considering moving my seats forward as I may have overdone things.
If buying then you can only get what's available.
Cheers
Paul G
907.
In which car can I get an extra 75 -100mm? I have never heard of a Sotul & Googling it didn't help much either apart from an early 90's
reference.
Pojo
You are about 100 miles from me. When I have made sure that I am not wasting your time I may well get back to you regarding a look at yours. Allowing
for soon to be taken holidays that will take a few weeks. It is always interesting to talk to someone who has experience.
Thank you.
To put a wolf amongst the sheep, the GTS W7DE is based upon McSorely +442 plans, which is 4" longer, 4" wider, and 2" taller than standard chassis. GTS themselves have gone under, but I believe they've been taken over and re-launched if you're looking to buy a kit and build. Else I think someone on here was selling one not too long ago (possibly MacBeast?) if you want to get in and drive.
Your more than welcome to come and look at my Viento if I am closer in Lincoln.
Standard 7 vs the Ginormous Viento
Viento Versus Velocity (Size)
And the nice thing about the Viento is that it looks in proportion, even though it's bigger. Here's my ordinary Locost (yellow/silver)
alongside a Viento (black) - you'll see that the shape and style is still good, even though it's a good bit larger.
barton mills
quote:
Originally posted by Tugchaser
907.
In which car can I get an extra 75 -100mm? I have never heard of a Sotul & Googling it didn't help much either apart from an early 90's reference.
Pojo
You are about 100 miles from me. When I have made sure that I am not wasting your time I may well get back to you regarding a look at yours. Allowing for soon to be taken holidays that will take a few weeks. It is always interesting to talk to someone who has experience.
Thank you.
) 
Tugchaser
Just let me know if you want a look
quote:
Originally posted by 907
(note. I added the second "T" to it's name because David Jenkins kept calling it a "Sooooooo tol"
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by 907
(note. I added the second "T" to it's name because David Jenkins kept calling it a "Sooooooo tol"
So now it's a "sot all"
quote:
Originally posted by Tugchaser
907.
In which car can I get an extra 75 -100mm? I have never heard of a Sotul & Googling it didn't help much either apart from an early 90's reference.
Pojo
You are about 100 miles from me. When I have made sure that I am not wasting your time I may well get back to you regarding a look at yours. Allowing for soon to be taken holidays that will take a few weeks. It is always interesting to talk to someone who has experience.
Thank you.
Thank you for the suggestionsl. Sorry for the delay in replying but holidays etc etc etc.
I have plenty to consider here which will take a little time but if I decide on the Viento I will be taking up the kind offers of a look see.
If I were going automatic I would take a good hard look at a 1UZ-FE.
The Toyota V8 looks lovely but that is uncharted territory which for a beginner is a bit scary and most probably horribly expensive even if someone gave me an engine/box.
quote:
Originally posted by Tugchaser
The Toyota V8 looks lovely but that is uncharted territory which for a beginner is a bit scary and most probably horribly expensive even if someone gave me an engine/box.
I do know what you mean but I see things slightly differently.
My basic instinct is to go with something I understand & which is repairable. I am sure that Toyota parts are available & that the motor is
really good but I would hate to be in a position in 5 years time of having to repair one as I suspect that it would cost a fortune. Before someone
tells me that replacement motors will be available just look how suddenly all the Sierra donors disappeared, where have all the Capris & Granadas
gone, and just which Toyota Lexus V8's will simply bolt into where the old one came from, fit all the bits (I am thinking electronics as well as
mechanical bits) & actually work properly?
I know that Rover parts are getting trickier which leads to me an inescapable conclusion. If I had to pick something which I fancied, for which the
knowledge base is vast and for which spares will always be available and are cheap I would choose a traditional Chevrolet V8. I really do not care
much about a few gallons a year. I have spoken to Luego and they don't think that I am mad, in fact quite the opposite, so I am investigating
this idea.
The Viento was designed to take a chevy 350 V8 and even then its not a tight squeeze, kinda wish i had gone that route myself. will be interesting to see if an autobox will fit
Yes the autobox is a question. I might have to find my biggest hammer!!!
[Edited on 20/8/15 by Tugchaser]
quote:
Originally posted by Tugchaser
I do know what you mean but I see things slightly differently.
My basic instinct is to go with something I understand & which is repairable. I am sure that Toyota parts are available & that the motor is really good but I would hate to be in a position in 5 years time of having to repair one as I suspect that it would cost a fortune. Before someone tells me that replacement motors will be available just look how suddenly all the Sierra donors disappeared, where have all the Capris & Granadas gone, and just which Toyota Lexus V8's will simply bolt into where the old one came from, fit all the bits (I am thinking electronics as well as mechanical bits) & actually work properly?
I know that Rover parts are getting trickier which leads to me an inescapable conclusion. If I had to pick something which I fancied, for which the knowledge base is vast and for which spares will always be available and are cheap I would choose a traditional Chevrolet V8. I really do not care much about a few gallons a year. I have spoken to Luego and they don't think that I am mad, in fact quite the opposite, so I am investigating this idea.
As a side note, working on the Viento is a dream. The engine bay is so large most things are easy peasy to access. My hat goes off to people who fit
large engines into small cars.
My advice is take a good look around one and a test drive before buying. Put your location and someone near might be able to help.
quote:
Originally posted by Irony
The only part for the Rover V8 that is getting difficult to source is the 2wd bell housing from the the SD1. All the 4wd variants are to long. Well I say difficult to source, they are difficult to source cheaply. They go for £200+ on eBay.
I must admit I don't know much about Chevy V8's but a simple search for Chevrolet V8 on ebay brings up 1 running engine and a 5 or six for 'spares or repair'. The same search for 1UZ-FE or Rover V8 brings up 10-15 engines that would be a viable donor. In fact simply type V8 engine into ebay and limit the search to the 'complete engines' and you get a sample of whats common and not that common here in the UK. American V8's (not including the RV8 as an american Buick engine) fall quite far down the list of common V8's. I certainly don't think your mad by choosing an Chevy V8, far from it but I don't buy the argument that its a good choice because spares will be available for a longer period than other makes of engine. If you were in the states I think it would be vastly different.
Autotune Gemini?
http://www.autotuneuk.com/gemini.html
Good luck with your search
Cheers
Mike