xromad

Interesting, I'd like to know more...

Not bad effort from across the pond: http://www.the-webbs.com/k2rum/video/arnage1.mpg http://www.the-webbs.com/k2rum/video/doughnut.mpg Brent

I think I would do most of it the same. Only thing I can think of is: I would have taken my wife to a gathering much sooner. She hated the car from the day she learned I was saving to build it. After the "777 event" and the "Stalker Ambush" last year, she now loves the car (and the people we meet) so much that she frequently talks me into going for a drive....not like I need a lot of arm-twisting in the first place. Brent

There are a couple of Canadian Stalker builds, so I assure you it can be done. If you find a particular setup that excites you, don't be afraid to take on the challenge.

:yesnod: I can hear the conversation now. "No honey, I'm not cheating on you... I just upgraded to a nicer cupholder..... .....OUCH! quit hitting me!!!" :jester:

I love this, http://www.manapotions.com/robopult.html And people at work think I'm nuts..... they should bring it to the punkinchunkin contest http://www.punkinchunkin.com/main.htm

Excellent! :jonautox:

Congratulations and welcome to USA7s!

I think it is wonderful that different 7s have different personalities: Bike Engine, V8, V6, I4....etc. It is a blessing that each type fits some people and not others.... :cheers: So my next question is out of curiosity, not loyalty. Did it meet your expectations, or will you be looking for something with a different personality?

I understand the frustration.... In the late mid to late 80s We had a Gray Plymouth Sundance that got hit 7 times in 4 years. 4 were hit-and-run. 2 were no insurance. 1 was our fault (wife got hit at a rr crossing) To this day I still have the accident report (Other Vehicle: 1953 Alco Locomotive) .:rofl:

Probably just means he knows more good Cobra jokes than we do.....:jester: Fess up Glenn, what experience do you have? :bigears: p.s. Flying a Cobra hood doesn't count in this group, but it does make good practice for future qualification....

Ah, this is fun.... let's see... My list: Drove seven in the rain with no top (check) Drove seven in the snow, no top, no heater (check) Drove seven on a day when the temp was below 0 F, no top, no heater (check) Spun the car at an autocross (check) Survived my wife driving my seven (check) Used Seven to Tow home friends broken Cobra (check) Blown coolant hose (check) Lost fan belt while driving (check) Have to fix plugged fuel filter in the middle of nowhere (check) Blown engine (check) Replaced with more powerful engine (check) Towed home from a blat.... (check) Pumped 4 quarts of oil on floor before discovering oil filter missing (check) Used removable tip screwdriver to feel for top dead center. Tip falls off. Take engine apart to retrieve tip. (check) EDIT: Hood not latched and started to come off, luckily I stopped in time (almost a check) Things remaining before qualification as Master..... Blow up second engine (TODO) Replace engine with super powerful engine (TODO) Spin the car at a road race (TODO) Get towed back to base camp during national event (TODO) It's not just a car, it's an adventure!

:ack: "Now that's just ugly, I don't care who you are!" :jester: When do I get to drive one?

Yes! A number of general observations.... and a Disclaimer: I own chassis #20 with a 3.4 1. Very nice torque, very smooth, lots of power, not finicky at all. Push the go pedal soft and cruise all day long...or...Push the go pedal hard and hold on tight.... 2. Very good suspension, quite smooth. Stiff, but not harsh. 3. Excellent engineering on the suspension. The geometry is excellent and very very strong. 4. Excellent quality control on the frame. Bolt holes actually line up.... Parts actually fit... Paradise! The Stalker owners I know are all excellent people who have put a lot of love and craftsmanship in thier cars... But, as with any kit, once it leaves the factory, the owner can do all kinds of nasty things to it. Make sure nothing was drastically changed by the current owner and you will be rewarded with an excellent car. If in doubt, call Dennis he will definately give you a good assessment. On the question: Is driving a Stalker a very unrefined driving experience? How does it compare in refinement compared to other makes? Yes....But..... It depends on how you choose to define "refined driving experience". If you are talking about absolute precision handling and go-kart like reaction. The seven is almost unequaled in the world. If you are talking about a sip of Cognac from the wet bar while James, the Chauffeur, takes you through London traffic to meet your Mistress, I suggest a Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, or perhaps if your pockets are quite deep a Maybach would be suitable. :jester: and no..... 1. The torquey motor gives it a very refined feel. You don't have to flog it to drive it. Power everywhere and easy to use. 2. The shifter/tranny gives it a very refined feel. I have had many people comment on the feel of my "Brunton Lightning-shifter". 3. The ride - as stated earlier is stiff but not harsh. I think it feels very taught and refined.... Some would think otherwise.... 4. Sheet-metal interior and fiberglass bucket seats.... Most would call these raw, I call them functional. To this point, I have a "Real Truck" and a "Fake Truck" in my garage. The fake truck is stronger, faster, better gas mileage, smooter, and better in just about every way you can measure, but it is still a "Fake Truck". The easy way to tell the difference is that I wash the INSIDE of the real truck with a garden hose...... I LIKE the sheet-metal interior. Brent

An amalgum of many things seen over the years - good and bad. I built the bottom about two years ago from a set of plans I got from a very good friend. I was frustrated by the first attempt at a top: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4971&g2_serialNumber=2 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10458&g2_serialNumber=2 I was vaguely inspired by Norm's fine example I was somewhat inspired by how Justin Sims put a top on his trailer Mostly I wanted to make sure of the following: 1. removable so I can use it as a regular trailer 2. better aerodynamics than the tarp 3. easy access to the front tie-down straps 4. easy access to the cockpit. 5. hard cover so it doesn't flap in the wind 6. not too heavy I still have some work to do though.

Just finished mine. Action shots: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13858&g2_serialNumber=1 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13864&g2_serialNumber=1 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13868&g2_serialNumber=1 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13876&g2_serialNumber=1 More photos at this link: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=13313 Brent

I've driven it in weather down to -10. But, that particular trip was neither fast nor far.... However, 10 to 30 is perfectly fine driving weather. Even in Minnesota, I have found that there is typically at least one day a month during the winter when I can get the car out on reasonably dry, reasonably salt-free, roads. Brent

Fixed....:jester:

Took a couple of Cobra owners out for a run in the country. They enjoyed the "Brisk" pace.... :-) We called it the "Frozen Snot Run" http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13588&g2_serialNumber=1 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13590&g2_serialNumber=1 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13578&g2_serialNumber=1 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13580&g2_serialNumber=1 http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13584&g2_serialNumber=1 http://75.73.114.187//oddfellows/november2007/2007_snotRun_19.jpg Brent

Wow! I've always loved the Ginetta I'll take two! But, since the 7 isn't leaving I'll have to pass on account of limited garage space. Stick around and Help us celebrate the enthusiasm for small light fast cars. Of course, I'm not letting you off the hook, someday I do expect you to buy a Seven and come for a blat.... :-) Brent

Keep it simple but effective! Don't over engineer it. Especially don't over engineer it before you have it on the road. 1. The stick axle is a darned good design, especially for your intended usage. 2. If the axle comes with drum brakes, use them until you have the car on the road! Then worry about a disk conversion. 3. Don't get all funky about anti-dive, anti-squat geometry, dynamic camber.......... Just put together a solid neutral design. 4. Stick to a nice flexible motor/trany combo that will keep you happy for years to come. 5. For the front suspension, remember that safety and strength are VERY important. Many of the cars you see on this forum (and in internet photos in general) are focused to meet the needs of the owner/driver. In some cases they realy are a better design but only the skill/knowledge of the builder has allowed him to pull it off. If you try it and you don't have his skill and it will end in failure. Some designs are just BAD and the owner doesn't realize it, or the owner realizes it but the context of the photo doesn't tell you it is bad. Some designs are good but only for very specific purposes. And, some designes, while not bad, merely reflect the mass hysteria of the day. Find a good simple design that is within your skill level and use it. Hint, if you build by the book, you will be pretty close. If you build by the book and use your head, you will be very close. And, if you build by the book, use your head, look critically at existing cars, and ask lots of questions you will be right on target. Brent

Here's the photo of what Drew was talking about. http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12587&g2_serialNumber=1 There were never more than 5 to 10 people at a time, but it took us an hour or more to extract ourselves from the continuous stream of fresh onlookers. Brent

While it is true that the S4 tends to be the unloved child....who the #$@$@ cares what others think? Buy it, drive it, love it. Keep that attitude up and you will fit in just fine in this crowd!

Ok, this might sound back-yardish and hoakey. But, for a very light and very capable battery in a small package. I used a good quality, sealed, Garden Tractor battery. I looked through the shelves until I found one with 360 Amps (300 CCA). I've started my car StalkerV6 (3.4 with 9.75 compression) in -10 weather with no problem. When it get's to -20 I don't care wether the car will start or not, because I'm not going to be out there starting it..... :crazy: Don't overestimate the need for a nuclear powered, 5 bazilion CCA, super gell, space shuttle battery. Yours now for the low low price of$2999.98! :jester: There is a lot of marketing hype out there about how much battery you need and very little honest information about how little battery will realy do the job.....

These days, I'm mostly Fedora, just because it is what I am most familiar with. Next time I upgrade, I'll probably go with CentOS. In the past I ran Redhat, Slackware, Gentoo, SuSE, CentOS, Mandrake and a few others. I also used to be pretty good with Free BSD but have fallen out of practice with it. Maybe someday I'll pick it back up again. Brent