powderbrake

That beats working on the car all day..... getting something done.... then realizing that night that you have to undo it all because you forgot the muffler bearing has to go in first.

They are the BEST way to make round holes in thin sheet metal. They work grat on thicker stuff too.

Great pics and report. That H1 V8 is a nuclear weapon, looking for a car to set in. Pity the tires on whatever it goes into. This year the show looked great. When I went to the show in 2003 to look for a seven, the only ones there were a Locost, an Ultralite, a Diva and a Superformance S3. The Superformance was a beautifully finished car, the interior was just like a new car. I understand they stopped making them, and concentrated on the cobras. too bad, the fit and finish were awesome.

I have had mine for 3 1/2 years, and have enjoyed every minute. I will keep it as long as I enjoy it, and can get in and out of it.

You can't rest.... 7-7-7 is coming...got to keep working :crazy: :crazy:

I'll bring some Schafly's Pale Ale, a microbrewer in the home of the Megabrewer( budweiser)

Awesome, Loren,.... simply awesome !!! You are truely an iron man to go through all of that without throwing in the towel. I wonder what you would do if you ever got the chance to finish a car ahead of time , and have a couple months to sort out the gremlins. At least you could get some sleep, and I am sure you would really scare those Vipers and Vettes. There were a lot of fantastic cars in the 68 vehicles that were behind you in the standings. Congratulations on an awesome finish, #2 in SSGT2SB class, just behind the #3 overall event winner with the professional drivers. :hurray:

One of the side benefits of having your children learn how to work on cars is that when you need new plugs or an oil change, you can assign them the job, while you sit back with a beer. :cheers:

Oh to have so much money, you can indulge your every car whim. Did you see the Ariel Atom sitting next to tthe Rocket?

Al: I know how you feel. It is great fun and a real learning experince to build a car with your kid. Back in 1980, my son asked me if he could have a dune buggy. We made a deal, I would match him $ for $, and would help him build it. There were two restrictions. He could not work on it until his homework was done, and I would never work on it alone. We got a Chenoweth frame, bought a 1972 Beetle for donor parts, and we were in the build. I was really stoked.... I wanted to be building all the time, but I had to wait for him to finish his homework, or to come home from playing ball with his buddies etc. , but we did it on his schedule. When it was done he drove it to high school for two years, in all weather. He was tougher than me for sure. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/85102806_dunebuggy.jpg When you daughter gets older, I bet you will have fun building with her. I have a good friend who resoterd a 1964 Camaro with his daughter. She got mechanically inclined, eventually got an engineering degree, then a law degree and became a patent lawyer. Perhaps the build had something to do with that

Very interesting, a vehicle which uses the driver's feet as a front bumper. :nonod: Be sure to wear your heaviest boots, or don't hit anything :cry:

They look like 17" wheels which is standard on Ultralites. see brian's web page, and click on Gallery, pictures, or on Models, XR7 ultralite website

My wife bought me a ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday a few years ago, and it was great fun. ( No she didn't try to shoot it down) What was interesting was how quiet it was when the burners were not on. Floating along at a 100 -200 feet over peoples homes, you could hear people talking in their yards, and you could talk to them. It really surprised tham when you said hello, and thay had not heard the balloon. Landing is simply a controlled crash. The higher the wind speed the less controlled the landing.

I generally keep a bottle of water between the seats, but I was thinking of adding a cupholder for a 64 oz Big Gulp

" My Name is Dave and I drive a Seven" It sounds like an AA meeting. I guess we are addicted to the sevens, so..... I suppose I have to come clean as well My name is Jerry , and I drive a seven. This could become the official greeting of USA7s members.

loren; I can't make it to South Bend because of a family committment, but can offer support if needed, I will pm you the data. Maybe I can make it to one of the other events. Jerry

I added my vote

Well, since my Ultralite never breaks or needs any maintenance, I have to have other things to work on. I have a 98 vette, to which I added a Blackwing intake, and did a bypass on a set of B&B Touring mufflers. I also recently replaced the leather on the seats, as the top is always down and the original leather on the 98's was junk. Here's a pic at my old house. You can see the muffler bypass at link to baypass http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/40357719_DCP00396.JPG I also used to build RC model airplanes , but haven't had the time, since I moved to a new home, and got the Ultralite. Here is a ducted fan model of an A4 Skyhawk which I did in Blue Angels colors. Sorry to say it only lasted two flights, but if you fly em, you crash em. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1257510856_skyhawk (Medium).jpg I have recently acquired some woodworking tools and have started to build furniture. I just completed my first of 6 planned pieces which will fill a 9 X 16 foot wall with an entertainment center. The first piece is the TV stand. It is all cherry and cherry plywood. This piece is 68" long, 18"high and deep, with two large drawers. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1311630233_DSC_3866 (Medium).JPG In my spare time, I am generally reloading ammo. I shoot weekly with a club at a local police department, an occasional IDPA pistol match, and I am currently preparing for a prairie dog trip to South Dakota in May. Here's a pic from last year when I got into the Varmint Hunter's 500 yard club by nailing one at 588 yards. I was shooting from the trucks in the top of the picture. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1190375103_588_yard_dog_eddens.jpg

John: I am in St.Louis, and have assembled my own WCM Ultralite kit. I would be happy to share what experience I have with you. email me geddens at charter.net

I made the transition OK, everything looks good

Sounds great. Do you have to change the injectors, or will they handle the extra horsepower? With the aftermarket computer , are you going to change the rpm when the VTEC kicks in, or leave it alone?

HOOO BOY !!!! You can never have too much horsepower!!! It looks like a good fit. There is lots of room in front of the engine, did you have to fabricate special brackets, and did you have to move any original frame rails or fittings?

Paul: It really looks great. I look forward to seeing it in person. I remember the grin on your face when you rode in Buzz's Ultralite at the Southwest Sevens Festival. I can only imagine the grin is MUCH larger, now that you have built your own.

Al, you are welcome to share the space inside the trailer with my car. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif

I agree with blami, the enclosed trailer is a real advantage to getting there and back and staying dry. I also agree that dual wheels, electric brakes and a weight transfer hitch are important. You may need a larger SUV to pull a larger trailer. I have a Haulmark Kodiak 7 X 14 enclosed trailer with a ramp rear door. It has a side door (helps to tie down the car, and to reach stored items in front)and lots of room to haul tools and supplies. It cost me $4300,and I bought it new from the factory. Lots of these 7 x 14 "landscaper's" trailers with a drop down rear ramp are available on ebay. There is a ready market for it when you decide to sell it. Check the inside width.... on some trailers, the trailer wheels are partially into the cargo compartment. On mine, the trailer wheels are completely outside the cargo area, so I have the full width of the trailer inside. (72 1/2" which just fits my 68" wide car) Because the drop down ramp creates too steep an angle for the botttom of the car to clear the edge of the trailer, you will need to invest in a pair of "Rhino Ramps" at Wal Mart for about $30. These work perfectly, and there is no need to raise the front of the trailer to get the car on and off. I cut the "stops" off the top of the rhino ramps, and they fit under the rear ramp of the trailer, forming a ramp extension for the car wheels. The enclosed utility trailer is great for moving furniture and 4 x 8 sheets of plywood. In fact you will become the "guy with a trailer " to all your friends. Here's a couple pics. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_082624_DSC_0240_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_082754_DSC_0241_Small.JPG Here the rhino ramps tuck under the rear of the Ultralite http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_083520_DSC_0239_Small.JPG Here , backing it out, I do not yet have the rhino ramps, and I am using wood blocks to lift the ramp to lower the angle into the trailer. Also note the trailer is a lot taller than you need. I got one with an extra 6" of height, as it was the only one I could get on short notice, when I needed the trailer. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070403_084404_DSCF2594_Small.JPG