ptegler

@demoray made my evening... nice chat Stunned to find the CSR is nearly identical to the Rotus dimensions. Wheelbases within 1" dash cowl edge to seat back top (cabin fore aft) and even their rakes, are nearly identical.The Rotus nose is 1" further forward. But the CSR bonnet is nearly 9" shorter than the Rotus. ( test fitted the CSR on the Rotus). Rotus is longer outback with it's full depth boot. Both run inboard shock configurations. We found the CSR is 17" wide across the seat base as well. The CSR seats will fit a Rotus ...fun night.

Would love the in person comparison, even if just side by side looking over both vehicles. I'd restored this Rotus to as original condition as possible, being it was still mostly still all as built, and bringing it home back to MD. But that mind set is now changing. Seat wise, and considering what I've already spent, the Miata seats on the shelf were simply a super cheap alternative to full up Cat seats. Hmm..... Wednesday, the wife is tied up so my day is free. (Retired here so all day every day really)

CSR size.

MY Rotus anyway, is spot on 17" Miata seat base pan is 16.25" +/- .2"

rad is only 3-4" behind the grill in the nose

I've had these in multiple Triumphs and MGs (and Miatas) So a spare pair sitting around is no big deal. I use to simply say I liked the built in headrest speakers. Well while high up on a shelf in the larger toy room, I pulled out my measuring tape, wondering how wide the seats were, WITHOUT the hinges. Well for the Rotus, unbolt the hinges and the back fits! Snuggly. Will not move quite as easily as the oem back does. Now the seat bottom does fit too! REAL tight without removing the metal hinge,...you;ll need to play with the bottom seat pan just like in a Spitfire. so... jfft (yes. the Miata seat is very faded)

was trying to determine the car the column might have come from specifically for the spline info for a wheel adapter. I don't know if there were a bunch those years from Toyota?... all the same generically? diff on every model? tia all

anyone have any clue as to the thread and spline (which car) was used for the Chris Custer Rotus cars? (specifically the later year runs) Looking for a steering wheel boss to fit the column and have no idea where to look. tia

mind boggling... this is the exact model cap on my 1993 Rotus So apparently Custer used quite a bit of avail parts!

PA12-CF (Nylon PA12 carbon fiber) and (blue) pure PC.. FI body 40mm 95 and 35mm stacks (pre-finishing)...

less! Only two lower shock bolts. :-) ptegler

I've always been amazed at the idea that cars rely on just two bolts to support all the weight up front (two lower front ball joints) Cars sits on the shocks/springs sure, but everything presses on that short, lower shock mount to ball joint area of the front lower suspension. REAL or not, the idea that the front weight now sits on top the upright. just seems right for some reason. The Lotus software really can't make any determinations as to whether it's better or worse than other designs, as it for angular and speeds of motion of travel type analysis, rather than 'track feel'. Again, the only way reality can make a suggestion, is a talented driver's (or group) direct comparison 'seat of the pants'. Even then I think I'd still prefer to do that test myself, for a multitude of reasons! :-) v/r pegler

@Marek I think we chatted about a meet up once before. Had Chris's son at least acknowledge my email, but never got a follow-up as promised. So I didn't push it. Funny to as to this day the dealership is still there, albeit diff name/company/dealer etc. ptegler

Cats simply went dual a-arms as nearly every other car out there, most likely simple parts availability and or road testing safety regs etc. Orig Sevens, the leading upper a-arm were the sway bar itself. The rubber end compliance was there as a solid mount would have stressed the upper inner pivot as the sway did not rotate on the same axis as the arm. The Rotus design does not need nor benefit from a sway bar. Take a glance at any F1 car (simply easy to see during TV shots) you see no shock, nor even a shock strut, as their upper arms are the same see-saw scheme (albeit bell-cranked etc) I've got an old copy of the Lotus suspension software. In the past I'd modeled my Triumphs, Miatas, MGBs etc. when working the Rotus suspension measurements, The Rotus design, tests as if a Z-bar is mounted up front! Nearly zero roll with the wheels on the ground in a corner, yet normal compliance of a single wheel over a bump. Probably why they got away with such lightweight springs 125lbs in the back 115 up front (or do I have that bass-ackwards?) Personally, maybe it's the ol' geezer in me.... first hand experience is the only justification for any comments. If you haven't driven both, any comment is mute. v/r ptegler