ptegler

Over the years there's been a variety or reasons for the various sevenesque mfrs' to use different steering ratios (track, race, road manners, homoligation...) I'd like to get a frame of reference documented here (usa7s)as as to what various models have used, which of course isn't all that useful unless you include variables like tire sizes, steering wheel size, car model (size), usage model (pleasure, street/track, track etc). So folks... how does one go about creating a page or getting a list here somewhere that defines a good spread across our toys. tia ptegler

?? ever find one?

Well after cleaning up the Miata seats, realizing a couple of short feet (vs oem slides) would set the seat bases, so over all, no mods except hinge removal, I've decided to stay with the oem seat arrangement. Yes I like the Miata seats, and the bases give better for/aft retention than the oem Rotus seat bases, but something inside me just wants to stay 'old' skool'. So what do I do... wife agreed the interior was just a bit 'plain'. So... matching the newer steering wheel (as close as possible) wood center console with some chrome, brightened up the interior nicely I think. the console is simply a piece of thin 'big box store' laminate flooring. The 'chrome' is actually C channel aluminum, simple crimped ever so slightly and just wedged onto a custom width cut piece of the flooring. (~1/4" thk) A light scotch bright scrubby, and several coats of hard clear coat (designed for car wheels) and it matches the sheen of the new steering wheel. Perhaps missing just a tad shade of red for a perfect steering wheel match but close enough. Still waiting for the new hand brake boot and trim ring. The shifter and brake handle trim rings screws will be all that's needed to hold it in place. The orig design was to leave a cut out for an IPhone in between the brake and shifter, with a simple piece of captive elastic band to retain it. But the way phone change size.... I said screw cutting a depression out. I find it so weird that cell phone cameras do not appear to see colors correctly, based on light and material. I have a blue Spitfire that no photo shows the color accurately regardless of light. The last wood steering wheel looked too light and red in pics, and here, the wheel looks too red, and the center console board too light. yes... the various filters on the camera do not help. The screen simply never looks like the color in person. live and learn so...too far as usual? jfft ymmv ptegler

missed this message myself...went leaf color bike riding on the 'Rails and Trails' rail line from Cumberland to Frostburg with the wife. Stupid stuff on my part with the car going Friday. ...never made that either. Sunday could work. Can shuffle a couple project time lines. :-)

@demoray... my buddy you met at the T.S. Street Survivors show says yes, there is a show Oct30. (Vet show still on 11/8) I'll be there by 2:30 or so. would be great to test compare some more stuff. I'm wondering since the cockpits were so similar in size, would be interesting to see if the doors fit both vehicles. I'm pretty sure the roof will not,... my longer rear boot compartment etc. what a diff a little chrome makes

late to the conversation here... one other option i nthe US... toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser BJ42 FJ40 FJ45 HJ47 a pair runs round $100 example (20261017) https://www.ebay.com/itm/377502148457?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1DIM3yJnxTS2_nWRCouOCow35&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-173151-913341-5&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=377502148457&targetid=2449372253943&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9007848&poi=&campaignid=24187699436&mkgroupid=197989403005&rlsatarget=pla-2449372253943&abcId=10813835&merchantid=6296724&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24187699436&gclid=CjwKCAjwl4HXBhAjEiwAHlpWhDw47WYeREwPLhYefmM3mqp8MjajBvSDfnOstwj2W4RSlXQiDhZn7xoC_3MQAvD_BwE and as oem installed on my Rotus

@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 really hated adding the DGV, but the orig single barrel Solex was beyond hope. I do though have my FI setup completed and waiting in the wings as this winter's project.

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

somewhere back in this thread(?) there are a couple comparison shots of the later cars with slightly longer a-arm ends (less threads exposed) A gentleman her and I had discussed this very point...we compared photos, and it appears longer arms were used later in the production run. Mine also have longer arms with only 1-3 threads showing, and my camber is ~ +0.5° Regarding the BAT poster.... take it with a BIG grain of salt. I'd personally visited the dealership multiple times, almost buying one new in 1988. But the X-wife wanted a 4x4 for all the camping we use to do in Western MD (I'm in Baltimore) Some assets are still in the hands of x-employees in the general area to this day.. Many stories abound, those that gained were happy, those that didn't ....well.... The most I got away with was a sweat shirt 9back then anyway! took another 34 years... but I got one. (and a new wife obviously) ptegler

the Probe lever setup is wild to say the least. One thing to watch.... that switch. that rides the steering column. and the current path for the relay used makes a difference as to whether it self-cancels. .... (relay coil resistance) after the re-wiring (for those who don't know about this switch) One lever is turn (up/dn) and high/lo beams in/out. plus momentary high beams flash all within finger tips reach

EXCELLENT to meet you! ..love to know there were more after mine! Everyone has been limiting the numbers built, vs the actual chassis #'s so stating your as such, fits events to date. We were all beginning to believe #93 (mine) was the highest number anyone had run across. Middle of the country I see. ... East Coast myself. Welcome