KiwiBirkin

Over at the NZ lotus 7 forum im running (http://www.lotus7.co.nz) we are making a Clubman cars calendar of members rides and I thought I would share here the pictures I submited of Grace that I took for the calendar comp a couple of days ago. http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/car_comp1.jpg http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/car_comp3.jpg http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/car_comp5.jpg http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/car_comp8.jpg

Alaskossie your car is looking great I love the carbon/silver combo it just looks fantastic on your car im sure its going to turn a few heads when you start driving it on the road.

Cool a open bar ill have a Tequila Sunrise them to start with.:party: Merry Christmas all.:smilielol5:

Hi does any one know what sort of diff Birkin used in there live axel cars 1996-1997, mins has developed some vibration and I have been told its a pinon gear and the diff will need a over haul come our winter. Cheers Stephen

I'm going to change the exhaust a bit next winter as i'm not happy about its position and want to move it back 4" so the muffler comes back to the rear wheel guard and pushes the exhaust fumes under the wheel arch I will then change a few parts to polished S/S while i'm at it.

Cheers guys im pretty happy with how she has turned out.

Couple of updates to Grace this week. Finally my doors arrived from the USA it took over 3 weeks but at least there here before Christmas. I purchased doors from Texas Motor Works ( http://www.texasmotorworks7.com/ ) which is the Birkin dealer in the US the guy who owns it Dick Brink was very help full and really easy to deal with cost was NZ $650 to my door via the US Postal service in comparison the Aussie dealer wanted NZ $1300 and didn't respond to my email much. I also had a new grill laser cut and painted which my mate drew up in Autocad for me to my design. http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/BirkinGrill2.jpg http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/BirkinGrill3.jpg The doors are great on the car and will get used for longer trips, they have a nice side pocket which adds heaps of elbow room to allow for a un-cramped driving style when they are on. http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/BirkinGrill1.jpg

I would contact Dick Brink at Texas Motor Works as he is a Birkin dealer and im sure he could sell you some. http://www.texasmotorworks7.com/

Hi Will you finally found you way here at least Croc wont be so on his own now anyway welcome to the forums these guys are a great bunch to hang around. Croc sorry to tell you mate there is another NZ'er on here all ready but he mainly hangs around the BEC section 7ish is his name and he lives by me here in NZ so thats 2 all.

Hope you all had a great day, im not sure what the thanks giving day is for but sounds like a great chance to be with family

Great to hear its sold Bruce and you still have a Birkin to drive, what got me about this whole thing is you were going have his & her Birkins now thats true love mate dont let that gal go, once you situation improves i hope you can try and get another one again good luck Kiwibirkin

I have been dealing with Dick here in NZ for the last 3 months and he is now shipping me some Birkin doors too me in NZ for my car, he was cheaper than the aussie Birkin dealer and his help and communication was great thru email, if I was to buy a seven based car in the US I sure would be dealing with him as im really impressed with his service. Kiwibirkin

Just starting the summer season here in NZ with nice dry roads and some better temps than spring gave us which was unseasonally cold for NZ, so im looking forward to many days of nice driving days and may even start taking Grace to work in the morning.

How much for the cover ??

Gday Croc I dont think anyone rents sevens here in NZ but im sure if you come over I could arrange some rides in some if you were to come to Christchurch, in fact if you come to NZ make sure you contact me first im sure we could look after you with some where to stay too, mind you I would offer that too anyone on this forum who was thinking of a holiday in NZ

I havent had time yet Rob its on the to do list

Hi Croc we went via Arthurs Pass and then via lake Brunner to Greymouth and then up the West Coast road to Westport on Friday, on Sat we drove to Karamea and back as its a one way trip in and out and the best road i have ever driven in my seven since owning it. On Sunday we returned via the Buller Goarge to Reefton and then up ove the Ruhua Saddle and on through the Lewis Pass.

Its the second month of spring but its been bloody cold in fact the coldest one in NZ since 1945 and also very wet which not the norm at all, we stripped layers by about 12pm when it had warmed up a bit and then the rest of the 3 days i was just in a jumper and wind fleece and it was pretty good. Im sorry no under the bonnet pictures from the turbo lotus we didnt really have a look under the hoods of any cars as we spent nearly every day light hour driving .

Hi guys I thought I would share these pics on photobucket of the recent SLR (Southern Lotus Club) Tranz Alpine run to the west coast of NZ the SLR run these events every year and this was its 20th year. We head away for 3 days to diffrent parts of NZ driving on roads that suit Lotus cars this year there were 28 cars, 50 people we did 997 kms over the best driving roads in NZ, I have not been away on this weekend before but I can say it was one of the best weekends I have had in my life and I will never miss this event while I own Grace or any other Lotus car, I got to drive many diffrent cars over the weekend with the highlite being a s1 Lotus Elan (the red & white hardtop) and a turbo powerd lotus 7 which was damm quick. Anyway here is a link the photbucket album http://s660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Tranz%20Alpine/

Great picture MoPho and chance of a big version for a destop picture 1680x1050 as I would love to add to my desktop collection.

Looks like a nice drive Budlite and as others have said what a great picture that first one is.

Just fitted the new rear rose jointed Gaz shocks on my car with 175lbs springs I have set the ground clearance which is all good and have added 6 clicks to the rear from full soft however the car seems a bit springy in the rear end when I push the back down and let go, I have seen some info where but cant find it now that Birkin only ran 100lbs springs in the rear on the spax shocks any reason to run the higher springs ??.

Cheers Dave I have mine now set up the same way now and im really happy with the results. Thanks for your help. Next I have to start setting up the shocks as I have 30 clicks of adjustment on these Gaz shocks, I tried 15 clicks all around but the car felt very stiff and it seemed the rear jumped over some bumps. Anyone have any recommended settings for starting off. Cheers Kiwibirkin

Cheers Dave when you look at your car from the front does the front arm of the bottom A arms rise up on a gentle slope up from the tire end to the car body or do they look parallel to the garage floor ?? with those settings.

So im correct in thinking the 15mm difference should be with my body weight on the drivers side or should that be with the weight of both a driver and passenger ??, can you also explain in a bit more detail why you have rake as my thoughts would have been to have a level car with the weight in it. Also dave any chance you can supply me your ride heights you have for those 2 spots as a ref for me. Cheers