andrew7

I've been looking for light 13" with out spending alot of money to experiment. I was going to get Avon ACB10's as their light and made for 7's. I found John Berget racing tires, he has alot of new to used tires. I e-mailed him and 2 hours later he called. I told him the type of car I had and what I wanted, he could have sold me them but suggested for street use, Yokohama A048. They are more puncture resistant and stickier and used by Spec Racer Ford cars. I got 4 tires 185/60/13 5-6/32" tread. They had one heat cycle on them. I have to get wheels yet but I am looking foward to see how they perform. A048's get good reviews in Europe and its the same tire for new Lotus Elise and Exige. The prices vary but my almost new tires cost me $45 each and paid COD by check. I called thursday and had them the following tuesday. I very happy with them. I just Googled him and he's involved with Formula Pro cars. Sorry this is long but thought fellow 7 owners would be interested in another tire supplier. http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070210_171119_a048trs.jpgandrew72007-02-10 17:11:29

Thanks everyone, That is what I thought, mostly smoke and mirrors or is it leds and graphs. I never seen one in person or heard if they worked but was sceptical and thought I'd ask.

I was thinking it be nice to test acceleration, braking and cornering g's on the 7. Does anyone have any experience with testing computers like a Beltronic or a G-tech or are they useless school boy toys? Do you have to spend a thousand to get something accurate or has technology improved enough to become affordable? It might even be fun for an autocross run, cheap DAS.

Thanks All, I was concerned my car was out of proportion with most sevens, kind of square and froggish looking and not small,long and sleek. The numbers I see suggest I'm not too far off. The Birkin photo is a great comparison. I am always reminded how small I am when I'm driving in town and at a red light I can read peoples tire specifications. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif

I was looking on the autocross threads and found series 1 dimensions. I know sevens are small but when I compared them to my locost, mine seems supersized er, Americanized. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif I was wondering how close other sevens where? cockpit ID width 37.5" vs 44" wheelbase 88" vs 92.5" width 55" vs 69" (wide track suspension) height 39.5" vs 44" OAL 131.5" vs 128" (series 1 includes spare) How do the dimensions compare to your car?

I only talked to Paul on the phone a couple of times, never met him but figured I would run into him someday autocrossing at North Park or Beaver Run. He was the one who convinced me to go BEC. My other option I had considered was an Ford 2.3 Esslinger-? motor. He built 2 Locost and as far as I know, his latest one is still for sale. Its an R1 powered autocrosser, its not street legal, though. So including yours, when finished, there are 3 in the U.S.A. Talk about exclusivity.

I was wondering how many street legal BEC 7's are out there? I'm in Pa. and Busa is in B.C., Canada. Is that it or are the rest just autocross machines?

I couldn't find it on my other computer, Busa. All I found was Nova Racing Transmissions, BGH GearTech reverser and JaxPorts in Michigan. All are Boxes. If I run across it I'll post it for you. : Hurray : Wait, I just found Sylva in England Mid-Bec and Stuart-Taylor Motorsports both have electric reverse as an option on their kits. Try them. That Sylva R1iot kit reminds me of a Lotus 340. Maybe thats my next build.

Slngsht I'm so so sorry http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/banghead.gifhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/shocked.gif really I just Preview Post to see what it looked like,added some more sentances. and its up there 4 times http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/mad5.gif this stupid Mac.

I want to upgrade wheels and tires for my 7 and I'd like to go to 13". I found a set of wheels but tires are harder to find. I currently have 14" alum wheels that weigh 17# and 195/60/14 at 18# and they will last a life time as treadwear is 500! I would like a tire that can be street driven and autox. My mileage might only be 1000 miles/year. The tires and sizes (185/60/13) I've looked at like the ACB10's seem to fit the bill, but are around $150 each. That's more money than I want to spend to experiment with. Most companies are not handling 13" ,no thanks to rappers and their 30" wheels. Hoosiers has the size but are almost slicks and same prices. Anyone have some ideas or should I just start saving for Avons.

After I decided to go Bec, the next thought was reverse for PaDOT. I searched and found Quaife reverse boxes, there expensive($1500?) and they do break,which means 100 or 1000 miles from home and you have to wait for the next boat from England. I did check on snowmobile reverse boxes but the shafts are on the same side, so for a Bec the drive shaft would be going forward. I believe Westfield Megabusa had an swing electric motor on the left of the differential. It would turn the left half shaft, but I have a solid axle so mine had to be between the motor and drive shaft. The guy who welded up my aluminum gas tank suggested an atv winch motor with a gear on the spool, with that said half of it was engineered up. A bicycle gears and chain run to a jack shaft and an old set of cam gears. the small cam gear is on the R1 output shaft and the whole unit swings on a hinge. When I pull a lever the cam gears engage and trips the switch and its walking speed in reverse. If I wish to remove it, its 3 bolts and 20# lighter. The chain loosen and jumped off a couple times, that's on the winter TO-DO list but the car ran fine without it till I got home and put the chain back on the gears. The 14000 rpms and paddles make it worth it http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

Thanks Busa http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/hurray.gif I'm currently on an old old Mac, web surfing only.No flash drivers and no video or pics. I going to start on the dash and convertible top now. Thanks again for putting them up. I'm sure you'll agree the car comes before the computer. Happy New Year.

Thanks again slngsht. yes Busa, that mine. The paddles are rod linked with a Bell crank to turn the action 90 degrees, same with the brake pedals. The reverse is an ATV winch with a jack shaft to gears on the output shaft before the drive shaft. No half shaft solid axle. The chain jumped off couple times, winter project fix but I don't have to worry about the reverse box breaking and leaving me stranded. I have to say BEC's are made for the track, but harder to drive in town. On the other hand if I want a more street worthy convertible, I'd be driving a Boxster or Mustang. I have a couple small items that need finished for the 777 ralley.

Thanks BusaLoco, I put the links in for Yahoo Locost North America but they aren't coming up right. To the moderator some error came up and in short it got posted twice, once under Andrew 7, sorry . Could you please delete it, thanks.

Locost +4 with Yamaha R1 and paddles There are 16 pics on this site. Don't miss the master cylinder turned sideways, the hand made front spindles and the leaf spring and air front suspension and the electric reverse. The dash with a glove box is being redone, pics when finished. >http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Locost_North_America/photos/view/d017?b=8 http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070327_175021_7finish_016.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070327_175235_7finish_010.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070327_175413_7finish_013.jpg I thought I'd include the fastest accelerating mammal in the world, at least that is what the book says. In the length of the 7 , 2 strides, she's at 35 mph. Its fun when she buzzes you- 30mph near your leg then loops back to do it again. she leans in like a bike. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20070327_175919_7finish_005.jpg The other updated pics I'm putting in the BEC section to keep it active. andrew72007-03-27 18:07:38

Hi guys, dad and I built a 7 last winter with an 2005 R1 motor and with mechanical paddles. It weighs a little more than a 1000 lbs. Its a blast and it lives for corners. I took a Dr. friend for a spin and he compared it to an amusement park ride. Point it down a straight road before you try to hit 14k rpm. The day after a long ride our necks normally hurt . Now for the bad news, It has no bottom end torque. my original gears were 3:08 and I had to make sure I didn't stop on or near a hill, most of the time I had to drive like it was an F1 car just to keep it moving in town. Now with 4:11's, hills are better but the tranny is so closely space with no overdrive. It only takes 5mins on a turnpike with the engine turning 7-8k to get the droning stuck in your ears. Its a perfect track car but how much track car can you stand driving around your town. Several conversations came up about switching engines to be more streetable. I have decided to leave it be. I would like to go for a ride in a normal 7 just to compare, hopefully at the ralley next year. I may upset some people here, my car has about 175 hp and it goes Ludicrous Speed, my aunts C5 feels so slow. I have never wanted more power. Why does everybody feel they need 300+ hp for the street? The new CSR has 220 to 260hp and it is setting track records. Only you can decide which motor you need but be careful what you wish for. Merry Christmas.

Thanks Mike, That is the info that I have been looking for. My winter to do list includes final polishing, covering dash and making a glove box and fitting a convertible top for "just in case" days and "what if the 777Rally is a washout." http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061013_081504_L7rgtsid.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061013_082119_L7rear.JPGandrew72006-10-13 08:25:22

thanks slngsht, I used the quick reply at the bottom instead of the reply tab, I'm ok now.

I was trying to figure how to post a pic. The pictures can be seen at Yahoo Locost_North_America in photos first page under Andrew7. There always seems to be something left to do.

Hi mike, The car is beautiful, mine is yellow/polished alum also. I was going to post a similiar questian, I've polished mine with an Eastwood aluminum kit and no matter what I do the best my aluminum looks, it is like a smokey mirror. It has swirls and looks foggy even with white tripoli compound and loose cotton pad. I can see myself but not the clairity of yours. I am frustraded because I've seen no improvment in the metal and from what I've read it should polish out more but doesn't. Do you think the products you use will help my situation? Am I missing something? I've gone from flat satin to foggy mirror but no futher.

I just finished weighing my R1 powered locost, with windshield and wipers,emergency hand tools,electric air pump, 1/2 tank about 5 gal. Its street legal. LF: 268 RF: 215 LR: 258 RR: 305 total 1046 lbs. I was shooting for a 1000# during the build,pretty close.