Fauxtus 7 Build

[anduril3019]

I've been gleaning here for a long time, so time to start a build log. (Semi-parallel thread over at locostusa.com)
Some quick history. My dad raced a Turner 950S in the late 60s early 70s, from when I was around 2 to 12 years old. The Turner was awesome and unique its class (sadly, it came to an untimely demise), but even as a kid, I couldn't help noticing these weird cars that I couldn't quite figure out always lurking in the background. To my young eyes they kind of looked like a formula car, kind of like an MG TD, kind of like a squished Model A, and they seemed to be everywhere! They looked fast, fun, and completely useless. I knew I would have to have one someday...

Fast forward to college, I ended up getting into Cortinas by accident (literally by accident, but that's another story). That eventually led to me working for Dave Bean in Santa Barbara for a little while and firmly established my love for all things Lotus and English Ford. Still no 7, though)

Fast forward another pile of years and jobs, and one of my kids wanted to spend the summer building a go-kart from scratch, not a race kart, just something to impress his friends and annoy the neighbors with. While building that, I taught him a little bit about 7s and some kit cars I was thinking about building "someday." Wise-guy that he is, he said, "Why someday?" After running through the excuses (work, family, money, time, space, priorities, etc.), we decided to just go for it. After all, we built a go-kart, right!? How hard could a 7 be?

I can't find the thread, but not too long ago, someone was asking on one of the forums here whether they should build or buy. Someone answered that if you go the build route, be prepared for it to take about 10 years, and cost around $20,000. I've got to say, that's proving to be pretty accurate. It can certainly be done faster and cheaper, but I'm building to my taste and having fun in the process. A timeline goal is to get it done while my dad can still take it for a spin. It's going slow, due to work and a side business that's threatening to turn into a full-time gig (more excuses), so posts may be few and far between, but I'll keep them coming as I make progress.

Special thanks to many here who have supplied parts for the project through sale, trade, and donation! You may see them turn up here and live again.

Sorry for the long intro, actual build log coming soon! 

[panamericano]

Great photos.  After you get the Seven built, you can look for the Turner.  It should be just about the right size for your son by then.

Edited May 26, 2023 by panamericano
spelling

[Croc]

Absolutely brilliant story and photos.  Thank you for sharing.  

[11Budlite]

Very cool story, looking forward to updates!

[anduril3019]

15 hours ago, panamericano said:

Great photos.  After you get the Seven built, you can look for the Turner.  It should be just about the right size for your son by then.

Ha! Yeah, looking at the photos, it is definitely the tiny Turner. Not to be confused with Tina Turner. 

[wdb]

Is your dad a mathematician? I can't grok the calculation on the door.

[anduril3019]

I think he passed those math skills on to me. I started an engineering degree but gave up on the math pretty quick.

 

81 times 136 divided by 137 times 119x over W equals...

 

Multiple drivers sharing a car for SCCA driver school.

[anduril3019]

Design intent is for a somewhat traditional build, styled similar to Series 2/3 Sevens from the mid to late 60s.

 

Engine: Cortina pre crossflow, tuned as budget allows. Mainly want to get it on the road!
Transmission: Cortina or Pinto 4 speed, standard ratios. Have both, not sure which I'll use yet.
Front Suspension: Triumph uprights, Lotus lower wishbones, custom upper wishbones, anti-roll bar, Triumph steering rack. (Wishbones courtesy of Xtra Special Sevens)
Rear Suspension: Cortina axle, trailing arms, Panhard bar.
Wheels/Tires: Cortina GT, steel, 13 x 4.5, 175/70-13.

 

Frame design is a hybrid of the plans, mods, and specs floating around online. Stretched a little so I can fit "comfortably."

[Croc]

Have you seen this site for ideas as you develop your plans?

 

Building a Sevenesque Roadster - plans

 

 

 

[IamScotticus]

Working at Bean makes you 7 royalty 🫅

[anduril3019]

7 hours ago, Croc said:

Have you seen this site for ideas as you develop your plans?

 

Building a Sevenesque Roadster - plans

 

 

 

Thanks for the tip! I've spent a bit of time there and locostusa.com, as well as some of the UK sites.

I'm playing catch-up on the build log here, I'm actually quite a bit further along than my posts imply. Chassis is pretty complete and tack welded. Currently finishing up welding and moving on to suspension pick-up points. Should have posts caught up over the next few weeks.

[anduril3019]

1 hour ago, IamScotticus said:

Working at Bean makes you 7 royalty 🫅

Well, I was more like a serf in the Kingdom of Bean. But, to be fair, he was a benevolent monarch.

[anduril3019]

Build Table and First Tubes

 

Table is built from 3/4" MDO and 1 x 2 poplar ribs. It lives outside, the MDO has held up surprisingly well and the surface is nice to work on. Not much rain to worry about in California, but it did get caught uncovered in a couple of storms and still remained flat through the crucial build stages. It's about 2 years old now and has about an 1/8" droop over its length, but is still usable as a level work surface. On hindsight, I'd make the section taller, but it's worked well as is.

 

After a lot of planning, the first few tubes have gone in place.

 

[fastg]

Your design outline says 'Rear Suspension: Cortina axle'. Unless you have a Cortina axle laying around I would recommend you use a first gen Mazda RX7. Strong, light, disk brakes and LSD in later models. They are available and cheap, I paid $75 for a LSD version. 

 

Graham 

[IamScotticus]

@fastg

Grahm,

Did that RX7 axle fit in a long cockpit?

Edited May 31, 2023 by IamScotticus

[IamScotticus]

@anduril3019

Are you stick welding?  MIG, TIG, Silv bronze gas flux?

[fastg]

38 minutes ago, IamScotticus said:

@fastg

Grahm,

Did that RX7 axle fit in a long cockpit?

Mine is a Locost so I cannot answer your question directly, I can take some pics if that would help.

 

Graham 

[IamScotticus]

16 minutes ago, fastg said:

Mine is a Locost so I cannot answer your question directly, I can take some pics if that would help.

 

Graham 

Some pics might help to identify that axle at a scrapper.

[anduril3019]

8 hours ago, fastg said:

Your design outline says 'Rear Suspension: Cortina axle'. Unless you have a Cortina axle laying around I would recommend you use a first gen Mazda RX7. Strong, light, disk brakes and LSD in later models. They are available and cheap, I paid $75 for a LSD version. 

 

Graham 

I actually considered the RX7 axle and almost bought one I found on Craigslist. In the end, I did have access to a Cortina axle, and wanted to stick with the Ford bolt pattern.

[anduril3019]

1 hour ago, IamScotticus said:

@anduril3019

Are you stick welding?  MIG, TIG, Silv bronze gas flux?

It's MIG. I don't have access to a TIG, so may braze (without a gas fluxer) some smaller items that may be hard for me to MIG, like tabs and brackets. I'll see how the MIG goes on smaller stuff.