Thoughts on Brunton Stalker 3.4L V6

[b10bt]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I was able to ride as a passenger in a Stalker 3.4 V6 with the seller driving.

 

[xromad]

I think it is wonderful that different 7s have different personalities: Bike Engine, V8, V6, I4....etc. It is a blessing that each type fits some people and not others.... :cheers:

 

So my next question is out of curiosity, not loyalty.

 

Did it meet your expectations, or will you be looking for something with a different personality?

[b10bt]

"So my next question is out of curiosity, not loyalty.

Did it meet your expectations, or will you be looking for something with a different personality?"

 

Personally, I think the Brunton is the best value in the Se7en world right now. I admire Dennis' out-of-the-box thinking in using a truck engine designed for torque over a high revving 4 cylinder or motorcycle engine. Parts are abundant, easy to modify, inexpensive. It is the abundant torque that makes the car such a good daily driver. The Stalker I was riding in had only 2500 miles with a new crate engine from GM. It also had a 4.11 rear end. Much too short to be useful in my opinion. The weight is around what a Roadsport SV would be (some caterhams advertise a lower weight that is optimistic when actually weighed).

 

My impressions were that the ride was not too harsh but definitely on the sporting side. Going fast merely required tapping the pedal - especially with the low rear end. There were no unusual chassis noises. The seller's wiring could have been a little neater. Only squeeking was attributed by seller to the rear drum shoes where the lubricant had worn off. Everything was simple to access and adjust. The Brunton designed exhaust was the right blend of sporty yet not so loud as to annoy the entire neighborhood (I have no tolerance for straight piped Harleys who are totally inconsiderate). We were able to carry on a conversation while driving albeit with raised voices since it was an open top vehicle. Still within my parameters of comfort.

 

The weather was too cold to push the car as the road conditions had varying patches of frost and wet spots.

 

I like the car. In Canada, the options of having a Se7enesque car is limited to a only a few choices. A true Caterham fully built would cost between $60,000 to $75,000. A no-name COLD version would cost around $15,000. If I wanted Brunton-like performance, it would cost about twice of that. I could get a Deman Motorsports kit but with an SR27 Nissan car engine, the cost is again in the $20,000s at least. I don't think an NA engine from a Miata donor would have the torque-to-weight ratio I desire. By the way, I should mention that the Stalker shifter has a very unique and pleasant feel due to its configuration. Instead of a Miata-car snick-snick short throw feel, the Stalker's shifter has a floating-slot-in feel due to the way the rod linkage is connected back to the shifting mechanism. It kind of feels like the way you would shift the bolt action of a single round rifle. A "straight in" chamber effect.

 

I would have to buy\makeup some side doors and canvas tarp over the car. I would also need to move the seat forward from the bulkhead (I'm 5'6). While the accelerator and brakes are fine, the maximum travel of the clutch puts the pedal beyond my reach in the seat's current position.

 

I could easily see myself in a Stalker. It the right car for me, but the timing is not ideal. So I think this is one where I have to sit and wait for a better time on my part.

 

 

 

 

 

[Al N.]

It's generally just a matter of time...I have an email I sent to the Se7ens.net list in July of 2003 entitled "An impatient newbie asks for help..." and took delivery of my Superlight in June 2005.

 

Some of the first people to email me are members of this forum!