New guy from Lake Charles, La. with question.

[Gyrofli]

Hello,

I just found this place and love it already so I signed up. Hope to get some good ideas from some of you. I'm not exactly new to building things and have built a few dune buggies in the distant past. Now I want to try building a street legal car and run it on the track from time to time. Until last week I was kicking and idea around and then found out about these 7 cars. I have some parts laying around and want to throw them together and see what comes of it. For starters I have an engine and auto transmission out of a very low mile(34,000) 1996 Mustang Cobra 4.6L 32 valve. Was going to put the engine in my 1996 F150 but the truck runs great, really too go to start jacking with it. My truck has a ford fuel injected 300 six cylinder engine and transmission with low miles(64,000) too.

So, being I'm kind of reluctant to mess with my old truck. I just as soon do something with the Mustang Cobra engine and transmission and leave my truck alone. I hate just having a great running engine and tranny laying around the shop in the way. I like the 7 cars but don'y know of any with a V8 engine in them. My number one concern is will these frames hold up to the engine weight and power? I think it is like 318hp in it's stock form. It is also putting out like 300 Ft. pounds torque. But one good thing is the all aluminum block. Still heavy as all get out though. I thought maybe building a 7 but going with a tad bit thicker gauge tubing. Any ideas (pro or con)about this potential project would greatly be appreciated. Thank You!

Edited June 4, 2010 by Gyrofli
spelling corrections

[Ruadhd2]

I don't know if my car is strong enough, but it is considerably wider and longer than early Lotus 7's and many other replicas. The Rotus was designed for a variety of engines and later models were fit with V8s, but I don't know if yours will fit. Anyway if you want a project car I can take measurements. Look up the Rotus on the Cars for Sale section. Other Rotus owners on this forum might know if your engine will fit comfortably.

 

Link: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5039

 

Here's the original specs of the car:

Rotus Specifications

Vehicle Type: Front Engine, Rear Wheel Drive,

Two- seat Roadster

Wheelbase: 97.4 inches

Overall Length: 144 inches

Overall Width: 66 inches

Overall Height: 44.25 inches

Curb Weight: 1375 lbs (depending on options)

Fuel Capacity: 15.6 gal.

Suspension: Variable rate coil springs, unequal length,

double A-arms (front)

Coil springs, live axle, 4 trailing arms, panhard rod (rear)

Steering Type: Rack and Pinion

Brakes: 9 inch discs or 11 inch vented discs,

4 puck caliper (front),

9 inch discs (rear)

.

.

Drive Train Options

FOUR CYLINDER:

4 AGE Toyota Twincam EFI with

Toyota 5-Speed Gearbox

2.3 Ford with T-5, 5-Speed Gearbox

ROTARY:

Mazda 13-B

Mazda 13-B Turbo

Mazda 13-B Bi-Turbo

(all Mazda engines are equipped with

the Mazda 5-Speed Gear Box)

SIX CYLINDER:

GM 4.3 V-6 Vortec with T-5, 5-Speed Gearbox

EIGHT CYLINDER:

GM 350 Small Block with T-5, 5-speed gearbox

Buick 215 Aluminum V-8 with T-5, 5-speed gearbox

.

 

Edited June 4, 2010 by Ruadhd2

[11Budlite]

Check out Rod's nicely built 302-powered Locost here: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3106

 

I think the 4.6 is a physically bigger motor than a 302 but if you're making the frame from scratch I'm sure it could be made to fit. It might be worth checking out the Locost USA forum to see if it's been done before: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/

 

Like Ruadhd2 says, the Rotus has been successfully upgraded with bigger powerplants so that could be an interesting conversion and would/should save a lot of build time as well. You can check out Mazda's LS-powered car here: http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4913

 

[Gyrofli]

11Budlite,

 

I went to the other site LocostUSA like you mentioned. Found good info over there on doing a V8 engined car. I even found some engine comparison stuff on the 4.6L Mod engines. My engine from the deck down is basically the same size as any small ford engine. The heads on these engines are huge though and look like the Himi engines with the huge valve covers. The thing is when I got this motor and transmission I really was not looking for it. A friend of mine is building a 34 Ford truck and had the wrecked mustang as his doner car. My friend found a 460 Ford engine and transmission out of a motor home with 11,000 miles on it so he went that way. I bought the motor and trans because he was basically giving it to me. I said what the heck, I'll put it up for if/when my 1996 300 six goes out in my truck. I got to thinking, my son wants the 1996 truck and it would be a big no no to hand him something with this cobra engine in it for his first vehicle. I would be looking for an SCCA car anyway in a few years so why not start on building a car. I already have two decent SCCA cars now, a 1982 VW Rabbit and a 1991 VW GTi. My 1991 GTi just turned 34,000 original miles so I don't drive them much on the street. I think the last time I had a plate on the GTI it was in mid 2005. I got side tracked for a while with these Geo trackers and trail riding. But as for SCCA they will not let me run my Trackers on their track here even though one is lower than my car. I probably have everything here except a ford rear end to build this Super 7 car. I just have to unload some of these vehicles around here and build one really nice fast one.

[Spaz]

Welcome Gyrofli, one word of advice, stay away from "Hank" he is a little over two hours away from you in Baton Rouge, LA. If you meet him, he will try to get you to sell your motor and put a little 1,300 CC motorcycle motor in a 7.

 

Haha

 

I got my Hank dig in for week, I feel better now.

 

Make your own F150 Lightning, I like that idea!!!

[Gyrofli]

Spaz,

 

Oh yeh, I asked Hank a few questions already about his car. He didn't try to talk me outta my big motor though. I just love his car. I like cars that look really well built and clean looking. Most of my daily drivers I own are clean looking white vehicles. My truck has the 300 six in it and I really like my big six. I wouldn't mind having a ford 300 in a seven but I don't think ford had high performance in mind with this engine. As for the import and motorcycle engines, I just don't care for the high RPM's these things run. I like the American mucle sound in a car. All I know is I like the way the Seven looks and the fact that most of it is hand built. I just love tinkering with stuff too. So Seven it is for now!