powderbrake Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Hi, I saw this forum and registered. This format is much better than the Se7ens mail list, as you can see pictures all the time, and it's easier to follow the threads. It appears to be a Rotus forum at this time, so I hope that as an Ultralite owner, I am welcome. I built my Ultralite last year, and have about 4000 miles on it by now. I drive it a lot in the warm weather, I'm in St.Louis, so it's not really warm enough right now. I hope to get to know you folks better, and I hope to learn and contribute to this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Hi there. Welcome aboard. I started this forum just to share things with other 7 owners. Most here are Rotus owners because that's what we started with, but all are welcome. I had initially set up different sections for Caterhams, Locosts, etc..., but there are just not enough 7 owners. If it catches on, that's a possiblity. Looking forward to pics of your car. Cheers, Mazda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Welcome .. bring on the pics! Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA (gosh it was warm enough yesterday to enjoy a drive!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted January 19, 2006 Author Share Posted January 19, 2006 Thank you for the welcome. I am always happy to talk about and show pics of my car. It is a WCM Ultralite with a stock Honda S2000 engine and 6 speed transmission. The sheetmetal is all aluminum over a 1" square tube frame. The fenders are aluminum, and the hood is fiberglass. The front end has modified fiero spindles, and a double a arm suspension made from aluminum adjustable bars. The rear end is a limited slip Subaru WRX with subaru axles and uprights. The shocks are QA1's all around. Rear suspension is a 10 link set-up all fully adjustable. All rod ends are threaded steel, there are no rubber bushings in the car. Wheels are SSR Comps, and the tires are Falken Azenis. It is a daily driver in the summer, ( No,Rob, it's not as warm here as Atlanta) and on those occasional winter days that hit the 60 or 65 mark. I don't have a top, so I am cautions about the possibilty of getting caught in a rainstorm. Ok here's where I start to brag. It was the Kit Car Magazine cover car in September 2005. You can see the pics and the article at >http://kitcarmag.com/featuredvehicles/0509kc_arment/ Click on the pics for a larger view. here's one of me with the car http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/powderbrake/2006-01-19_132556_Jerrybytree.jpg> I will pass this forum info on to my Se7ens friends, I hope it grows for you. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Nice article .. nice writeup .. and nice car!! I lived in Chesterfield for one year. St Louis is a great city! Rob Mitchell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Jerry, Thanks for the props on se7ens.net. I started this site before I found that one. I haven't really pushed it over there. Hopefully this will take off. You mentioned CorvetteForum in your post. Are you a member? I'm 99C5Vert on corvetteforum. I gotta run and play with the kids. I'll read your article as soon as they hit the bed. BTW, did you have any ground or hood clearance problems with the S2000 engine? I've heard that they are pretty tall. -Mazda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugino Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 I was pointed to this forum from a California Caterham Forum. I don't have a Rotus, but a Caterham and hope I am welcome. Here is my Seven: http://members.cox.net/sugino.m/build/seven_front.JPG http://members.cox.net/sugino.m/build/seven_engine_bay.JPG sugino38736.6309027778 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Lordy. That's beautiful!!! This is just a general 7 forum. I have a Rotus, so I seeked other Rotus owners first. Looking forward to your participation. That is one SHINEY Seven smileys/smiley32.gif[/img] </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Thank you for the welcome. I am always happy to talk about and show pics of my car. It is a WCM Ultralite with a stock Honda S2000 engine and 6 speed transmission. The sheetmetal is all aluminum over a 1" square tube frame. The fenders are aluminum, and the hood is fiberglass. The front end has modified fiero spindles, and a double a arm suspension made from aluminum adjustable bars. The rear end is a limited slip Subaru WRX with subaru axles and uprights. The shocks are QA1's all around. Rear suspension is a 10 link set-up all fully adjustable. All rod ends are threaded steel, there are no rubber bushings in the car. Wheels are SSR Comps, and the tires are Falken Azenis. It is a daily driver in the summer, ( No,Rob, it's not as warm here as Atlanta) and on those occasional winter days that hit the 60 or 65 mark. I don't have a top, so I am cautions about the possibilty of getting caught in a rainstorm. Ok here's where I start to brag. It was the Kit Car Magazine cover car in September 2005. You can see the pics and the article at >http://kitcarmag.com/featuredvehicles/0509kc_arment/ Click on the pics for a larger view. here's one of me with the car http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/powderbrake/2006-01-19_132556_Jerrybytree.jpg> I will pass this forum info on to my Se7ens friends, I hope it grows for you. Jerry Jerry, I read the article. A very nice writeup. It does say your other toy is a C5. I like your taste smileys/smiley4.gif[/img] </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 My gosh .. all polished aluminum and polished fiberglass too??? Or are the fenders aluminum too! Has the car been road tested yet? How old is it? My other car is a Celica convertible .. I have cheaper taste! smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA</p><p> </p><p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugino Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 The Body is all aluminum (fenders and nosecone included) The entire car has no paint, everything is polished aluminum, anodized aluminum, polished stainless, chrome plated or nickel plated. I just finished the car within the last month, even though it is a 1989. I started with a new kit from Caterham and 15 years and 4000hrs later here is the result. I have not test driven it yet. only dyno time and the entire car on a test stand. I just passed my level II inspection (AZ) and have a title.sugino38736.6865162037 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 The Body is all aluminum (fenders and nosecone included) The entire car has no paint, everything is polishe aluminum, anodized aluminum, polished stainless, chrome plated or nickel plated. I just finished the car within the last month, even though it is a 1989. I started with a new kit from Caterham and 15 years and 4000hrs later here is the result. I ahve not test driven it yet. I just passed my level II inspection (AZ) and have a title. Congrats. Make sure you have your cool shades on before going out in AZ sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 Jerry, I'm curious about your rear suspension setup. Do you have any info or pictures on it? Also, I'm thinking about going with bigger wheels for more traction, but couldn't find any wide tires in 15" diameter. I was worried going to 17" wheels wouldn't look right, but they look great on your car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 sugino: That is the most magnificent Caterham I have ever seen!!! It is gorgeous!!! great job, I would love to see it in person , out in the sunshine. slngsht: yes I am on the Corvette forum, as JerryC5. I have a red 98 vert. see > http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1272254& ;page=3&pp=20 for my old and new garage setups Engine height: yes it is tall, the hood bump is needed. I have about 3 1/2 inch under the sump, and with 400 # springs in front it still rides well. it scraped the ground at first on the big bumps, but I had the ride height too low, and only had about 2 1/2 inch under the sump. I raised the ride height, added the 400# springs and it has never scraped the ground since, even with two people in the car. Brian's new design race version Ultralite has the engine at 45 degrees, and the whole car is only 35" to the top of the roll bar, but it cannot be a street car. see >http://home.earthlink.net/~wcmultralite/ It is tough to get enough rubber under a seven. The 17" wheels are there to clear the 12" Wilwood brake disks. 15" will probably work OK on your car.There are some Michelins and Yokos in 15". Most guys go as small as possible for lowering the car and for rotary inertia and weight. One guy is running 15" on the Ultralite, but he has to modify the brakes and get special wheels mmade for wide slicks. suspension... pics attached Front, with Aldan shocks which I changed to QA1's http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/powderbrake/2006-01-19_221450_005_2_Small.JPG Rear.. you can see the upper and lower trailing arms, two lower A arms at the bottom and one transverse arm at the top. Again with the old shocks. The suspension components are simply adjustable aluminum arms from a sprint car catalog, with 1/2 inch rod ends. Minimum unsprung weight with the diff being frame mounted.The tank, 13 gallons, sits on top of this area. all the area to the rear of the differential is trunk space. Brian Anderson, the designer, did a great job on coming up with a light weight, fully adjustable suspension. It is very easy to set the toe, alignment, and camber.( if you don't turn the bars in the wrong direction, which I have done) http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/powderbrake/2006-01-19_221517_017_14_Small.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Wow Jerry! So is this what is called "independent rear suspension??" BTW: I looked through your site about the evolution of your garage .. That is some setup! I am so envious! Rob Mitchell (I suffer in a carport which is always full of leaves and bugs!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Jerry, Thanks for the pics. The Rotus has a solid axle rear. 2 of them were built with IRS as custom jobs. From what I heard it wasn't an easy conversion. Maybe someday I'll look at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugino Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 I converted mine from DeDion to IRS (my own design) http://members.cox.net/msugino/build/rear_suspension.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Sugino, what diff and rear uprights did you use in your design? I can't get over the attention to detail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugino Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 The Diff is from a Ford Sierra. I built the uprights to use bearing carriers and drive parts from the Sierra and used the driveshafts from the Caterham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 WoW ..... even the frame members are polished. I guess you have to wear white cotton gloves so you don't leave fingerprints. I liked my car til I saw yours, I have a lot to learn in attention to detail. powderbrake38737.53625 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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