Tbox56 Posted November 2, 2013 Share Posted November 2, 2013 BIRKIN Direct-USA Update Work progresses on the first order of the new Wide Body cars for the US. In this photo are the second 6 of the 18 new Wide Body chassis clad and awaiting final preparation prior to shipment. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=5567&stc=1&d=1383431673 This is a cart of the newly designed uprights, they are fabricated of billet aluminum as opposed to cast. The same upright is used on all 4 corners of the car and can be turned over to lower the ride height by 30mm, for track days, without changing the suspension geometry. There are uprights on the cart for 42 cars. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=5568&stc=1&d=1383431749 New upright installed. You can also see the pushrod for the new inboard mounted front anti-roll bar. http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=5569&stc=1&d=1383432018 Thank you for looking, more information to follow. Tom Carlin 970-376-5188 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted November 2, 2013 Share Posted November 2, 2013 Is that how the tie rod attaches to the upright or just a mock up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi7ot Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 The damper is at full extension but the Tie rod looks level has to be a mock up or set up for freight. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Looks like mockup/shipment to me also. My guess is that what looks to be two different size spacers (mounted with the steering rack hein joint) may be necessary for the 'track day' suspension change (inverting the uprights) in order to allow for steering geometry to remain as is. Again, just a guess; I may be way off base here. X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbox56 Posted November 3, 2013 Author Share Posted November 3, 2013 The first 2 pictures are from just a couple of days ago. The 3rd of the upright installed was taken during development and the actual production version will vary somewhat. Yes the spacers are used to allow the 30mm change in ride height and to retain the same geometry. Thanks, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automoda Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 I cant wait to see what the wide body looks like. Not that I want a wide body myself. But I know a lot of people have a hard time with the size of a 7 and Caterham does pretty well with their wide body. Birkin makes a good looking car and they have a good sense of style. It'll be fun to see how they deal with the width change. As for the aluminum hubs-- Birkin already had awesome hubs. These new ones that work on all 4 corners of an IRS car are a great idea. Keep the price down but give the top quality. I'd love to see more of the suspension. So far I haven't come across one of the IRS birkins in person, but I suppose these pictures show a change from what the current cars are using. But get rid of the AVO shocks! My Birkin blew a seal on a front AVO and when I contacted AVO for a rebuild, they said due to shipping, taxes, import fees, EU super special double helical carboniferous green vat tax it would cost only a few bucks more to get a new shock. The AVO shocks seem to go bad a lot compared to other brands. I ended up putting GAZ on the front of my Birkin and they're great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Thrilling to see a line up of chassis like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi7ot Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 A pic of random spare parts like side screens, T9s etc would really warm my heart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off Road SHO Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 They use the T-9's too? Can those still be re-built? I have one out of a Merkur XR4Ti that I would like to tear into but I need a re-build manual and a source for parts. Anybody ever tackle one of these? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 t-9 manual link You can get t-9 parts thru British Atlantic Transfer if they have them in stock. I ended up using ebay and Burton Power. I've gotten some parts from Australia too. Got a modified 1st gear from SPO components in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 NIce to see Birkin forging ahead with new developments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben1364 Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Is there a place (on line) to compare and see critiques of the various Lotus 7 clones and lookalikes? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbox56 Posted November 28, 2013 Author Share Posted November 28, 2013 Right here at this web site is a good place to start. There are many knowledgeable people here. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automoda Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 So since nobody has posted it already, I'll post it here. I got it on the Birkin Yahoo list: Just wanted to let you know that John Watson of Birkin cars and Dhersan Shanmugam, his factory manager have been hi-jacked and shot today in Broederstroom. Both have been shot in the back and were taken to Fourways life hospital. Here is the latest update received from Cheryl. John: Bullet lodged against the spine. Missed the veins and spinal cord. Going into ICU for the night. They are operating tomorrow morning. We are praying the hospital plan covers. We are so lucky that the bullet didn't hit the aorta or spinal cord. I think the shock is setting in now. He is being sedated. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Dhersan is in good spirits - also going in tomorrow to take out bullet. It is a flesh wound. -------------------------- I always wondered how long Birkin would be able to hold out in South Africa. I've been paying attention to what is going on in that country for years and you would not believe the stories. I have a few S.A. friends and they got out a while back. My editorial: They should move Birkin to some Asian area and produce them cheaper and in a much more stable country. If they dont do something sooner than later they're going to end up either in the middle of a civil/race war or just be overrun in some kind of zombie apocalypse/Blackhawk Down kind of scene. Then it'll be too late to load up the equipment into a shipping container. Though perhaps, then, the Birkin frame could be adjusted to take offroad suspension and crossbow mounts for the Road Warrior future. But I just dont see a future where things get better in that country for anyone. I mean, would YOU move there? Nope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMike Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Holy crap! South Africa is a hell hole. Blacks have destroyed and looted that country over and over again. Best wishes to John and Dhersan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Any update on John Watson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Per the Birkin Yahoo list: both are home and reccovering well. I have zero knowledge of S Africa but so far, what I have heard doesn't sound too different from my (upper middle class) neighborhood in the good old USA. We are right next to a large poverty pocket and we seem to be a magnet for rape, murder, break-ins, robberies, you name it. All of those have occurred on my block over the last 25 years that I have lived here. We have been broken into 2x, last time 3 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbox56 Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 Both are at home recovering and doing well. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Reminds me that in South Africa they used to sell flame thrower on cars to prevent car jacking. South African Car Flamethrower - YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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