Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Next weeks project is a hybrid build consisting of..... * Triumph Herald cabin * Homemade tubular chassis * Twin A-arm wishbones (rose jointed) * Plastic/fiberglass panels * Coilover suspension, fully adjusted (down) with no bump/rebound adjustment * BMW M3 engine/ gearbox/axle * 17" BMW wheels * Front wheelbase= Herald * Rear wheelbase= BMW M3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 sounds a right frankenstein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Need to see some photos of that if the owner allows, sounds unique! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Need to see some photos of that if the owner allows, sounds unique! Â I'll get some Monday, there's no owner restrictions on this evolution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hms Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Sounds like a DIY 'Seven' Be interesting to see photo's, as one day I would like a Caterham, preferably, or other 7esque car. What basis would you set this up Tony, what defines the starting point? h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 You really start from the image up.... It's going to be a mare. Â Straight up the suspensions got to go as have the wheels... It's running a M3 engine in something that weighs less than a cardboard box, the unsprung chassis is banging back at the sprung like a disgruntled child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Don't you normally put weight in a BMW, so would you be doing the same with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Don't you normally put weight in a BMW, so would you be doing the same with this? Â No because the target positions will be custom made rather than the BMW targets that assume the car has been weighted. Anyway i don't even know what make of suspension's on the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Don't you normally put weight in a BMW, so would you be doing the same with this? Â No because the target positions will be custom made rather than the BMW targets that assume the car has been weighted. Anyway i don't even know what make of suspension's on the car? Â Can see you spending at least an hour on it then? What day is it coming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Don't you normally put weight in a BMW, so would you be doing the same with this? Â No because the target positions will be custom made rather than the BMW targets that assume the car has been weighted. Anyway i don't even know what make of suspension's on the car? Â Can see you spending at least an hour on it then? What day is it coming? Â It's there now.... Monday i'll measure the chassis to see what challenge is ahead, identify the suspension length and workout replacement's -V- the sway calculations, oh and find some new wheels/tyres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Ah right so you really did mean a week! :angry: Â If it's still there Thursday I'll pop over for a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Ah right so you really did mean a week! :angry: If it's still there Thursday I'll pop over for a look  It'll still be there.... This thing is an animal, think of it as a M3 engine with handle bars.... some how i have to keep this thing on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Ah right so you really did mean a week! :angry: If it's still there Thursday I'll pop over for a look  It'll still be there.... This thing is an animal, think of it as a M3 engine with handle bars.... some how i have to keep this thing on the road.  Sometimes you have to wonder if these kind of projects are safe to drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Ah right so you really did mean a week!  If it's still there Thursday I'll pop over for a look  It'll still be there.... This thing is an animal, think of it as a M3 engine with handle bars.... some how i have to keep this thing on the road.  Sometimes you have to wonder if these kind of projects are safe to drive?  At the moment this one is a definite "NO"... There's loads of problems with the build let alone the calibration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Ah right so you really did mean a week!  If it's still there Thursday I'll pop over for a look  It'll still be there.... This thing is an animal, think of it as a M3 engine with handle bars.... some how i have to keep this thing on the road.  Sometimes you have to wonder if these kind of projects are safe to drive?  At the moment this one is a definite "NO"... There's loads of problems with the build let alone the calibration.  The build would be inspected to make sure it's roadworthy wouldn't it? As the geometry isn't covered by an MOT it wouldn't be included in the inspection I assume? So if you have problems calibrating the chassis and feel it's too dangerous to drive there's nothing you could do about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 It's passed the MOT requirement's, i just have to tidy things up (pictures will explain) As for the chassis?.... All i can do is address the obvious then calibrate from there, this is an open £ project and the owner knows that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hms Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Self builds go through an Single Vehicle Approval (SVA), which is in process of becoming the IVA (Individual ...) so it should be safe (ish!) These test normally take 4 -5 hours and are rather comprehensive, from switches and warning lights to chassis, wiring and brake line runs etc.  Extract from the Caterham build manual:  TABLE 2 RECOMMENDED SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT - ROAD USE STANDARD AND WIDE TRACK FINAL CHECKS  Front Rear Tracking 0° 20' ± 0° 10' Toe-In N/A  Camber 1° 20' ± 0° 15' 1° 30' ± 0° 15' (Negative) (Negative)   Castor 4° 00' ± 1° 00' (0° 20' variation left to right, front)  Are Caterhams and the like on the Database of the alignment machine?  I would like a 7esque for touring France, where I could turn it up for use on the track also. You can pick up self builds at around 4k with not too much mileage on the clock as they tend to be fair weather used. Self build kits start around 4.5k. (Robin Hood Zero, including new 2.0l zetec engine with manifold, GAZ shocks and springs, (thought you might like to hear that Tony), space frame chassis, Interior and exterior panels, full lighting set, wiring loom, 15" alloy and Yoko tyres, steering rack, pedal box, windscreen kit, and a pack of bumpfh to get it through IVA. Seems to be almost complete. All the missing bits come from a donor Sierra. Now if only I had money and a garage to work in!  It's going to be a challenge Tony, if you can resolve the geometry on this, which I'm sure you can, then take one big feather for your cap! I'll await photo's, hopefully, with interest. h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 There's no data for the Caterhams in the machine, we have a template and calibrate from there depending on the build or intended use for the car. GAZ help me a lot with data, in particular with TVR's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hms Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Morning Tony, that's quick, answered whilst I was editing the initial post. h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Morning Tony,that's quick, answered whilst I was editing the initial post. h  I've been online since 7am  The challenge will be the engine's weight and the suspension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 I can't even begin to imagine what would have Herald front and M3 rear..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 I can't even begin to imagine what would have Herald front and M3 rear..... Â With an M3 engine/ gearbox/ axle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Need to see some photos of that if the owner allows, sounds unique! Â I'll get some Monday, there's no owner restrictions on this evolution. Â Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Need to see some photos of that if the owner allows, sounds unique! Â I'll get some Monday, there's no owner restrictions on this evolution. Â Â I was to busy... Got it booked now for the rig tomorrow at 10am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Ok here she is...... Apparently it's an MG body    I'm not impressed the bolts are not all through the nylock nuts  Nor am i impressed with the welded steering arms  Plus the constant unfinished safety points, like these locking tabs  So we have a home made chassis  Combination "A" arm with rose jointed links  Unknown suspension rates that have no damper/rebound adjustment, no compression and no droop. The heavy BMW wheels have to go and tomorrow GAZ are coming down to help me develop a new suspension package.  Despite all the disadvantages i did set the chassis today to some form of template  My only real concern at the moment is the non-adjustable castor.... I'll come back to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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