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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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PostPosted: March 18, 2017, 1:11 pm 
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bennjamin wrote:
Great build - looking at the same engine / quaife combo in a S600. Do you mind If i ask a couple of measurements for research sake ?
As in the distance from the minimum front of the engine cage (against your seat backs or whatever) to the axle outlets.
Thanks if you know 8)

I'll try to take some measurements next time we have everything out.

We've been cranking out a bunch of work lately and had a couple of projects that snowballed and ended up taking a bit longer than originally expected.
This one was picked up yesterday, the car has a Ford 347 stroker swap w/ a T5 and 7.5" pumpkin, putting down some 400+ ponies to the ground.
We've done a lot of work on it in the past (6 point roll bar, custom seat mounts and installation of racing seats, harnesses etc...), this round we installed our in-house designed Penske 8300 DA coilovers, completely revised the front end of the car behind the bumper to reduce weight and improve cooling, fabricated inlets and extraction ducting and did all the aero work you see including our DRS active wing -

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The DRS wing is actuated via button on the steering wheel and wired for automatic retraction, we had some fun taking this clip :lol:

https://youtu.be/6Ikk1mnci8Y

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PostPosted: March 18, 2017, 2:53 pm 
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Nice work Moti. What are you using to power it?

I saw your spot in Mittler Brothers newsletter last week - looks like the business is coming along nicely.

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PostPosted: March 18, 2017, 5:31 pm 
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Thanks Andrew!
The spotlight in the Mittler Bros newsletter was a total coincidence.
A couple weeks ago I called Mittler Bros Machine & Tool to place an order for a some new cutter bits we needed and had a couple of questions with regards to servicing our trusty tube notcher.
It was late in the day and the call was transferred to the one guy that knows the machine better than anyone else - Mike Mittler who happens to be the one that designed it.
Not only that Mike was (obviously..) able to answer any question I've had and more, we got into a great friendly conversation and at the end Mike asked me if I would mind sharing my story in the next Mittler Bros newsletter.
We use our Mittler Bros tools all the time at Blackbird Fabworx and love them so I was happy to share the story, but beyond that,, it was a pleasure to share a conversation with Mike and discover that we hold many similar values and truly enjoy the opportunity to show support to a business that we hold in high regards.

For those who would like to check out the spotlight -
CLICK ME

For the DRS I'm using electric high speed linear actuators.
I sacrificed some of the speed in favor of added force (different gearing), but it still is plenty quick - we timed the transition at ~0.45 sec in either direction.
Going to the the track for the first time with this on the car this week, we're just going to "get the feel", not doing actual testing as the event we're driving in is a fundraiser, not a test and tune or a race day.
It's more fun and games, but since the track is a high speed track we should be able to at least get some sense of what it does.
I can't remember the last time I was so excited to try something new that I built short of the first time I drove this car after building it, I've never driven with active aero before!

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PostPosted: April 2, 2017, 7:17 pm 
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Been back at it with this project and got a bunch of work in the nose done, so we were able to put the nose back on.
Before it went on I snapped this funny pic of the splitter from the Black Miata above in front of the car, Frank was super excited about the possibilities!

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Got the Tilton pedals mounted and the ATL fuel cell -

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Then we fabricated a pair of internal gussets where the structure got stitched back together and clamped the nose.
Using the fenders we realigned the nose and tacked it back in place -

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Once tacked, we bolted the hood to verify that everything lines up well.
Was as good as stock so a few more tacks and we're good to weld it Monday morning.
You can also how far we stretched the wheel base -

Image

We need to fab new fenders anyway so it doesn't really make a difference.. :wink:

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PostPosted: April 2, 2017, 11:22 pm 
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I can't wait... "hey dude, what's under the hood?"...

:cheers:


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PostPosted: April 3, 2017, 1:59 pm 
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"Nothing really, fuel tank and some shocks..." :wink:

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PostPosted: April 4, 2017, 7:02 pm 
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zetec7 wrote:
LOVE the look of the rear fender flares!! They remind me of the insane Renault 5 Turbo of the 1980's...a car I've always coveted!


This is exactly what I thought too!

I thought it ironic that this wild project be Garms. Ive never met the guy but Ive been trying to purchase his old Datsun Roadster project "Spike" to be used as my vintage racer / weekend convertible. It looks like my E30 will still be my racer, but at least I know when my wild aero ideas need to be created I can reach out to a team that understands it in Blackbird Fab.... nevermind what I want to do as far as a locost goes.

Good show peeps! I added both of you on Instagram too :cheers:

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PostPosted: April 5, 2017, 1:02 pm 
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Thanks, Simon :cheers:

More progress shots.
The nose is getting full now that we stuck a radiator in it too (Mishimoto aluminum rad for Civic).
We tilted it forward at the top with the anticipation of adding extraction ducting in the future.
Also note both rad and fuel cell are moved to the passenger side to offset the driver's weight -

Image

View from the inside before the new firewall is going in -

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Moving the wheels so far outboard allowed us to cut the wheel wells quite a bit and creates a far more spacious pedal box with the pedals moved left to set them much closer to being centered with the driver.
The way the car was set up from the factory had the pedals way off center to the right.

We also cut the front fenders to clear the MUCH bigger tires all the way lock to lock at full compression.
Car looks angry!

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PostPosted: April 5, 2017, 3:39 pm 
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We are Slotus!
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This build reminds me of the Pope's bed...

I keep looking at it and saying "HOLY SHEET!" :mrgreen:


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PostPosted: April 6, 2017, 11:53 am 
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Last night we progressed with the mockup for fenders and aero. Moti did his wizardry with wire and tape. There was beer. Good times, and we can see the shape evolving as we continue with the mechanical progress.

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PostPosted: April 6, 2017, 9:49 pm 
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Guess the weight of the N1000RR project as it sits currently - w/ complete drivetrain minus axles, dry radiator and fuel cell, full cage, no glass, most exterior sheet metal minus cut fenders and doors, wheels, tires, pedals, brake rotors w/o calipers, full suspension.
3, 2, 1, GO!

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PostPosted: April 6, 2017, 10:41 pm 
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As it sets, 976#. Russ

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PostPosted: April 7, 2017, 10:46 am 
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Pretty close, Russ!
My guess before we put it on the scales was 1000 Lbs.
We weighed in at 989 Lbs.
Weight dist. is a great 42.5% Fr / 57.5% Rr and side to side is nearly even.
Our original projections for the car were 1250 total weight w/o driver and a weight dist of 40-45% Fr / 60-55% Rr, looks like we're right on target! :)

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PostPosted: April 7, 2017, 11:18 am 
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6 weeks prior to test day, I'm going on a Paleo diet. I can't let Frank have all the fun.


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PostPosted: April 9, 2017, 8:46 pm 
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So what do I win????? A free ride in when it is done??

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