The Lotus Grand Tourers

I'm hoping to take it for an MOT in the next few weeks, and then I can start sorting the performance re spring rates/damper settings/brake bias etc - then give it a good thrashing! I've made provision for a rear anti-roll bar, and a second one at the front, so the suspension will be very 'tuneable'. I just need to get some track time in to set it up.

Pete

Pete Boole wrote:Thanks Ozzy. The engine is a 5.7l Chevy engine - LS1 - all aluminium V8. Much less tall than the Rover engine. About 320hp and the same torque. It's mated to a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed and a BTR hydratrac limited-slip diff. I've had an ordinary steel prop-shaft made but I shall look into replacing it with an aluminium one later - depending on cost!

Pete

dare i ask what the project has cost you so far? i want a smaller free-reving V8 ideally, that i can dial down for the road, and up the rev limit for track...

That is great Pete cannot wait to see it and have a Pax

Hi Oz

I don't like to think about the cost , but (and I must make sure SWMBO doesn't read this!) I've probably spent about £16k on it so far. My original estimate was about £12k!! Still, hobbies are never cheap. I know the car is only worth a fraction of this cost, but it should be fun . I could probably have bought an Exige for that sort of money, but I like messing with oily bits, and being in the shed!

Martin - What is Pax??

Pete

Pete Boole wrote:Hi Oz

I don't like to think about the cost , but (and I must make sure SWMBO doesn't read this!) I've probably spent about £16k on it so far. My original estimate was about £12k!! Still, hobbies are never cheap. I know the car is only worth a fraction of this cost, but it should be fun . I could probably have bought an Exige for that sort of money, but I like messing with oily bits, and being in the shed!

Martin - What is Pax??

Pete

Pax = passenger laps...

and i recon'd on about 8k to do mine... (want the body work to stay totally original as i want it to be a wolf in sheeps clothing... even down to the original back boxes)

i am gonna buy a car, 3k ish with a 4.0v8 (4.2 v8 if i can find it) and want to find a manual gearbox for less than £500, then get a roll cage in for sub £1000 (i hope!), and use the stock excel diff to start with (should be good for the initial 296bhp), and mine was rebuilt 4000 miles ago!

recon it till take me 1-2 years, but have a friend who said he will do most of the mechanical work for me!

Sorry Martin - only one seat so far. Got to keep the weight down somehow! I have installed harness anchor points for the future though.

Pete

what harnesses have you got?

i have Schroth 3" 4 points on my car...

Spoilsport

Pete Boole wrote:Sorry Martin - only one seat so far. Got to keep the weight down somehow! I have installed harness anchor points for the future though.

Pete

Harness is a Willans 6-point, and the seat is a very snug Motordrive - if I put any weight on I'll not get in it!

Pete

I have these:

http://www.msar-safety.com/detail.asp?p ... -_4pt_asm_

they are very comfy, and do the job very well...
they have brackets which go on the rear seatbelt mounting bolts in the base of the seat, and just click into those...

i can unclip the harnesses from the seat base and rear seatbelt mounts in about 35 seconds...

They are excellent. Highly recomended.