V6 Powered Carbon Bodied Caterham

[11Budlite]

Not too far along but it looks like it's going to be an interesting build: http://www.lu07tus.com/index.php

Bruce

[slngsht]

The engine center of gravity looks LOW

[Hank]

Beautiful so far!

Want to talk about low center of gravity? Try putting a 2.5L boxer motor out of a Subaru STi in a Se7en.

[DB6]

it will not hit the floor,damn that looks tight;
not that any of us could hold a dance under the bonnet.

[slngsht]

Beautiful so far!

Want to talk about low center of gravity? Try putting a 2.5L boxer motor out of a Subaru STi in a Se7en.

I had a subbie... can't stand the engine sound. Always sounds like it's missing :D

[Croc]

Beautiful so far!

Want to talk about low center of gravity? Try putting a 2.5L boxer motor out of a Subaru STi in a Se7en.



Interesting idea but would a Subie engine fit? I always assummed it was too wide for the chassis?

[11Budlite]

I'm not sure how well a Subaru motor would fit, but I could have sworn I remember someone running a Porsche flat-6 or flat-4 in a se7en type car. Maybe an auto-X car??

Bruce

[Kitcat]

Wow, a V6, I am sure the Stalker/Super Stalker owners here are impressed!

What advantage does the all carbon-fiber body have over the standard aluminum cladding? Does the advantage(s) justify the enormous cost? Or, is it all bling?

It can't weigh that much less than the standard Caterham aluminum/fiberglass setup, can it?

[slngsht]

Wow, a V6, I am sure the Stalker/Super Stalker owners here are impressed!

What advantage does the all carbon-fiber body have over the standard aluminum cladding? Does the advantage(s) justify the enormous cost? Or, is it all bling?

It can't weigh that much less than the standard Caterham aluminum/fiberglass setup, can it?
it's bling yo :D

[bball7754]

This just came up on Blatchat. Apparently the savings is about 20 kg.

http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=166574

Steve

[DB6]

This just came up on Blatchat. Apparently the savings is about 20 kg.

http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?Id=166574

Steve

By going on a diet and not being such a fat bastard

[Boxologist]

I'm not sure how well a Subaru motor would fit, but I could have sworn I remember someone running a Porsche flat-6 or flat-4 in a se7en type car. Maybe an auto-X car??

Bruce

more sense than using a subaru block. if u can fit a engine i'll take the relatively bigger displacement performance block.

its a feat in 7, even an SV, but i guess its much easier in the Stalker and Ultralight chasis.

[11Budlite]

more sense than using a subaru block. if u can fit a engine i'll take the relatively bigger displacement performance block.

its a feat in 7, even an SV, but i guess its much easier in the Stalker and Ultralight chasis.

So I figured I'd try to find the car I remembered with a Porsche engine in it so I got out my "Lotus Seven & The Independents" book by Dennis Ortenburger, and there it was on pg 165. It was called the Portus and it was built and autocrossed by Del Long in the 1980's. Surprisingly, the car started out as a Lotus Seven Series 2 with the 948cc motor and was upgraded to several Ford motors, then a Porsche 914, and finally a 911 motor. From the pictures in the book, you can tell that the front frame was widened to fit the flat-6, and the motor had two 3-barrel Weber downdrafts with what looks to be K&N air filters sticking through the hood. Unfortunately, they weren't the bigger 3.0-3.6 litre air-cooled motors but were limited to 2.0-2.5 litres depending on which class he was competing in.

I couldn't find any pics of the Portus on the web so I figured I'd show you one of Long's later creations which was a D-mod Locost powered by what looks to be a Honda or Acura motor:

[11Budlite]

Here's a carbon bodied car that's finished. Not a V6 but K-series powered: http://www.ca07bon.com/index.php