Slomove (Gert's Ride)

[slomove]

Some car info.....

- Birkin S3, built in 1998

- purchased in 2003 with 600 miles on the clock

- 2.0 Zetec ZX1, originally on 45 DCOE carbs, now Jenvey TB

- Emerald ECU and KentCam FZ2002, head ported and shaved to 10.6:1

- semi-close T9 box and Quaiffe LSD, Laminova heat exchanger

- completely rewired, new dash, Cobra seats and many other useless fun upgrades

- Power, well, don´t know....maybe 150-160 at the wheels according to similar engines (never measured mine). Doing 0-60 about 4.6 seconds it is ample fast for the road. I think I need to hone my skills on the track for a few more years until I can make good use of more power, i.e. not just pulling away on the straight.







http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/glendoraridge1sm.jpg



http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/michael_slomove.jpg



http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/lasaac9_04allsevens.jpg

(in there, somewhere....)



http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/nofilter.jpg



http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/mirrorscreenlr.jpg



more pics >here (http://home.earthlink.net/~slomove)<edited><editID>slomove</editID><editDate>2006-12-23 14:15:56</editDate></edited>

[lowflyer]

Beautiful car... glad I don't have to polish it.

Although if it was mine, I'm sure I wouldn't mind!!!!!

[slomove]

Beautiful car... glad I don't have to polish it.

Although if it was mine, I'm sure I wouldn't mind!!!!!

Thanks!! The polishing is not too bad if kept up, maybe 3 times a year. But I must admit lately I slacked off and it is not that shiny anymore. I think before I go on the Pacific Northwest Tour I will brush it up a bit. Just for bragging purposes :cool:

Gert

[stevet]

Gert,

Car looks great. Is that a custom Muffler (and if so, where did you source it)?

Thanks, Steve.

[slomove]

Steve, this used to be a Magnaflow stainless bullet muffler (about 3.5 or 4" diameter) that I welded onto the existing header. Also welded that mitered exit elbow and the tip from the auto store with a built in mini-muffler.

I had this for some 3 years, looked very nice, if a little loud and heavy but inexpensive. At the end the packing was blown out and the whole thing became really loud. As you can not repack the Magnaflow cans I trashed the whole thing and I am running now a RACECO titanium muffler with a regular tip. Quite expensive (especially with shipping from the UK) and with 6" diameter large but reasonably quiet, good sound, light and repackable.

Gert

[stevet]

Thanks Gert,

I'm back in the UK in July and have been looking at the Raceco - expensive as you say. Might try to bring one back with me, could be interesting trying to get that through US customs... :crazy:

[slomove]

If you go there make sure to pre-order. They are made to order and the lead time used to be 4-5 weeks

Gert

[stevet]

Good point. Thanks.

[Boxologist]

go Gert!:hurray:

[Al Navarro]

One of the best sorted and prettiest Se7ens in the country, IMHO.

Thanks for posting, Gert.

[slomove]

*Blush*

I have been accused of overpolishing and some people wondered when I would install that big screen TV and a microwave oven.
So, nice to get a compliment sometimes :rolleyes:
But the car is admittedly a little lardy at 1300 pounds and not a purebred racer.

[11Budlite]

Gert - I hope you don't mind me bumping your ride back to the top (I figure we could all use something shiny around Christmas time :) ), but I have a question concerning the Raceco muffler you use. I know they are made to order, but were you able to have them make it so there was minimal fabrication to hook up to the stock Birkin collector? Is the inlet pipe angled where it comes out of the front of the muffler? Looking at the picture on your website I couldn't tell for sure, but it also looks like the inlet is offset to one side? Am I seeing that correctly? Are you happy overall with the Raceco and would you change anything if you could do it again? I'm trying to decide on an exhaust upgrade and really want something that is repackable, lightweight, and not too loud, and I've been considering the Burns Stainless and Raceco options.

TIA, Bruce :7drive:

[slomove]

Gert - I hope you don't mind me bumping your ride back to the top (I figure we could all use something shiny around Christmas time :) ), but I have a question concerning the Raceco muffler you use. I know they are made to order, but were you able to have them make it so there was minimal fabrication to hook up to the stock Birkin collector? Is the inlet pipe angled where it comes out of the front of the muffler? Looking at the picture on your website I couldn't tell for sure, but it also looks like the inlet is offset to one side? Am I seeing that correctly? Are you happy overall with the Raceco and would you change anything if you could do it again? I'm trying to decide on an exhaust upgrade and really want something that is repackable, lightweight, and not too loud, and I've been considering the Burns Stainless and Raceco options.

TIA, Bruce :7drive:

Naah, that is O.K. Love to talk about the car :)

Yes I am very happy with the Raceco muffler. Well made and re-packable, should pretty much hold up forever and really light (keep in mind however, that for a can of that size the dense glass packing itself already contributes some weight). The interesting design feature is a super-fine mesh (maybe 10mil) titanium wire cloth wrapped around the perforated center tube that minimized glass packing blowout. I can also commend the superior customer service. When I repacked the first time I found the center tube damaged. I complained and got a free replacement tube within a week (mind, from the UK).

I think the can is about as quiet as it gets with an open tube muffler and has a rather pleasant tone. Nevertheless at any speed higher than city streets ear plugs are required.

The inlet is indeed offset to the side and no funky pipe bends are required. I made however a mistake and ordered a 2 1/4" inlet (I should have measured the collector tube and not just guessed). As a result I had to fabricate a special pipe joint neck-down. If I had ordered a 2 1/2" inlet it would have slipped over the cut-off collector tube right away.

That is about what I would change. Otherwise I would do it again if I can not find something comparable cheaper. The price is kind of absurd but you get what you pay for.

Gert

[11Budlite]

Much appreciated Gert! :)

Bruce :7drive:

[jerjozwik]

well hello there infamous gert! that car looks amazing. id love to see it in person!

[slomove]

well hello there infamous gert! that car looks amazing. id love to see it in person!

Hey, you are pretty close. I live off Huntington Drive and El Campo. Let me know if you want to come along sometimes but this weekend I am at the Willow Springs Race Track.

The car looks still great (IMHO) but not as super spiffy anymore like on the pics. I just use it too much.

Gert

[jerjozwik]

close is right your just down the street! dont you worry about the looks, its the ugly parts that interest me!

well enjoy your weekend sounds like it will be fun

[rotus8guy]

Gert,

She is lovely, good to see you're using her appropriately.

I've got another question for you. I'm looking at alternatives for new taillights. my rear fenders need some bodywork, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to fix the ugly pods I grafted onto the fiberglass to keep the Rotus from scraping the wires off the Toyota pickup/Landcruiser taillights it came with.

The taillights on your Birkin look pretty sharp. Where can they be sourced?

Thanks in advance,

John

[slomove]

The taillights on your Birkin look pretty sharp. Where can they be sourced?

Hello John, thanks for the praise :)

The taillights are Birkin stock (not Birkenstock). That is, as far as I know, from a Toyota Hi-Lux pickup (or van?) that has been sold in South Africa in the 80's. So I guess that is not much help for you.

However you may contact Dick Brink (www.texasmotorworks7.com) who occasionally imports Birkin parts and cars. He may have some sitting on his shelf.

If mine should ever break I was considering fabricating some bright LED taillights that are flush with the wing surface, I e. invisible when not turned on. Might be a fun little project.

Gert

[rotus8guy]

Thanks, I suspected Dick was the go-to guy for a Birkin part, and now I have a contact for him. I didn't realize you were in SoCal, I'm writing this from just down the 110 from you, my room at the Wilshire Grand. Off early tomorrow for JFK.

Cheers,

John

[jerjozwik]

hey gert, sorry to sort of sidetrack your thread. but what track at willow did you run your seven on? i was just there today for the first time. just curious

[slomove]

That was on the Streets of Willow for the Alfa Club Driving School (www.arosc.org).
Have been there a few times with AROSC and Shelby Club before and once on the Big Track with NASA. The Streets is a fun track if a bit short and as I found it is now somewhat bumpy in spite of repairs.

Actually, the Buttonwillow Track has become more popular with local Se7eners in the last years.

Gert

P.S.: if you want to hitch a ride with a Seven, be at the Angeles Crest exit of the 210 in La Canada tomorrow (3/15) at 8am.
There will be 3 or 4 Se7ens for a 200 mile drive out to the mountains (breakfast in Acton). More Info (http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/chat/showthread.php?p=8880#post8880)

[jerjozwik]

yargh! not only did i read that at 8.5o am. but i have to work today to boot!