Rotus
06-22-09, 11:32 PM
#26
ROTUS LIVES!
I have just started my car and ran it for about 30 minutes with out any problems!
Ok, it back fires a bit, but then it is an old rotary. The cheap muffler will not last long with these explosions, but it is cheap and temporary. No oil leaks, and one small leak in the radiator (which was pretty old to start with) I had it boiled out, bit I have a bit of a drip.
I have a couple small front suspension pieces to fabricate, and my rear brake caliper mounts to make (I have a working copy) and then it is off to the track for testing.
Wahoo!
I have just started my car and ran it for about 30 minutes with out any problems!
Ok, it back fires a bit, but then it is an old rotary. The cheap muffler will not last long with these explosions, but it is cheap and temporary. No oil leaks, and one small leak in the radiator (which was pretty old to start with) I had it boiled out, bit I have a bit of a drip.
I have a couple small front suspension pieces to fabricate, and my rear brake caliper mounts to make (I have a working copy) and then it is off to the track for testing.
Wahoo!
06-24-09, 08:33 PM
#28
Just got the steering done an alignment last night. All that is left is rear brake caliper mounts. Sorry, no new photos or video, but I will when I drive it.
I have had some requests for the flaming backfires, but that seems to have subsided with a timing change.
JEB
I have had some requests for the flaming backfires, but that seems to have subsided with a timing change.
JEB
07-12-09, 10:13 PM
#29
Rotus drives!
ROTUS DRIVES!
Details and BIG NEWS
Ok, I have put the two additional residual pressure valves in and it is better, but not great. Have more work to do on the brakes.
Found one of the rear axles was bent, swapped it for another.
Noise in the clutch fork, fixed that (and swapped in a light aluminum flywheel and HD clutch at the same time). Woo Woo
THE BIG NEWS IS…
I drove it for the first time. Yup, I took my car out on the wet roads and took it for a spin. Yes, I completely covered myself with road debris (especially when I turned with no fenders on). But that car was a blast! Tomorrow I take it to the autocross track for a more complete shake down, prior to next weekend’s race. I am so excited!
Thanks for all of your help!
PS - I will post photos when they come off my wife's camera
Less than a year from picking up the frame to testing on the track!
Details and BIG NEWS
Ok, I have put the two additional residual pressure valves in and it is better, but not great. Have more work to do on the brakes.
Found one of the rear axles was bent, swapped it for another.
Noise in the clutch fork, fixed that (and swapped in a light aluminum flywheel and HD clutch at the same time). Woo Woo
THE BIG NEWS IS…
I drove it for the first time. Yup, I took my car out on the wet roads and took it for a spin. Yes, I completely covered myself with road debris (especially when I turned with no fenders on). But that car was a blast! Tomorrow I take it to the autocross track for a more complete shake down, prior to next weekend’s race. I am so excited!
Thanks for all of your help!
PS - I will post photos when they come off my wife's camera
Less than a year from picking up the frame to testing on the track!
07-20-09, 09:18 PM
#30
Rotus Moves
I finally got all the photos off the camera, so I can post some now.
Well, it has been an exciting week!
I now have a running chassis and I got to go on my first drive, WOW!
The car ran great. I used an engine from my autocross car, a 13B that put out 146 hp at the rear wheels when I dyno it. In the Rx7 that was ok, but in this car (with wet roads) the tires did a lot of spinning.
(here are some photos).
Well, it has been an exciting week!
I now have a running chassis and I got to go on my first drive, WOW!
The car ran great. I used an engine from my autocross car, a 13B that put out 146 hp at the rear wheels when I dyno it. In the Rx7 that was ok, but in this car (with wet roads) the tires did a lot of spinning.
(here are some photos).
07-20-09, 09:20 PM
#31
ROTUS Practices
I finally got all the photos off the camera, so I am post it all right now.
My car club had a member’s day right after my first drive, so I got to take it to the autocross track and run it about a half a dozen runs. I would have gotten a few more in, but I knocked off the exhaust system getting it in the trailer, so I put my Miata race wheels on the car (which raised it a bit). The 15 inch wheels raise the car just enough to get it into the trailer. I will build some extension ramps to see if I can get it in on its 13 inch wheels.
(here are those photos)
My car club had a member’s day right after my first drive, so I got to take it to the autocross track and run it about a half a dozen runs. I would have gotten a few more in, but I knocked off the exhaust system getting it in the trailer, so I put my Miata race wheels on the car (which raised it a bit). The 15 inch wheels raise the car just enough to get it into the trailer. I will build some extension ramps to see if I can get it in on its 13 inch wheels.
(here are those photos)
07-22-09, 08:15 AM
#33
That is great! love the pic of JEB + road debris. It looks like a go cart on the track.. you need a roll bar for visual esthetics. The rx2 is still in the car trailer (lol). I'm going to have to clean up my kids honda 400 cafe racer debris to get a spot in the warehouse.
I'll get your front cover and oil pickup to you, honest... do you still have the fusible links?
I'll get your front cover and oil pickup to you, honest... do you still have the fusible links?
07-22-09, 08:26 PM
#34
John,
The car was great, simply great. I had a blast and it is faster that I had imagined. I do understand about projects just sitting. Getting those parts would be nice, and yes I do have the links. I forgot and will send them to you.
JEB
The car was great, simply great. I had a blast and it is faster that I had imagined. I do understand about projects just sitting. Getting those parts would be nice, and yes I do have the links. I forgot and will send them to you.
JEB
07-22-09, 08:41 PM
#35
Photos from BSCC 5
Got to race ROTUS last week at the BSCC event.
First real race and the car did great, ran very well. The course had an average time of about 60 seconds. I race in the Mod class and these cars set the fast time of the day at 48.165 seconds (on slicks) which was a hair faster than a 6 time SCCA National Championship F Prepared 914-6 which ran a 48.3 (also on slicks). I ran a 50.9 as my fastest time for the day running on my four year old Kumho 710s. I was really pleased.
I have a couple photos that came out. (Most the other photos were the typical digital race photos of “where the car was” and a “blazing ball of blurr”, so this is what I have).
First real race and the car did great, ran very well. The course had an average time of about 60 seconds. I race in the Mod class and these cars set the fast time of the day at 48.165 seconds (on slicks) which was a hair faster than a 6 time SCCA National Championship F Prepared 914-6 which ran a 48.3 (also on slicks). I ran a 50.9 as my fastest time for the day running on my four year old Kumho 710s. I was really pleased.
I have a couple photos that came out. (Most the other photos were the typical digital race photos of “where the car was” and a “blazing ball of blurr”, so this is what I have).
08-26-09, 11:07 PM
#36
a bit exposed ...
Well after four events at BSCC, and feeling a bit exposed in ROTUS at speed, the car now has a roll bar. I could have done it myself, but chose to have Doug Chase at Chase race do it for me. I did this for a couple of reasons, one I know it is SCCA legal and two he took a look hard look at my car to show me things I need to fix. And, third, I think it will also help in tech at the track, when they see the safety equipment was built by Chase Race.
09-26-09, 08:51 PM
#39
ROTUS - one hell of a time!~
Well, I have not been around much, because I have been out playing with my car. I have done a bunch of autocrosses, added some new parts and have had one hell of a time!~
I have a lot of projects for the winter but I am not done playing yet. Here are some current photos.
Winter projects include:
A completed body
Redrilled Keizer Racing wheels to fit just right
A new wild four port 13B with a 50mm Throttle body injection
And a Megasquirt unit
Oh ya, and a less ugly exhaust!
Thank you all who have helped so far, you are the greatest!
I have a lot of projects for the winter but I am not done playing yet. Here are some current photos.
Winter projects include:
A completed body
Redrilled Keizer Racing wheels to fit just right
A new wild four port 13B with a 50mm Throttle body injection
And a Megasquirt unit
Oh ya, and a less ugly exhaust!
Thank you all who have helped so far, you are the greatest!
01-26-10, 09:49 PM
#40
ROTUS has skin
Wow, it has been a long time since I last posted. I have gotten a few things done.
• Marc and Troy have been working on the Megasquirt for me, but it is not in yet.
• Most of the body panels done and have been polishing them; now I have tendonitis. Have found local teenager who likes cars and have trained him to wet sand (thanks Tom Sawyer).
• Cut, sectioned and tailored nose cone to fit just right.
• Have a tag board hood, but I do not think that it will hold up at speed.
• Rear fenders mounted and the transition between the body and rear fenders built.
• Need to make the front cycle fenders (the clamshells I have will not work).
Ok, maybe it does not sound like much, but it looks good!
(PS – That is not an air speed indicator sticking out of the hood, just a ruler for support).
• Marc and Troy have been working on the Megasquirt for me, but it is not in yet.
• Most of the body panels done and have been polishing them; now I have tendonitis. Have found local teenager who likes cars and have trained him to wet sand (thanks Tom Sawyer).
• Cut, sectioned and tailored nose cone to fit just right.
• Have a tag board hood, but I do not think that it will hold up at speed.
• Rear fenders mounted and the transition between the body and rear fenders built.
• Need to make the front cycle fenders (the clamshells I have will not work).
Ok, maybe it does not sound like much, but it looks good!
(PS – That is not an air speed indicator sticking out of the hood, just a ruler for support).
01-27-10, 10:10 AM
#41
The Outsider
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WOW, it looks like a lotus 7 now, you have had a busy winter. Really nice to see it coming together, I remember not all that long ago it was a bare frame in your garage, its come a long ways to say the least.
See ya in a few weeks.
See ya in a few weeks.
01-28-10, 09:15 PM
#43
Nope, did not get the new engine in. When I changed the shape of the nose, I needed to change the cooling system. I have now done that, but I want to test the cooling system prior ti installing a new engine. I hope to do that in the next couple of weeks.
02-21-10, 08:13 PM
#45
ROTUS, now has color (and a bit more)
I have been working on the body panels and have finally gotten to paint the car. I painted the panels in the morning when the wind was not around. It was nice to have good weather to paint in, what a great winter it has been weather wise. The color hugger orange and is an inexpensive lacquer.
Oh yes, Well, should say a bit more. I have also swapped out the old S4 6 port engine and have dropped in a nicely ported old school four port . I am breaking in the new engine with an IDA Weber and then will change that out for fuel injection. Oh yes, I have a new cooling system with shrouding.
Here are a couple photos.
Oh yes, Well, should say a bit more. I have also swapped out the old S4 6 port engine and have dropped in a nicely ported old school four port . I am breaking in the new engine with an IDA Weber and then will change that out for fuel injection. Oh yes, I have a new cooling system with shrouding.
Here are a couple photos.
!!!!
.
