13B Powered lotus 7 project.... 7^2
 

I don't post much at all.
I'd rather be working on my cars...
But I am at the point that I can start bragging a little - it has been a tough project.
I have learned a hell of a lot from this forum, there is great knowledge here.
I bought a 2nd gen track car 2 years ago and have been enamored by the 13B since then (After I rebuilt it). It has been a great toy. This forum had a lot to do with the success of the car.
So, a little over a year ago, I decided to make a Lotus 7 clone from scratch.
I think I still have another year until I finish. Important things like fishing, and occasionally work, seem to interfere way too often.

So the overview: (All items already purchased:) Most installed for fitment)
13B - New S5 NA rotors and new TII housings (NA Motor)
Out for build at AZRR right now. Balance, clearance, water jacket mod, bridgeport, IAS ceramics, and a few other goodies.
Tweakit ITBs. Light weight flywheel.
4 D585 Coils.
External Weaver dry sump, modeled after the mazda race team designs (Thanks to Yevette at weaver) - Top of the engine is lower than my knee cap...And flush with the lower frame rails at the bottom.
Electric water pump with custom adapter.
Big ol' oil cooler and radiator (Custom from griffin)
E6K Ecu with fully configured Racepak IQ3
4.88 rear end with LSD (New rebuild)
15 x 10 with Hoosier A25 slicks.
Racing Dynamics double adjustable shocks with custom GC springs
4 piston wilwoods at all 4 corners and dual MC with balance bar
1.5 turn lock to lock appleton steering rack
Fully modeled independent suspension
Kirkey seats and 6 point harnesses
Dual 4 gall fuel cells (One acts as a surge tank)
All parts made by me with the help of some equipment/guidance provided by friends.

This is much more aggressive than the standard lotus 7. Much lower stance, and a good bit wider. Target weight of 1150 lbs with cage. Hoping to get 275 flywheel HP (Maybe??) Most of these cars run 100 to 150 HP (Miata / bike engines). It will be used for Autox and track days - I don't think I'll have the cajones to full out road race this one....I have put provisions for all road legal hardware (Lights/horns/Etc) so I may put it on the road someday - but here in LA everyone drives giant trucks (Self included) and it would be pretty easy to run over my fancy speedbump.


Here are 2 recent pics:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...8/IMGP0446.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...8/IMGP0478.jpg


I hope someone realizes how much work this takes to get even this far. Building a frame is about a 20 hour job. I have 100's into this already I'm sure - the frame is easy. A fellow racer just bought a $37K kit that took him 7 months to get on the road, and he didn't have to weld anything! (Plus he was unemployed for most of the time...). I am hoping to have a better car for about 15K and "Free" :scratch: labor. It's about the journey, right?

Let me know your thoughts - and any recommendations.
Thanks for reading my rant....

its inspiring man. that looks like the frame my brother built for his dunebuggy.truly incredible.:icon_tup:

id rather have a rx7 FC shell lol.

this is exactly what I have wanted to build since I rode in my first Westfield several years ago...

it had a 200 hp high compression Pinto motor and was 1200 lbs. the 2 foot flames emitted from the side of the car at calf level was especially enjoyable. the sound was tremendous and the buffetting wind in your hair at over 160 meant you couldn't talk, but only grin at your passenger!!

awesome ride. keep up the good work. let me know when it's finished and I can buy it from you for $15K :)

nice very nice, i have thought maney times about building one.

Fantastic!
Your project has always been one of my dream projects.
Can't wait to see and hear more about the car as it progresses.

I love the lotus 7! even if its a kit 7 and with a wankel? HELL YES.

+1

Nice project. Good luck with it.

Always wanted to build one but could not figure out how to register it in Los Angeles. I would have added at least 100 LBs more of tubing though. Solo events and track days are not the problem. Idiots on the street are. Looks well thought out and very clean. What did you decide to use for your rear end set up.

The roll cage is coming soon...
The rear is RX7 LSD, RX7 axles, and RX7 spindles - pressed into ford Thunderbird knuckles. The rear knuckles on the RX7 are not too friendly for design.

Bad Ass Dude. Very bad ass. What do u do as a 9-5 if u dont mind me askin?

nice...gotta love those twin itb's....:icon_tup:

such a sick project, right after i saw this i youtubed lotus 7, never relaly heard of them before this thread, and now i want one :)

the speed these have is insane

That should work very well. Mid 80s I worked with a guy who made a lotus 7 clone for a customer using a 240Z engine supercharged pulling though 3 side mounted SU carbs. This car used a DeDion rear end with inboard brakes. The 7 was very, very impressive even by todays standards. For a track car, I think the DeDion is the way to go because most of our courses are in such good condition. The only disadvantage is the room it requires limits a off the shelf fuel cell.

I have another friend who recently found a Devin Body which is 20+ years old, “20 Years for fiberglass is a long time,” that he used as a mold to make 2 new bodies. He just cast an Aluminum housing so he can mount 9” ford differential, in-board mounted brakes - DeDion set up. He is making the hubs now. He will have to fabricate dual rear gas tanks - connected because of space. By the way, He isn’t worried about registration of his car because has a pre - 1970 - 350 Chevy engine for registration purposes.

How do you plan to register yours?

Looks like a great project, Keep posting so we can see your progress.

speechless...

awesome!