Not everybodys friend

Post by **ilu-azuma** » 11 Feb 2007 12:55 pm

Hi,

as suggested above I may not make many friends within the 340 community, as I do not actually own a 340 at present, but I am currently building a "one off" 2 seat sports car using the 1400 engine gearbox and modified rear running gear using parallel trailing arms and coilovers.
The front end is now using MX5 uprights with double wishbones and coilovers.

See the link below for progress. I should have the car drivable by this easter then its time to start the bodywork.

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/p.jans ... hotos[url]

Post by **Nick C** » 11 Feb 2007 01:04 pm

Cool, good to see someone using something more original than a pinto and type 9 box for a custom 2-seater! Interesting rear axle set-up, a pity you can't get a slipper for 340 gear though...

Good luck with it, hope to see it up and running soon!

Post by **SteveP** » 11 Feb 2007 01:09 pm

Nice project! As Nick said, nice to see some creative use rather than the 'usual'. I'd imagine the rear mounted gearbox will help weight distribution and traction no end in a car being built up like that

Post by **redline** » 11 Feb 2007 01:14 pm

[quote="ilu-azuma"]Hi,
as suggested above I may not make many friends within the 340 community, [quote]

everyone is welcome here , you don't have to own a 300 to appreciate them.

for god sake one of the moderators here even has a vw golf or 3

Post by **ilu-azuma** » 11 Feb 2007 01:15 pm

Idea behind it was weight distribution should be better than the normal 60/40 on Lotus 7 replicas. Main problem is the width of the trans tunnel mean the driver/passenger areas are reduced. I can get in though.

Post by **Ronnie** » 11 Feb 2007 06:51 pm

Can see why you were attracted to the transaxle design - but why go for the renault 1.4?

Post by **SteveP** » 11 Feb 2007 06:57 pm

Light, cheap to tax/insure?

Post by **jtbo** » 11 Feb 2007 07:14 pm

SteveP wrote:Light, cheap to tax/insure?

Yes, power / weight ratio, those cars are famous being light and still having plenty of power so you really like engine to be as light as possible.

Check out Radical for example, it is similar idea taken to next level, using highly tuned motorcycle engines and very light body, insane machines.

Post by **ilu-azuma** » 11 Feb 2007 07:56 pm

I am using the 1400 for now as I have 2 decent ones and tax and insurance will be cheap and being about half the weight of the 340 it should be fairly frisky.

Also for SVA purposes and registration I want to keep as many bits from the 340 as poss to ensure I don't get a "Q" plate.

Post by **Nick C** » 11 Feb 2007 08:58 pm

Unfortunately I think you've gone much too far to avoid a Q plate! Only the negine and transmission would count as original, and you need a lot more than that....

Post by **ilu-azuma** » 12 Feb 2007 11:51 am

current rules (but will no doubt change) are that there must be at least 2 major components from the donor vehicle.
The old points system vanished at about or just after the introduction of the SVA.
Also the only used components not from the 340 are the MX5 uprights and and associated ball joints.
As the chassis, wishbones, trailing arms pedal box are all brand new and bespoke they don't count as coming from another vehicle.
Compared to pre-SVA there are fewer cars ending up with "Q" plate and those that do end up with one are built not using a single donor for the enngine and trans. and some other drive train.
Mind you if I take much longer building it, fossil fuels will have run out !

Post by **jtbo** » 12 Feb 2007 02:32 pm

ilu-azuma wrote: Mind you if I take much longer building it, fossil fuels will have run out !

Well, that won't be big problem, you can quickly make adjustments to car so it uses ethanol or LPG

I wish we would have something like LPG here, but nothing at all, just more taxes to pay is what we get

Post by **ilu-azuma** » 17 Feb 2007 11:00 pm

I've now got the car off the trailer for the first time, still got loads to do, but its another step forward.
Even the wife is seeing progress

Post by **Chris_C** » 18 Feb 2007 12:23 am

Wow! Thats looking great! Keep us informed, that looks very very impressive!

Post by **petefarrell360** » 18 Feb 2007 05:09 am

A very interesting project indeed! I can appreciate the work that has gone into this, and much respect is due! I'd imagine as you say, weighing less than a 340, it should be pretty quick indeed, and very well balanced. If the parts of a 340 that would otherwise end up crushed are being used to make a project like this work, you're more than welcome here!

Pete

Not everybodys friend

Not everybodys friend

Re: Not everybodys friend