Post by Stiggy on Mar 3, 2017 10:49:16 GMT
Well not exactly, but it got you looking! How about 2xV6's.
I have always been a big fan of the V6, one of our early kit cars was the R3 which featured a 2.5 Durex. It was heavy but sounded terrific. Years later my imagination was fired up once more (oh not again) when Bruce offered us the possibility of a joint venture with his Rocketeer MX5 - Jag V6 conversion. Absolutely brilliant, 250 bhp on tap, not cheap but it does look great in the chassis, come to Stoneleigh and all will be revealed.
The engine was originally designed by Porsche and sold to Ford and also used in Jaguars. All Al and weighing only 140 kg fully dressed. Coincidentally almost the exact same weight as the Mazda 4 pot. Balance will therefore not be compromised.
My mind continued to wonder and whilst surfing (the net) I found the Ford ST 220 version to be very cheap, same weight so how about sticking one of those in a Rocket, transverse, keep the trans, drive shafts and manifolds/cats, now then, I hatched a plan.
24 hours later having parted with only £400 I was stripping a Mondaneo again!
I stuck it on my bench and noticed how it didn't take up anywhere near as much room as I expected. The V makes great use of space. Compared to a Zetec with plenum one side and manifold the other, this V6 was about the same width. Manifolds hang under either side of the V and air is sucked in the middle. I also noticed how the V shape shifts the C.O.M away from the drive shaft. That will help overall front to rear weight distribution. All good so far.
Next I started mocking up a chassis, I am going wider in the cabin area than standard Rocket, more like Exocet, this will help stop my clumsy elbows from banging the top tube, done that a few times when trying to show off!
Brakes, well I don't like working too hard at the wheel these days so I have saved a small fortune on the usual Willwood affair and stuck an MX5 unit up front complete with servo and spring loaded gas pedal.
Steering, well Sierra racks are becoming less available so I decided to go narrower and use longer wishbones to enhance the geometry.
Suspension, just ordered a set of Gaz coil overs, can't be bothered to muck around with in boards and bell cranks.
Body work, no idea yet, still playing with the chassis style, I am liking the centre line as it feeds all the way from the front suspension to the rear, I also like the full length tip to toe top tube, it's easy on the eye but very simple. The lines from the sides look cool too, not clear in the picture but it has the wedge look. The steel nose will be a feature, back to the Harley Davidson V Rod ethos of engineering on show.
An absolute PITA to get accurate without a jig but it is spot on symmetrically now.
Lots to do but I am excited at the mo so no doubt it won't be long before I am back with more news. You heard it here first.
Meantime here is the V12 I mentioned in the title, 2 separate V6 pictures though. Soz.
I have always been a big fan of the V6, one of our early kit cars was the R3 which featured a 2.5 Durex. It was heavy but sounded terrific. Years later my imagination was fired up once more (oh not again) when Bruce offered us the possibility of a joint venture with his Rocketeer MX5 - Jag V6 conversion. Absolutely brilliant, 250 bhp on tap, not cheap but it does look great in the chassis, come to Stoneleigh and all will be revealed.
The engine was originally designed by Porsche and sold to Ford and also used in Jaguars. All Al and weighing only 140 kg fully dressed. Coincidentally almost the exact same weight as the Mazda 4 pot. Balance will therefore not be compromised.
My mind continued to wonder and whilst surfing (the net) I found the Ford ST 220 version to be very cheap, same weight so how about sticking one of those in a Rocket, transverse, keep the trans, drive shafts and manifolds/cats, now then, I hatched a plan.
24 hours later having parted with only £400 I was stripping a Mondaneo again!
I stuck it on my bench and noticed how it didn't take up anywhere near as much room as I expected. The V makes great use of space. Compared to a Zetec with plenum one side and manifold the other, this V6 was about the same width. Manifolds hang under either side of the V and air is sucked in the middle. I also noticed how the V shape shifts the C.O.M away from the drive shaft. That will help overall front to rear weight distribution. All good so far.
Next I started mocking up a chassis, I am going wider in the cabin area than standard Rocket, more like Exocet, this will help stop my clumsy elbows from banging the top tube, done that a few times when trying to show off!
Brakes, well I don't like working too hard at the wheel these days so I have saved a small fortune on the usual Willwood affair and stuck an MX5 unit up front complete with servo and spring loaded gas pedal.
Steering, well Sierra racks are becoming less available so I decided to go narrower and use longer wishbones to enhance the geometry.
Suspension, just ordered a set of Gaz coil overs, can't be bothered to muck around with in boards and bell cranks.
Body work, no idea yet, still playing with the chassis style, I am liking the centre line as it feeds all the way from the front suspension to the rear, I also like the full length tip to toe top tube, it's easy on the eye but very simple. The lines from the sides look cool too, not clear in the picture but it has the wedge look. The steel nose will be a feature, back to the Harley Davidson V Rod ethos of engineering on show.
An absolute PITA to get accurate without a jig but it is spot on symmetrically now.
Lots to do but I am excited at the mo so no doubt it won't be long before I am back with more news. You heard it here first.
Meantime here is the V12 I mentioned in the title, 2 separate V6 pictures though. Soz.
