Mister Towed wrote:
No problem T-A-C, we have our fair share of the stupid gene this side of the pond too.
As for putting even a mid power V8 into a chassis that struggled to cope with its original 948cc motor that could't power a magimix, I think you might be better off putting the Spyder body over a bespoke chassis with some proper suspension and the V8 nestled a lot further back in the chassis. I believe your vehicle regs allow for that sort of mischief?
Over here we can't use a new chassis without complying with a load of crappy YooRooPee'n legislation about having a nasty plastic steering wheel for the driver's face to hit in a crash followed by a specialist inspection/test/new vehicle registration (IVA). It typically costs the average car builder another six hundred pounds (about a thousand bucks) to get it through the test, which is ten times the cost of the MOT test if you reuse an original unmodified original chassis.
I do wish we could just use a new chassis without all the hassle.
Mister T - and do please call me, "Joe" (of course, it's not my
real name - my
real name's "Dave" just like everyone else here) - thanks for taking the time and for the advice. We've not yet settled on anything other than the Sammio Spyder body style, and Chris and I do chat by telephone from time to time, so working things out - assuming he continues to be foolish enough to keep nodding his assent - shouldn't be too awfully difficult. Hopefully he'll look in on this thread and make the appropriate noises.
As to the regulations here, cars registered - as long as they incorporate original build plates - are what their build plates claim, so the Sammio will be titled as a 1954 Lancia, which exempts it from seatbelts, emission control standards, and nearly every other modern-day American autofoolery. They need brakes and lights, and front steering which seems not about to let loose, but beyond that, one's pretty much free to do as one likes.
I currently own Randy Corson's Corson 512(Bbi) clone, and we've done quite a bit of structural reinforcing to that as well. The Pontiac Fiero chassis was designed and built by the same folks who made the Herald - the only difference being that when they designed that old Triumph they were still sober. Decent enough for the GM 2.8 litre V6, but quite unhappy about having a 5 litre flat twelve jammed into that little hole - and thereafter seeming to have a frame made from an India eraser. Nursing it back to inflexibility could have had a thread of its own here, but that's all welding rod under the bridge now.
Chris - I know you're reading this, and I know you often complain that you're bored, and have far too much extra time on your hands. Give us your thoughts.
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