Stratos Evoluzione, Carbon Kevlar body, T45 spaceframe build

[sean999r]

Modifying the Door Locks to compensate for increased thickness of composite door V X1/9 steel
I settled on 2.2mm spacer




Machined rings from L168 2014 Aluminum bar
Drilled tapped catch piece M6




Machined top hat shoulder spacer, waiting on Torx screws

I have removed the internal lock mechanism and the key barrel as race cars don’t have door locks 😀
Will machine black nylon blank for key barrel and bullnose plunger for the internal door lock

Stripped and cleaned external door handles bit of satin black paint and reassemble

[sean999r]

Tedious work door locks / hinges, however making progress

Decided upon LB type rod end type hinges
Using McGill Motorsports anti roll bar end links
Cut to size M8 rod ends clevis pins (aid QD door)
Door post face plate in 1/8” 4130
Female part of rod end hinge made 4130 rectangle box, cut down to match width of rod end width

The doors need sanding down in couple areas as they are a little overlapping the door opening, but that’s ok as theirs room to make them fit as good as possible

[sean999r]

Bit of apprehension of Uprights yesterday, I did get clarification this morning to put my mind at ease.
WRC rears I cannot get until about November maybe December at worst case
My front uprights from different company have been promised in 2 weeks but I won’t be surprised if that’s a month.




Meanwhile I crack on with door side receiver hinge plate

[sean999r]

I have been in mental quandary choosing Tyres and Wheels width and diameter
From Pirelli P7 super Corsa Michelin TB5 retro tarmac Rally ranges, all big $$$ and limited availability
Recently been looking at Nankang AR1 which are a DOT legal track tyre under half the price P7 / TB5, and readily available
Reading and watching YouTube reviews that set my decision
Down side is that the widest tyre I can get for the rear is 275/35-15 for 10.00 rim so no option of
295 315 however I believe model cutting edge tyre will negate the width discrepancy

Read an interesting test on BMW trying differently width Tyres looking at lap times
OE was 225/255 front / rear
They tried all tyres up to 295 width
fastest lap was on 255/285 front / rear
295 rear was barely better than 255
So more can easily = less
Finally on the O/D 15” definitely as doing gear ratio / top speed with the CR 6speed in 6th = 158mph much faster than I’m inclined to go however
6th will be good cruise gear on motorways etc.

Original Stratos Grp4 redline in 5th depending on gear sets used between 105-125mph not the std Busso V6 196mph with standard Alfa ratios
You lose the whole spirit of a tribute car by having super tall gearing / lack luster acceleration

Shopped around and C Bradley Motorsports in
N.Ireland has best to the door price on Minilites
Placing my order for set of
8x15 et 12 grp4
10x15 et-20 grp4

[sean999r]

Door receiver hinges done as far as fabrication.
Next make up the aluminium backing plate to sandwich mount to the door

[sean999r]

Another 6 odd hours on Hinges
Slotted the door post mounts, profiled base, TIG brazed the threaded pillars, marked up drivers side door receiver plate hole locations




Deep curvature of door creates optical illusion, hinges are vertical 90 degrees 😀

[blackpopracing]

Why tig brazed rather than tig welded? looking to be educated

[sean999r]

Jul 24, 2023 18:17:22 GMT blackpopracing said:

Why tig brazed rather than tig welded? looking to be educated

Welded on backside + it’s press fit, Braze adds larger fillet, less likely to distort plate as braze is at lower temperature

[sean999r]

1 step forward 2 steps backwards
Wasted my time mounting door to hinge plate
Until I have the door fitting the openings close to perfect as possible
Drivers door is too deep in the Sill opening
Pass’ door is too long
Tomorrow take some accurate measurements and out with the death wheel for some trimming so I can rough block sand to try get nice even gap
Then go back to door / hinge mounting

[Darkspeed]

Out of interest - is that dimension the same both sides?

[sean999r]

Jul 25, 2023 20:14:31 GMT Darkspeed said:

Out of interest - is that dimension the same both sides?

Within 2mm, 135mm - 137mm central body in door post area has mimicked some repair damage, replicated in the Part, it’s small, can’t see both door shuts at same time so hard to spot
John molds are obviously molds from molded panels + he got molds when he bought the original Litton, since has made his own where needed
When mentioned to him his new wide front nose wheel arch flares where a bit off side to side he admitted so that all done by eye on his car
It’s only a little, I can easily cut out the section then re bond it
Having the jig platform is relatively easy to see discrepancies

Re Doors the locks had location reference marks which I used as his (John) doors open close fine
But they are actually a tiny bit higher than ideal to used Fiat strikers in the indent in body
Now I am going to used a Stud Striker so I can achieve more vertical adjustment
That means I have holes to fill 🙄

This morning I trimmed cut off some 3 mm bottom edge of the Drivers door fit looks extremely close now
However on the Pass’ door John’s glass man has cut too much off, I will need to laminate a filler strip in later I’ll used Carbon Rod

[sean999r]

Must have 40hrs in doors hinges locks
Can’t be much more 🤞
Dispensed with X1/9 striker / catch due to not enough vertical adjustment ie I followed location marks in doors for lock position, needless to say they are are a little to high in the doors
Here’s my own 2014 machined ally door striker pin
Just needs top section fabricated to keep door accurately located

11.1mm pin o/d M10x1.5 thread

[sean999r]

Temp thread diversion
Got a bit tired on fiddling around with door locks and hinges, even though I’m really close, that and waiting on wheels and upright orders / delivery
I needed to take a short break and rework my custom 1000cc SuperMoto bike for what I hope is Indian summer hoping for some nice weather in September October November ?
Anyway for a temporary diversion here is what I’ve been up to
Changing fuel tank, side rads to conventional front
New mounts water tubes
Bling bling Ti bolts in a few remaining places not already done
+ new ali’ petrol tank, working with poster board for templates to 1050 Ali’ sheet

Evo Stratos back on track very soon

[horrido]

Not a fan of the coffin spoke wheels then? They're such a trademark of these cars, I'd have a hard time not using them. Or is it a size/fitment issue?

[sean999r]

Aug 28, 2023 19:27:17 GMT horrido said:

Not a fan of the coffin spoke wheels then? They're such a trademark of these cars, I'd have a hard time not using them. Or is it a size/fitment issue?

It’s several reasons

A. wheels are pricey can always update later

B. I am going WRC Cosworth Hubs drive line ie
4x108 pcd this makes disc bells everything
easy on parts availability and price point

C. Tyres are issue too Pirelli Corsa Classic
Limited supply and twice the price of Tyres
That are actually better ie new design
Nankang AR1’s

To get further along money wise I have ordered
15x8 and 15x10 Minilites, these will be mounted with AR1’s this option saves me about £3000 V coffin and Pirelli option
Checker Flag and other Stratos had used Minilites in the day so this is my cheaper and more efficient for me to make progress

Later after the car is done then I will look at custom 3 piece wheel set up so I can have a cold / wet and warm dry wheel setup

My rear body tail with round grp4 arches is done, I need to organize a box van to collect next week

[daver555]

Oooh, nice moto.  Is that a (heavily modified) KTM 950 SM/SMR?  Or is it a Super Enduro?

[sean999r]

Aug 29, 2023 7:38:47 GMT daver555 said:

Oooh, nice moto.  Is that a (heavily modified) KTM 950 SM/SMR?  Or is it a Super Enduro?

Totally custom build 990 SD engine backdated to carb’s modified frame, cut steering neck, ft & rr suspension from SR600 Vertemati
Geometry as close as possible to the Vertemati
143kg 115 BHP

[daver555]

sean999r said: Totally custom build 990 SD engine backdated to carb’s modified frame, cut steering neck, ft & rr suspension from SR600 Vertemati Geometry as close as possible to the Vertemati 143kg 115 BHP 

Wow, bet that's a handful.  Got a 950SM myself, totally stock but on the look out for some Wings or Akra cans

[horrido]

sean999r said:

[/img]
19 hours ago horrido said: Not a fan of the coffin spoke wheels then? They're such a trademark of these cars, I'd have a hard time not using them. Or is it a size/fitment issue? It’s several reasons A. wheels are pricey can always update later B. I am going WRC Cosworth Hubs drive line ie 4x108 pcd this makes disc bells everything easy on parts availability and price point C. Tyres are issue too Pirelli Corsa Classic Limited supply and twice the price of Tyres That are actually better ie new design Nankang AR1’s To get further along money wise I have ordered 15x8 and 15x10 Minilites, these will be mounted with AR1’s this option saves me about £3000 V coffin and Pirelli option Checker Flag and other Stratos had used Minilites in the day so this is my cheaper and more efficient for me to make progress Later after the car is done then I will look at custom 3 piece wheel set up so I can have a cold / wet and warm dry wheel setup My rear body tail with round grp4 arches is done, I need to organize a box van to collect next week [/quote]
Ouch....3k quid is difference is indeed a persuasive arguement. 

[Darkspeed]

Not only is it a £3K difference but due to the limited offset availability you have to design your suspension from the wheels back!   At both ends of the car this can create problems but more so at the rear where the original Ferrari package was quite compact - Throw a modern transverse set up in the mix and it all gets a bit compromised with very short driveshafts and potential issues with CV angles .

Original cars had a nice central diff and equal length shafts

Modern  iterations with current engines  wanting to use the  big neg offset wheels, but still not original offsets, start getting  compromised on driveshafts.  Conveniently painted red to show just how short  the driveshaft  can end up.


Yellow car above with Supercharged Toyota 3.5L Exige derived motor and trans - Circa 400BHP -  Which I understand is for sale at around £120K

More competition orientated replicas went to more modern positive offsets to  increase the  driveshaft length to get more articulation.