SlickDizzy wrote: Might as well put a V8 in a Miata and call it a day.
You might be on to something there!
SlickDizzy wrote: Might as well put a V8 in a Miata and call it a day.
You might be on to something there!
Appleseed wrote:NOHOME wrote: OK, lets see if I got this right: You want someone to devote his life and finances to build a piece of crap that even a hard core advocate of hairy chest crap such as yourself would never buy? Care to let me in on how this marketing strategy pays off?For the same reason people build this:
instead of this:
I don't know anything about the first pic so cant say that it is a kit or a one off. If it is a one off, then who cares what kind of hair shirt it is it would be like the OP building his own interpretation of a car. . If it is a commercial venture, then good luck. The Rutan on the other hand has been around for quite a long time. Not without its own foibles. Right Mr. Denver?
The biplane in question is a replica built from Walt Redfern plans. Walt made buildable plans from factory drawings of many WWI aircraft such as the Fokker DR1 and Nieuport 17. Exact replicas. Some people are like that.
The point is the guy building the bipe has more time invested in a plane that is more crude, slower, more uncomfortable, and likely, more dangerous than the VariEze other guy built, yet he choose it over the "better" plane.
I always loved the looks of the Cobra. But, I wanted one that had great handling, great comfort (I am 6' 2"), great steering, great brakes, was fast, but could be driven every day and be easily serviced.
So, I built my own steel and aluminum space frame. The frame has a 5 inch ride height but the cockpit floor is 3 inches lower than a Cobra. I used the complete suspension, engine, diff out of a 2003 Z06 Corvette. The all aluminum engine is set back as far as possible. I designed headers that go up and over the footboxes so that the footboxes stay cool and are long and wide. I sit with me legs almost straight out.
The Vette uses a transaxle. This will not work in the Cobra. I designed and had made an adapter for the Diff so that it would accept a driveshaft. The diff bolts into the back of the structural backbone trans tunnel. In essence it becomes a giant Torque tube. I used a Tremec T56 6 speed from a Camaro. The shifter was relocated so that it is in the perfect location. The Cobra is narrower than the Vette so 2 inch narrower axle shafts were made and a custom steering rack as well.
The car has the proper Cobra 90 inch wheelbase. It uses all of the great Vette aluminum double A frame suspension parts, the Aluminum engine, diff, and an aluminum trans. I also used the Vette 18 inch wheels, and painted it Vette Automic Orange Effect.
Obviously me car is not for the purists. But, I love it and drive it every day I can. It's fast, handles like a slot car, is reliable as a new Vette, and gets over 30 mpg.
JMC: Do you have any pics, or better yet, a build diary to show off? And what does it weigh in at?
turboswede wrote: Herb Adams VSE built an aluminum monocoque Cobra replica. Torsional strength was improved by several orders of magnitude. I always wanted to build a 427 version with modern suspension engineering (meaning proper brakes, longer control arms, limited bumpsteer and ackerman) with a Shelby-Dodge 2.5L SOHC stuffed in the nose. Put a Shelby Valve cover on it and crank the boost to about 30psi using a Holset turbo and a huge intercooler. The looks on the purist's faces would be classic when I open the hood or drive up with the lovely boat noise that large turbo 4's are known to have when breathed on a bit. Then once the shock wore off, I'd then proceed to trounce the ever loving crap out of them and then drive home on low-boost and get good mileage and drivability.
I approve of any project that uses an 8V Turbo Mopar motor! 
In reply to jmc14:
I'm with kreb... a build diary with detailed measurements, drawings, specifications and lots and lots of pics or it didn't happen
In reply to NOHOME:
http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/
This place sells to kits to sell replicas of old WW1 aircraft. I would much rather have a Sopwith Pup replica then that new looking thing.
If I did the pic up loading correctly there should be a picture of my finished car showing. If there isn't a picture I apologize. I am learning how to do this.
I am on a sales trip until next week and this is the only pic I have access too. If there is interest I can post build pics at that time. Thanks, john
jmc14 wrote:If I did the pic up loading correctly there should be a picture of my finished car showing. If there isn't a picture I apologize. I am learning how to do this. I am on a sales trip until next week and this is the only pic I have access too. If there is interest I can post build pics at that time. Thanks, john
FTFY
Gotta use the direct link from the "share this photo" and put that link into the post by using the 
icon at the top.
It looks great! Hope you can share some more pictures!
<img src="" />
Appleseed wrote: The biplane in question is a replica built from Walt Redfern plans. Walt made buildable plans from factory drawings of many WWI aircraft such as the Fokker DR1 and Nieuport 17. Exact replicas. Some people are like that. The point is the guy building the bipe has more time invested in a plane that is more crude, slower, more uncomfortable, and likely, more dangerous than the VariEze other guy built, yet he choose it over the "better" plane.
And my point is: Why would the OP demand that someone devote their time and money to build a piece of crap if even they would not buy it?
I mean, I get the hair-shirt game; I own Brit cars. but to wonder aloud why someone does not build something that does not work as if it were a gap in the market, and then declare that they themselves would never purchase it?
I am missing something here?
imirk wrote:SlickDizzy wrote: Might as well put a V8 in a Miata and call it a day.You might be on to something there!
But isn't that exactly what the Cobra was, a V8 into a small, nimble, economy car?
93EXCivic wrote: In reply to NOHOME: http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/ This place sells to kits to sell replicas of old WW1 aircraft. I would much rather have a Sopwith Pup replica then that new looking thing.
+1. I would LOVE have one of their Fokker DR-1's
, or even better, a replica of an Albatros D.III..
jmc14 wrote: <img src="
+1 on the side pipes Lovely car!
Nevermind, found their forums.
A properly set up Cobra, is still quite competent on the track. My FIA car wasn't lapped by Honda's, nor was it incapable of braking-12" wide race rubber and a light platform provided for excellent stopping. With nearly 500hp out of a properly built small block it also had no problem attaining speed. As someone earlier mentioned, "it's not for p*ssies"
NOHOME wrote: And my point is: Why would the OP demand that someone devote their time and money to build a piece of crap if even they would not buy it? I mean, I get the hair-shirt game; I own Brit cars. but to wonder aloud why someone does not build something that does not work as if it were a gap in the market, and then declare that they themselves would never purchase it? I am missing something here?
I am not DEMANDING anything. As noted before, it IS offered anyways, so apparently I'm not the only one interested in a "piece of crap". Is it illegal to wonder? If I make decent money someday I'd love to build a Cobra rep, just not right now. Jesus Christ. I was just f*cking curious.
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