hey i recently bought some parts off another local rx-7 owner and in the conversation he mentioned that he has a company that sells super 7's. incase you dont know, they are a lightweight kit car that weighs about 1000-1300lbs. He was using the 88 gxl as a doner car. I was simply wondering if anyone else has built or building one (with any engine) cause it looks like such a cool project.

pics - http://www.ragazzi-razzing.ch/pic/rr...1super7_04.jpg

 

seen them at the track before, very cool, very fast

 

Not building one, but know somebody who built one of the original super 7 kits. He also is running it with a carbed full bridge 4 port 13b at the track. Wicked fast (and it goes up to 12k rpm on a hewland dog-engagement trans and quartermaster 5.5" 3 disk clutch). I think he said he's making somewhere in the region of 235 rwhp and IDK what torque, all I know, though, is that it is fast and sounds so damn sweet at the track. He sold it over the winter, though, to a guy in Michigan IIRC, so I probably won't be able to get pics. It was a nice deep viper blue, and when it spewed flameage out the exhaust pipe, the orange flame with that deep blue just looked so sweet...

Ya know, I think I want one now...

 

you dont need much torque when ur car weights 1000-1300 pounds

 

there are some guys in media PA who did man a similar car they dubbed the SR-X7. FD engine making 450hp, alot of CF. I saw it on a small road course. It was FAST

 

Look up Caterham 7, they are great copies of a great car the Lotus 7. Notice the Lotus Elise in the back ground. You can put any number of engines in them mostly 4 bangers. They don't need to much power but I've never had a car with to much power (or to much braking) They are AWESOME on the track (driven one), more like a part of your wardrobe than a car. I watched one put on a clinic at a 24 hr race at Nelsons Ledges many years ago, nothing touched it. Ya can't go wrong for a fun car no matter what engine it has, of course the rotory would be my choice

Doh, just looked at the heading again "Caterham Super 7" oh well everything else is good info

 

I've ridden in one. When I was about 15 my dad was seriously considering buildin one and we got a day to check them out (someware near Philladelphia)

This one had a cast iron ford motor in it (pinto I think) and was probably one of the fastest cars I've ever been in.


--Alex

 

a bunch of guys around my area have them, my dad had one back before my little brother was born, and its somewhere in teh family still, im trying to find it. one of my uncles or cousins has it, lost track ofit when dad died

had an original lotus engine in it

 

Caterhams are not copies as such (unlike Westfield, locost etc) but actually they ARE Lotus Super Sevens. At least the early ones. When Lotus decided to stop making the Super Seven, they sold the tooling and typename (Super Seven that is, not Lotus of course) to one of their main dealers, which formed Caterham. They supplied all tooling plus engines (the famous Lotus Twin Cam) etc. Later cars used Ford engines due to low supplies of the Twin Cam. The Caterham super seven was always further developed, but it's indeed the true Lotus Super Seven successor. Engines later included Vauxhall/opel (highlight was the JPE) and Rover K-series. They now use ford and rover.
The rotary-powered cars are not genuine Caterhams, but mainly Locost. This is not a make, but a concept: you build as much as possible yourself by plans from a book by Ron Champion. Or buy some ready made bits from the many companies selling goodies for the locost enthousiasts.
One guy on the forum owns a Rotary powered Westfield. This is also a Seven-clone, but nowhere "Lo-cost"...

 

Thanks for that clarification on the rotory cars. I knew about the other history with Lotus/Caterham thats why I didn't use the term "kit car", good history lesson for the rest though. I thought about building one but decided to buy an Elise instead, waiting on delivery of it now.

 

Are you going to put a rotary in the Elise? I've always thought that would be a great combination. I also heard that you can order the Elise without the engine, is that correct?

 

Rotory Elise... Don't even get me thinking!! I havn't heard if Lotus US is offering a no engine option. Considering what they went through to get the Toyota drive line(I think there were some dirty knees involved ) and the waiting list they have, I doubt it. In the UK maybe, and more likely with the Exige. Those are the hardtop racecars.

 

I can recall reading in Road and Track, i might be able to dig up the article... that the elise "might" be available with a no engine option to North America. Lots could have changed since then.

Just thought it would be great to build an all aluminum turbo rotary for such a light car, i never really liked that mr2 spyder engine....

 

There is at least one 'real' caterham out there with a 13b 4 port. I've seen it.

 

here u guys go

http://locost.voodoobox.net/

 

I wonder if you could fit a 350 or an I6 in one of those things?

I've seen several with rotaries before, and I even saw one with a TII in it.

But, hell, 350hp/350trq in something weighing 1300lbs would be so sick.

 

I think that would be too much, prolly twist something. The weight distribution might not be as desirable and ballast would be needed. I'd throw a small Mazda V6 like the KLZE or a Porsche 944 turbo 4 banger in there.

 

there was a video floating around here somewhere on the forum of one of those doing a road course. i downloaded and cant find it now

 

Iron block V8s are just way too heavy for a light and nimble car like a se7en. I know a few Westfields running 2 litre cosworth YB engines. 350HP makes for an interesting car. However in terms of power to weight they are no better than a smaller lighter 220HP engine as you need a tougher gearbox, diff, axles etc.

That locost in the pics has the engine a lot further forwards than my car. Bit too far forwards for my liking.

 

Yes that engine is way too far forward, in my opinion. the block should be kissing the firewall or at least the 1/2 of the bellhousing should be through it. Thats the plan for my 12a.

the only reason I could think of putting the engine that far up is so you wouldn't have to cut the driveshaft.
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someone also mentioned the company in Media, PA making the Srx-7. that would be Laminar Concepts Viking SRX 7. I don't think they are still arround. decent idea 3gen 13b converted to single turbo 300-400 HP in 1700 Lbs of car.

I have never found where they are in media as I am about 10min away.

 

Mine is as far back as can be and still operate the clutch. To move the bellhousing further would require a concentric release conversion. Once I'm back on the road I'll check the corner weights and see how the balance is and if the extra few inches would help