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New guy, New project
I-man - 19/12/07 at 10:21 PM

Hi everyone,

Let me introduce myself,.. I'm Ian, I live in the Netherlands and I'm building a self designed mid engine car that is emulating the old Auto Union Type C from 1938.
I call it the "Stagger". The chassis is laid out, tacked together and I have an effing big Audi 4.2 V8 engine on the garage floor waiting to be fitted in. I also have a few pics but I'm still trying to figure out how to reduce and up load them so I can show you all. (perhaps next week)
I’m much better at cars than computers.
Anyway, I have been reading this forum for a while now and thought it was time to get more involved. You guys have a lot of great ideas and I have learned a lot just reading the threads. I look forward to your input…

I-man


matt.c - 19/12/07 at 10:24 PM

Dont know much about the mid engine stuff but HI anyway


twybrow - 19/12/07 at 10:28 PM

Sounds like an interesting project! Good luck.

I was looking at your photos (too big to fully upload I think) - are your uprights aluminium? Doesn't look like much wall thickness to some of the holes...?


RazMan - 19/12/07 at 10:29 PM

Welcome to the mad-house I-man

I like the sound of your project - the 4.2 Audi V8 is what I intend to use on my next project. Are you using the original ecu or going for an aftermarket one?

It should be quite a beast if it's anything like this one.



Keep us up to date with pics PLEASE


caber - 19/12/07 at 10:32 PM

Way cool project!

What are you using for transmission?

Caber


I-man - 19/12/07 at 10:34 PM

Yeah, I gotta do something about the pics. The uprights are alu and they are 20 mm thick on the front (with the hub) and 25 mm thick on the rear so there is plenty of meat for the bolts.


I-man - 19/12/07 at 10:41 PM

The gearbox is also Audi but I will have to change the final drive to accept the large diameter wheels and the ECU is standard Audi. The engine is an older 4 valve with about 300 hp standard..Thats pleaty for me. I expect the car to weight about 800kg...


pauldm - 19/12/07 at 11:00 PM

I have a worry about how those thin tyres are going to transfer 300HP of power to the road? Methinks yule (oops)
you'll wrap it around a tree soon after finishing. QUOTE (from http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/auto_c.htm <link>) Much has been written about the difficult handling characteristics of this car but its tremendous acceleration was undeniable. A driver could induce wheelspin at 150 mph! Methinks a Ford 2.8 litre Cologne V6 or Audi 80 V6 2.6L Engine
would be a more sensible option?
For resizing pictures download Irfanview. Its simple picture editing software when you don't want to boot up photoshop etc.
>here<


TheGecko - 19/12/07 at 11:40 PM

Should be a fun project. You may be interested in this (linky) - a similar project here is Australia using a Jag V12!




Dominic


Geoff011 - 20/12/07 at 04:22 AM

Nice find Dominic. I thought the front end (suspension) looked a little strange, then I found it was Malcolm Oastler's car. He should know what he's doing!


t.j. - 20/12/07 at 05:29 AM

Hi,

Not that I'm building a middy, but nice to see that there are more ibuilders in the Netherlands.

There's a lot off info around here.
Welcome and happy building.


TheGecko - 20/12/07 at 05:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Geoff011
Nice find Dominic. I thought the front end (suspension) looked a little strange, then I found it was Malcolm Oastler's car. He should know what he's doing!


G'day Geoff,

The timing was fortuitous because there was a wrap-up of Speed on Tweed in the latest issue of "Race"which I was reading last night. I just Googled for Malcolm Oastler and found the pics (and the fact that he used to be technical director of the Jag F1 team ).

Hope things are good with you and the Elise is treating you well I may even make some progress on the Mk2 version of my chassis this Xmas break (fingers crossed).

Dominic


I-man - 20/12/07 at 07:41 AM

I have new pics in my Archive but for some reason they won't attach to this post.. so just look there.


RazMan - 20/12/07 at 07:55 AM

I-man, If for any reason you want to swap the engine, I can be on the ferry within hours!

Audi V8 32 valve 300 HP
Audi V8 32 valve 300 HP


[Edited on 20-12-07 by RazMan]


iank - 20/12/07 at 07:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by I-man
I have new pics in my Archive but for some reason they won't attach to this post.. so just look there.


If you hit the quote or try to edit this post you'll see the magic runes you need for picture.

upper and lower chassis rails
upper and lower chassis rails


Nice project BTW


designer - 20/12/07 at 08:32 AM

Why have you gone for curved side rails?


russbost - 20/12/07 at 09:03 AM

Like the project. Welcome to the forum. You have fairly similar bhp to the original, so if that could have skinny tyres you can to - although you may need to be able to drive as they did!


speedyxjs - 20/12/07 at 10:31 AM

Welcome.
You have a very interesting project. I look forward to seeing it progress.


I-man - 20/12/07 at 11:54 AM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
Why have you gone for curved side rails?


If i made them Straight the car would look like brick with wheels


ettore bugatti - 20/12/07 at 12:17 PM

Goedemoggel!

That is just insane!

I just can't think where on earth you could use that thing.

Mighty fun, though.


dr-fastlane - 20/12/07 at 06:11 PM

Hello Ian,

Welcome to the Locost Forum!. It’s nice to see more and more Dutch people finding there way to this really nice carbuilding community. I like the vintage style of machine that you are building, a project to follow.

Greets Roy (from the east of the Netherlands )


I-man - 20/12/07 at 08:09 PM

Thanks for the pleasant welcome everyone,
It's nice to know that there are so many like minded people out there to spur you on.
This project has been bruing for a couple of years now but due to moving and having to build the workshop last year the progress was slow. This year I had 3 major milestones (mijlpalen) 1.The engine in the workshop (check) 2. the chassis laid out and tacked up (almost there) and 3. the brakes and uprights machined up (Still waiting for the disk hats to be machined). I still have the x-mas holiday… 2 weeks to go .. I will let you know if I do it..
My plan for the car is to get it licensed for the road. First in the UK and then later import it to the Netherlands. It will have 2 seats although the passenger won’t have much room, it will be comfortable. The passenger seat will be offset or “Staggered” 40 mm behind the driver, Hence the name “Stagger”.. (hopefully I will never have to stagger home if I bent it..haha)
If any of you Dutch guys want to come and see it I live in the Eindhoven area. Just mail me..
(Oh and sorry Razman, This engine is mine!!)


t.j. - 20/12/07 at 09:51 PM

You got U2U


akumabito - 20/12/07 at 10:04 PM

Goeiemoggel! Nog een Nederlander hier..

...what's the plan for the bodywork? GRP, or -dare I ask?- handcrafted aluminium? *drool*


t.j. - 20/12/07 at 10:08 PM

Thai-land is geen Neder-land!


akumabito - 20/12/07 at 10:09 PM

En een Nederlander zou niet in Thailand kunnen wonen omdat....?


t.j. - 20/12/07 at 10:16 PM

Okay enough off-topic !

Welcome. And let him finish this monster.
Would like to see it when it's (almost) finished.

Ps. how's the weather in Thailand?
Here it's -3,5 degr.


dr-fastlane - 22/12/07 at 04:28 PM

Ian,

You've got mail


I-man - 23/12/07 at 05:08 PM

OK,.. I just heard that I can register the car directly here in NL, this is great news!! also I made a small mistake in my last mail. I said the passenger sits 40mm behind the driver but what I meant was 40cm (small difference)
No other news..


t.j. - 23/12/07 at 06:48 PM

I'm glad that there is a way in NL...
It's only possible if you build your own chassis/frame.

I'm wondering how your car will behave on the road.

BTW: You also need mudgards and lights, as they are not mounted in your avatar.


tigris - 26/12/07 at 11:48 PM

how are you bending those side rails? rolled or welded on a form?


I-man - 30/12/07 at 09:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by tigris
how are you bending those side rails? rolled or welded on a form?


This is the big trick..
It's really easy..
I didn't roll them, I just put the tube between 2 large wood pins in my bench and just slowly bent the tube bit, by bit. Then formed it on my table holding it with wood blocks and clamps, then welded the cross members in. You have to be carfull not to kink the tube, but you would be surprised at how much you can bend this stuff.
Good luck with yours..


I-man - 30/12/07 at 10:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by t.j.
I'm glad that there is a way in NL...
It's only possible if you build your own chassis/frame.

I'm wondering how your car will behave on the road.

BTW: You also need mudgards and lights, as they are not mounted in your avatar.


Yeah, I know about the mudguards, lights etc.. I find that the hard part will be fitting the large number plate on my pointy rear end.
As far as handling..The suspension will be modern design and I hope to have a 50/50 weight distribution which should be good for drifting. This is one of my important design criteria. Also the tires will not be as skinny as the original so that should help too.


cloudy - 30/12/07 at 12:29 PM

If you are doing what I think you are - I would be very wary of clamping tubes away from their unstressed shape and then welding in. This is going to pre-stress your chassis - welding introduces enough of this without artificially adding more! Personally I'd redo the side rails ensuring they match the desired shape perfectly before welding in...

James

quote:
Originally posted by I-man



I didn't roll them, I just put the tube between 2 large wood pins in my bench and just slowly bent the tube bit, by bit. Then formed it on my table holding it with wood blocks and clamps, then welded the cross members in.


I-man - 30/12/07 at 08:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cloudy
If you are doing what I think you are - I would be very wary of clamping tubes away from their unstressed shape and then welding in. This is going to pre-stress your chassis - welding introduces enough of this without artificially adding more! Personally I'd redo the side rails ensuring they match the desired shape perfectly before welding in...

James

quote:
Originally posted by I-man



I didn't roll them, I just put the tube between 2 large wood pins in my bench and just slowly bent the tube bit, by bit. Then formed it on my table holding it with wood blocks and clamps, then welded the cross members in.



I know what you mean and I was thinking the same thing before I started. That's why I do actually bend the tubes to the shape, so they are 90% unstressd. But there will be always be some stresses in there no matter how hard you try to get them out. The more you heat the tube when welding, the metal will accept some or most of the shape it has been put in (in my case anyway with thin walled tube). The weight and power of my engine (at least ) will put a large amount in the metal. but there is nothing I can do but support it properly. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be too much of a bird cage.


cloudy - 31/12/07 at 12:11 AM

wouldn't worry too much about 90%, was a little worried most of the bending was done 'in-place'

James