Discussion
Hi, thanks for such a speedy reply. I brought my Malone off of someone in Southampton. He had brought it off someone else who had started it if I remember rightly. Not sure of any names. I always wanted one and just saw it on eBay one day. I presume mine must be an early one seems it uses the XJ engine? I found a low mileage XJ and have ran it this year as my bike to iron out any bugs as it had been off the road for over 10 years! I have got Ford alloy 17" wheels on the front of the Malone at present. It's mainly the rear wheel that takes some working out! I did try Image wheels a while back but they didn't seem to have any info on the Malone which I find strange? I am based in Milton Keynes by the way. I also have 2x Hudson Kindred spirits both also unfinished! One day I'll finish something!!!!
Skunky17 said:
I am based in Milton Keynes by the way. I also have 2x Hudson Kindred spirits both also unfinished! One day I'll finish something!!!!
Im a fellow serial three wheelerist (lomax and pembletons) in Northampton, only 20mins up the M1. May be interesting to meet up at some point and compare notes!
I know of the chap you bought from, but never met him. He was in Hedge End. Poor bloke bought the kit and was almost immediately diagnosed with cancer.
I'll send you a PM with the details of the owners group. Someone may be able to answer your question directly. Or you could just give the Malones a call. I don't think they are actively making cars at the moment, but they are very friendly and will probably if they can.
I'm in Southampton too. If you want a peek at a finished car, next time you're headed down this way drop me a note.
EDIT:
I can't send you a private message, you're not set up to receive them. The link to the owners group is below.
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/skunk_owner...
Be warned it's a very quiet group, no one has posted for years! But if the email address still work, people will answer questions if asked.
I'll send you a PM with the details of the owners group. Someone may be able to answer your question directly. Or you could just give the Malones a call. I don't think they are actively making cars at the moment, but they are very friendly and will probably if they can.
I'm in Southampton too. If you want a peek at a finished car, next time you're headed down this way drop me a note.
EDIT:
I can't send you a private message, you're not set up to receive them. The link to the owners group is below.
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/skunk_owner...
Be warned it's a very quiet group, no one has posted for years! But if the email address still work, people will answer questions if asked.
Edited by mikeveal on Friday 10th November 09:11
Hello
Well I'm very pleased to report that I now have my Skunk and as I write this it's the back of my trailer about to be taking across the channel followed by a trip back home to SW France.
The car was Dom's and sadly for him he decided it need to go to another home to be finished. The build to date is very impressive and it seems that essentially it needs an exhaust system, roll bar and completion of wiring loom before being ready for the MVSA.
Kit car industry in France is close to non-existant but I am lucky enough to have found a local chap who does wonders with stainless steel so I will be visiting him next week with car so we can start off the fabrication of the exhaust and roll bar. I need to finish off the rebuild of a 1974 Triumph Trident engine before I get stuck in to the wiring, but in the meantime I hope maybe to correspond with some of you via email to address a couple of other issues
Cheers
Philip
Well I'm very pleased to report that I now have my Skunk and as I write this it's the back of my trailer about to be taking across the channel followed by a trip back home to SW France.
The car was Dom's and sadly for him he decided it need to go to another home to be finished. The build to date is very impressive and it seems that essentially it needs an exhaust system, roll bar and completion of wiring loom before being ready for the MVSA.
Kit car industry in France is close to non-existant but I am lucky enough to have found a local chap who does wonders with stainless steel so I will be visiting him next week with car so we can start off the fabrication of the exhaust and roll bar. I need to finish off the rebuild of a 1974 Triumph Trident engine before I get stuck in to the wiring, but in the meantime I hope maybe to correspond with some of you via email to address a couple of other issues
Cheers
Philip
Hello to all. I am a Malone Skunk owner in Norfolk, UK.
My Skunk is registered but has only ventured out onto the road for about 200 miles. I had been building it since about 2000, and about 12 years ago ended up sending the thing back to the Malones to finish as it was incredibly complicated to build with a lack of any meaningful instructions, it wasn't the best project for a first time kit builder.
It has a lot of sentimental value to me, but I don't have a huge desire to do many miles on the road in it. I'm not sure if I will keep it forever.
Glad to be part of the discussion.
My Skunk is registered but has only ventured out onto the road for about 200 miles. I had been building it since about 2000, and about 12 years ago ended up sending the thing back to the Malones to finish as it was incredibly complicated to build with a lack of any meaningful instructions, it wasn't the best project for a first time kit builder.
It has a lot of sentimental value to me, but I don't have a huge desire to do many miles on the road in it. I'm not sure if I will keep it forever.
Glad to be part of the discussion.
Hello Rawhide
It's good to hear from another Malone owner, and you've given me the impetus to give an update on mine.
I was delighted to be able to do a few laps with it in the Autumn around a local circuit. Although I deliberately kept the speed down everything felt tight, in place and the car showed no unusual behaviour.
Engine is now out as I want to fit some baffle plates in the sump and also do some general cleaning up in the engine bay.
March my brother comes over and between the two of us we should finish plumbing in all the electrics under the dash with the fuse box and instrumentation. Current plan is to do a few more circuit days this year before final completion of the kit next winter; lights and mirrors etc. Expect to then bring vehicle back to the UK Spring 2020 for it's MVSA.
Cheers
Philip
It's good to hear from another Malone owner, and you've given me the impetus to give an update on mine.
I was delighted to be able to do a few laps with it in the Autumn around a local circuit. Although I deliberately kept the speed down everything felt tight, in place and the car showed no unusual behaviour.
Engine is now out as I want to fit some baffle plates in the sump and also do some general cleaning up in the engine bay.
March my brother comes over and between the two of us we should finish plumbing in all the electrics under the dash with the fuse box and instrumentation. Current plan is to do a few more circuit days this year before final completion of the kit next winter; lights and mirrors etc. Expect to then bring vehicle back to the UK Spring 2020 for it's MVSA.
Cheers
Philip
A PM to Mike Veal might be your best bet.
... but if you can post a photo of the upright, perhaps some non-Skunk owners will be able to identify it.
If it is a stock (rather than fabricated) upright - and particularly if, as your post suggests, it has a trunnion at the bottom - then Triumph Herald/Spitfire would be the obvious choice, since it's by far the lightest OEM upright readily available in the UK, and is known to have good geometry.
... but if you can post a photo of the upright, perhaps some non-Skunk owners will be able to identify it.
If it is a stock (rather than fabricated) upright - and particularly if, as your post suggests, it has a trunnion at the bottom - then Triumph Herald/Spitfire would be the obvious choice, since it's by far the lightest OEM upright readily available in the UK, and is known to have good geometry.
PhilipRM said:
Hello
This is a quick message to all Malone owners or anyone who is knowledgeable on them. Would it be possible for someone to advise what the front uprights are off please. In particular I'm trying to get a bit of guidance for dismantling the lower wishbones.
Cheers
Philip
Sorry, I've been on "holiday".This is a quick message to all Malone owners or anyone who is knowledgeable on them. Would it be possible for someone to advise what the front uprights are off please. In particular I'm trying to get a bit of guidance for dismantling the lower wishbones.
Cheers
Philip
They are off a Triumph Herald. The bottom end is machined to take an RS10 balljoint with a M14 nut. The nut needs to be drilled and wired.
The same upright is also fitted to a Lotus Esprit. Rimmer Bros. in the UK should be able to supply a new one, but it won't fit the skunk until machined.
All off the top of my head. Fairly sure I'm right, but I've not checked.
What's the problem? It should come apart very easily.
Hello Mike
Thanks for the reply, and yes it all came apart quite easily. Reason for removal is that the bracket to which spring/shock pushrod is attached has been incorrectly welded on one side (the right). This means I am very close to interference between pushrod and rear of top wishbone whereas on left side the pushrod is equidistant between both sides of upper wishbone.
Cheers
Philip
Thanks for the reply, and yes it all came apart quite easily. Reason for removal is that the bracket to which spring/shock pushrod is attached has been incorrectly welded on one side (the right). This means I am very close to interference between pushrod and rear of top wishbone whereas on left side the pushrod is equidistant between both sides of upper wishbone.
Cheers
Philip
mikeveal said:
They are off a Triumph Herald. The bottom end is machined to take an RS10 balljoint with a M14 nut. The nut needs to be drilled and wired.
The same upright is also fitted to a Lotus Esprit. Rimmer Bros. in the UK should be able to supply a new one, but it won't fit the skunk until machined.
Most Esprits used Opel Ascona uprights.The same upright is also fitted to a Lotus Esprit. Rimmer Bros. in the UK should be able to supply a new one, but it won't fit the skunk until machined.
Earlier Lotus' (Seven, Type 14 Elite, Elan, Europa) used the Triumph upright, but with a trunnion.
Caterham now uses it with the spherical joint conversion, so you may be able to get the machined version from them.
Caterham now uses it with the spherical joint conversion, so you may be able to get the machined version from them.
[/quote]
Also available here:-
https://www.canleyclassics.com/suspension-steering...
and Siltech Racing’s upright might do.
[/quote]
Also available here:-
https://www.canleyclassics.com/suspension-steering...
and Siltech Racing’s upright might do.
JohnMcL said:
Also available here:-
https://www.canleyclassics.com/suspension-steering...
I thought the same (I'm sure Canley Classics used to do a version like Caterham uses, where the bottom of the vertical link is machined to accept a spherical bearing), but as you can see from the picture in your link, they appear to have now changed the design to an integral bottom ball joint.https://www.canleyclassics.com/suspension-steering...
Philip,
I know this probably doesn't need saying, but have you checked the castor angle?
It is adjusted by moving the inboard rose joints of both upper and lower wishbones fore and aft. Having the upper wishbone too far forwards and the lower too far backwards would do exactly what you describe.
HTH
I know this probably doesn't need saying, but have you checked the castor angle?
It is adjusted by moving the inboard rose joints of both upper and lower wishbones fore and aft. Having the upper wishbone too far forwards and the lower too far backwards would do exactly what you describe.
HTH
Hello Rob,
Long time no speak, how's deepest darkest Devon?
With the greatest of respect, I really don't think Pete's car needed those mods. There was no droop in the suspension because the body was set too high.
Reduce the ground clearance and there will be droop without the lower arms hitting the chassis.
Of course, round your way that probably means the sump guard will spend a lot of time in contact with the tarmac instead! From memory, I think I have about 3" clearance under the sump guard, although my guard is about an inch lower than standard to accommodate the 2002 R1.
Great to see these unfinished cars popping up and getting worked on. I know you know what you're doing, but if you need anything measured or photographed, don't hesitate to ask.
Long time no speak, how's deepest darkest Devon?
With the greatest of respect, I really don't think Pete's car needed those mods. There was no droop in the suspension because the body was set too high.
Reduce the ground clearance and there will be droop without the lower arms hitting the chassis.
Of course, round your way that probably means the sump guard will spend a lot of time in contact with the tarmac instead! From memory, I think I have about 3" clearance under the sump guard, although my guard is about an inch lower than standard to accommodate the 2002 R1.
Great to see these unfinished cars popping up and getting worked on. I know you know what you're doing, but if you need anything measured or photographed, don't hesitate to ask.
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