DAX or other & best chassis
Discussion
OK its like this, after having owned several nice/quick 'off the shelf cars' I fancy a big muscle car.
So you guessed it i'm fancying a Cobra rep. Now I will go with one of the best manufacturers as I dont want cheap and nasty so any suggestions? I know some of it comes down to personal taste in the looks dept but which are physically the best? Looks I can live with (to a certain extent).
Second question is which is undoubtedly the best donor car/chassis to use to allow me to put the biggest rawest most powerful V8 in that will put the power down well?
I know people may suggest buying a TVR or something but now I have a nice workshop I fancy having a go myself and cant afford to weigh in all the money at once so this would for me be a good way to go.
Cheers guys/gals
Mike
So you guessed it i'm fancying a Cobra rep. Now I will go with one of the best manufacturers as I dont want cheap and nasty so any suggestions? I know some of it comes down to personal taste in the looks dept but which are physically the best? Looks I can live with (to a certain extent).
Second question is which is undoubtedly the best donor car/chassis to use to allow me to put the biggest rawest most powerful V8 in that will put the power down well?
I know people may suggest buying a TVR or something but now I have a nice workshop I fancy having a go myself and cant afford to weigh in all the money at once so this would for me be a good way to go.
Cheers guys/gals
Mike
The latest Dax Tojeiro chassis is pretty cool IMHO. It's basically a ladder frame but with a bit of a braced backbone for stiffness. It incorporates their super-trick camber compensating front suspension and De Dion rear. Can't begin to explain how it works but have a look on their web site or in the last issue of Which Kit mag for a bit more info.
Everything is based on the more recent Jag XJ40 supsension now that earlier Jag suspension is getting a bit more rare. Plus it overcomes the fact that the inboard rear disk brakes on the old Jag IRS are a real pain in the ar5e to work on when the whole thing is bolted to in a kit car.
As for engines, their chassis can accommodate everything from a Rover V8 to Small Block or even Big Block engine, either Ford or Chevy. Dax's latest demo is being build with a 502ci Chevy IIRC.
As for looks, I think the Dax is the match of anything. Their build manual is good, and they are very friendly and receptive to queries from their customers during build in my experience. While they are one of the bigger manufacturers they are still very much a family business and come across as enthusiasts. Their fairly regular Open Days are evidence of this, where they go to a fair bit of effort and lay on food and drinks. Not sure when the next one is, probably not 'til Spring now, but well worth getting along to when it happens.
As you can probably guess I have one of their cars (albeit the earlier chassis) and rate them fairly highly, and no I'm not on their payroll!
Good luck in your hunt.
Chris
Everything is based on the more recent Jag XJ40 supsension now that earlier Jag suspension is getting a bit more rare. Plus it overcomes the fact that the inboard rear disk brakes on the old Jag IRS are a real pain in the ar5e to work on when the whole thing is bolted to in a kit car.
As for engines, their chassis can accommodate everything from a Rover V8 to Small Block or even Big Block engine, either Ford or Chevy. Dax's latest demo is being build with a 502ci Chevy IIRC.
As for looks, I think the Dax is the match of anything. Their build manual is good, and they are very friendly and receptive to queries from their customers during build in my experience. While they are one of the bigger manufacturers they are still very much a family business and come across as enthusiasts. Their fairly regular Open Days are evidence of this, where they go to a fair bit of effort and lay on food and drinks. Not sure when the next one is, probably not 'til Spring now, but well worth getting along to when it happens.
As you can probably guess I have one of their cars (albeit the earlier chassis) and rate them fairly highly, and no I'm not on their payroll!
Good luck in your hunt.
Chris
kitcarman said:
I’m not disagreeing with anything Chris has said .
However he’s biasedin that he owns a DAX.
Technically speaking, there are chassis configurations that better handle humungous amounts of power. Take a look at GD
as I believe it more accurately matches your requirements.
Den
I agree with Den, Gardner Douglas are hard to beat, Andy Burrows has a great deal of experience in chassis design, being a firm advocate of "triangular" construction for strength, however "Dax" have a fine reputation also..........both are capable of handling serious amounts of power...
kitcarman said:
I’m not disagreeing with anything Chris has said
However he’s biased
True - I don't deny I'm a happy Dax customer
though I do have a high regard for the GD also. 
It's the manufacturers with no satisfied customer references you want to watch out for! I think you have the makings of a shortlist forming on this thread!
Oh my God I'm catching the Smiley disease
, must have been spending too much time on here!!! 
Chris
next. 
t - looks like I've caught it now... 
LexSport said:Why not its 400 Kg less than a dax ,Stiffer body and will handle 400bhp with 7 series bit (limeted dif and bigger brakes)and despit dens opinion the body and chassis are as stiff as any !!(have a DAX rush owner hear biulding the demo with me and he thinks the same as me its going to make some people EAT there words !!)
Python?
also the next python will have a tunned 350 chevy !!!
With respect Vince, Dax and GD have built quite a reputation within the industry (over many years) for quality and customer service and many people regard these companies as having excellent chassis'.
Your chassis might well be as good as you say, but you currently don't have the reputation of these companies and your chassis is essentially unproven.
I also noticed that no one has mentioned Pilgrim. One of the most popular Cobra reps, but possibly not the best chassis around?
This is only my opinion. The Pilgrim chassis may well be as good as the others and I do hope that Vince can prove the doubters wrong
Your chassis might well be as good as you say, but you currently don't have the reputation of these companies and your chassis is essentially unproven.
I also noticed that no one has mentioned Pilgrim. One of the most popular Cobra reps, but possibly not the best chassis around?
This is only my opinion. The Pilgrim chassis may well be as good as the others and I do hope that Vince can prove the doubters wrong I don't own any Cobras at all so I'm unbiassed!
I think performance on the race track says a lot about chassis / suspension design. Have a look at any race series with Cobras in and see if there are any particular models that do consistently well. I haven't seen a lot of the vehicles mentioned in detail so it wouldn't be fair to comment but I remember seeing a GD chassis and thinking it looked good.
I think performance on the race track says a lot about chassis / suspension design. Have a look at any race series with Cobras in and see if there are any particular models that do consistently well. I haven't seen a lot of the vehicles mentioned in detail so it wouldn't be fair to comment but I remember seeing a GD chassis and thinking it looked good.
kitcarman said:
. . . . its 400 Kg less than a dax. . . . .
You’re not filling it with hot air, are you?
Den
base it on what customers have told me there car weighed on SVA and the one that is in my workshop in essex ,that belongs to my friend and if that is the best
i can give you the guys number as he is not what you would call a happy customerhave not said before as it was said on one thread hear best not knok others ! hay den ??
but sure you readers would be glad to hear form some one who has not had a good experince?
and as for reputaion only need to read "Confeshion" to see what my customers think ,and you (as always forget the python is NOT the FIRST car i have made)and i have been doing this since 1996!! there are many more companys out there going a lot less time ! why dont you pick on them and just do what you have all the time untill now and "FORGET THAT I AM EVEN ON THE PLANET !!!!Not play this one again been there done it ,got the tea shirt!
just LET IT LIE DEN MOVE ON FOR FKSAKE !!!! I will mail Graham the guys number and will be very interesting to see if it ever gets into KITCAR OR NOT ball in your park ,lets see how independent you realy are !!!!????
Vince
My comment on reputation was not a dig, just an observation. It was aimed squarely at the Python, ie. The car is not an established kit so will not have gained a reputation, be it a good or bad one.
I realise that you have been building cars for some time and as a company you have gained a reputation for customer service etc.
My comment on reputation was not a dig, just an observation. It was aimed squarely at the Python, ie. The car is not an established kit so will not have gained a reputation, be it a good or bad one.
I realise that you have been building cars for some time and as a company you have gained a reputation for customer service etc.
vince rvd said:
... its 400 Kg less than a dax ...
Quite frankly I'd be amazed.
Dax reckon 1010kg for their car with a Rover engine, but that could be for a stripped-out spec, so Den's figure of 1100kg sounds reasonable for a full-spec Rover engined car. GD, who everyone recognise as having a pretty advanced chassis design and body construction claim 950kg for their car with a Rover engine, so somewhere between 60 and 150kg lighter than Dax.
If you stand by your claim, then you are going to save a further couple of hundred kilos beyond this and get down to somewhere between 610 to 700kg for a comparable car? I'd be seriously impressed. You're nearly into Caterham territory there.
Is that what you are claiming?
Someone has asked an interesting question to get inputs on the way to potentially spending a considerable sum of cash. you have made a claim which suggests your product is considerably better than a couple of the recognised market leaders, so it is reasonable to ask you to qualify it further.
If your claim is true, then it can only be a matter of time until you're right up there with the best, and good luck to you.
Chris
[quote=chris_n]
Dax reckon 1010kg for their car with a Rover engine, but that could be for a stripped-out spec, so Den's figure of 1100kg sounds reasonable for a full-spec Rover engined car. GD, who everyone recognise as having a pretty advanced chassis design and body construction claim 950kg for their car with a Rover engine, so somewhere between 60 and 150kg lighter than Dax.[/quiote]
Chris these are "CLAMED" weights and I asked around alot at shows (from owners and manufactures) this was before i had desided to make a cobra and the weights i hear coming back i could not belive as they were more than the Nemesis with the V12 lump !! the highest was 1560 kg for a jag v12 Dax and most were 1200-1300kg and a VIPER with rover 1460 kg so i did my home work
and the original PYTHON was 1400kg to 1600kg with the jag ! and i could see why when we bought the project! 8mm plate every were or thicker
yes the GD "race spec" car is around 950kg but race spec is the word !we are on target to get a Full spec car on the road from 900kg to 1000kg dependent on spec ! so by that the "AVARAGE COBRA" is aroun 1300kg then 400 is posible,but we will only have to weight a few weeks know and i will give you all the specs as the demo is coming on nicely,
Dax reckon 1010kg for their car with a Rover engine, but that could be for a stripped-out spec, so Den's figure of 1100kg sounds reasonable for a full-spec Rover engined car. GD, who everyone recognise as having a pretty advanced chassis design and body construction claim 950kg for their car with a Rover engine, so somewhere between 60 and 150kg lighter than Dax.[/quiote]
Chris these are "CLAMED" weights and I asked around alot at shows (from owners and manufactures) this was before i had desided to make a cobra and the weights i hear coming back i could not belive as they were more than the Nemesis with the V12 lump !! the highest was 1560 kg for a jag v12 Dax and most were 1200-1300kg and a VIPER with rover 1460 kg so i did my home work
and the original PYTHON was 1400kg to 1600kg with the jag ! and i could see why when we bought the project! 8mm plate every were or thicker yes the GD "race spec" car is around 950kg but race spec is the word !we are on target to get a Full spec car on the road from 900kg to 1000kg dependent on spec ! so by that the "AVARAGE COBRA" is aroun 1300kg then 400 is posible,but we will only have to weight a few weeks know and i will give you all the specs as the demo is coming on nicely,
vince rvd said:
... its 400 Kg less than a dax ...
[/quote]
Vince claims 400kg less than a Dax.... but not which one, maybe it was one with a huge engine in weighing 1400kgs+?
Joking aside, one thing I can assure you guys, Vince is a far better car designer/builder than he is a writer.
What I think Vince is eluding to is that his chasis is very light as his his body due to the way they are both constructed, hence a weight saving.
Now I'm not going to get into a chasis bedate, but his bodywork in increadable. Its so strong on the Nemesis that you can walk over it without any flex.....
The author of this thread may not know that the Python is a new cobra replica utilising BMW running gear. This car has been a hot topic on this forum. So you must excuse us all for suddenly diverting away from your thread.
Truth is, there is really little constructive to be said from either side about this car (which hasn't already been covered on this forum) until a demonstrator hits the UK roads.
On the actual thread subject.
I have HUGE respect for garder douglas and was in fact on the phone to them Friday getting some valuable advice from Andy Burrows.... Having met and raced my ultima against Andy's Lola replica I can also confirm his T70 is a superb car and a lot of that is down to his stunning chasis.
Also I was going to build a Dax Rush recently and so did a factory visit and was impressed.
For a cobra replica, Between Dax and GD I personelly would go to GD, as whilst both have excellent reputations, I think GD have the edge on engineering.
Also given the amount of time he has spent advising me I'd be very confident in GD's customer support.
Rgds
Andy
Vince,
I’m truly astonished! Not at the errors in your claims, but at the fact that you can’t see them even after they’ve been pointed out.
Your original claim was that your car (when it’s finished) will weigh 400kg less than a DAX.
In your first response to my question as to how you justify that claim you said (if I understand it correctly) that you’ve seen an SVA certificate for a SUMO.
In your second response you say that the Viper weighed 1450kg and the old Python weighed 1400kg.
So, please leave aside Sumo’s, Viper’s and original Python’s and simply tell us how your car is going to weigh 400kg less than a DAX.
Simple question! Got a simple answer!
Den
I’m truly astonished! Not at the errors in your claims, but at the fact that you can’t see them even after they’ve been pointed out
. Your original claim was that your car (when it’s finished) will weigh 400kg less than a DAX.
In your first response to my question as to how you justify that claim you said (if I understand it correctly) that you’ve seen an SVA certificate for a SUMO.
In your second response you say that the Viper weighed 1450kg and the old Python weighed 1400kg.
So, please leave aside Sumo’s, Viper’s and original Python’s and simply tell us how your car is going to weigh 400kg less than a DAX.
Simple question!
Got a simple answer! Den
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