ListerBell Stratos
Discussion
Zilla said:
I'll be up at the show on Sunday, nosing around the blue 3.0L customer build they have for sale on the LB stand. I really hadn't planned on buying an LB until late next year, but they come up so rarely and this may be an excuse to jump the queue. Gotta convince the wife that I need another car
Great choice on the 3.2. The alfa engine is just beautiful to behold.
What wheels did you go for? Did you get the chance to drive prior to making the decision?
Would love a chance pick your brains if you are around.
I love the idea that I'd be able to offer you any meaningful advice. I'm a mechanical numptie who couldn't build a tower out of lego Great choice on the 3.2. The alfa engine is just beautiful to behold.
What wheels did you go for? Did you get the chance to drive prior to making the decision?
Would love a chance pick your brains if you are around.
I went into this knowing exactly what I wanted out of if but without the vision or imagination to go too far off-piste. I ended up ticking all the upgrade boxes to get a top spec car and having the 1/18th scale model of exactly what I want to end up with is perfect for my mentality. Wheels will be yellow coffin spokes as per the model. I'll probably end up getting a cheap R-suffix 1977 plate for the car.
I didn't drive it before making the decision to get one. The only sensible thing I did was practice getting in and out of one that was on display. It only took a couple of attempts to do it without either both hands, or one hand and a knee, being on the ground... so that swung it in favour
I did have a demo passenger ride in one tho. I was sold on the idea at the point when we went over a humpback bridge and all wheels were off the ground. I've decent experience of owning and driving a good selection of fast cars and the demo car felt more than adequate
The blue Chardonnet car looks lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing that on display as well. There should be a whole gaggle of cars outside on display as well.
I put my 1/18th model next to a couple of other 1/18th cars I've had to get an overall view of the size
I built a Lola T70 when Craig was working at GD sports cars and had a lot of help and assistance from him. I'm so chuffed his cars have taken off so well, his attention to engineering detail is superb.
A LB Stratos is the only kit I'd build in future and I also looked at the recent advert for the blue car thinking hmmmm....
I think you are a lucky man to have one coming, it will be a fab build I'm sure.
A LB Stratos is the only kit I'd build in future and I also looked at the recent advert for the blue car thinking hmmmm....
I think you are a lucky man to have one coming, it will be a fab build I'm sure.
So... back to engines.
This techy all goes totally over my head so I'm going to stick mainly with pics.
Apparently the engine builder said my engine was in really great condition straight out the Alfa. It certainly came with a comprehensive service history and lots of regular oil changes.
I'd have to read through the email that the engine builder sent me to say exactly what was done but off the top of my head I know there were steel bits, reinforced bits and re-profiled bits to cope with the expected power over standard.
This techy all goes totally over my head so I'm going to stick mainly with pics.
Apparently the engine builder said my engine was in really great condition straight out the Alfa. It certainly came with a comprehensive service history and lots of regular oil changes.
I'd have to read through the email that the engine builder sent me to say exactly what was done but off the top of my head I know there were steel bits, reinforced bits and re-profiled bits to cope with the expected power over standard.
Edited by renmure on Monday 29th April 20:57
renmure said:
So... back to engines.
I'd have to read through the email that the engine builder sent me to say exactly what was done but off the top of my head I know there were steel bits, reinforced bits and re-profiled bits to cope with the expected power over standard.
I'd be interested to know if you wouldn't mind taking the time to post the details.I'd have to read through the email that the engine builder sent me to say exactly what was done but off the top of my head I know there were steel bits, reinforced bits and re-profiled bits to cope with the expected power over standard.
Edited by Zombie on Sunday 28th April 23:32
Great thread OP!!
Just be careful - that GT won't have an LSD unless someone has retrofitted one.
Just be careful - that GT won't have an LSD unless someone has retrofitted one.
200Plus Club said:
What do those engines weigh out of interest ?
Wiki says 170kg for the earlier SOHC 2.5, with ancillaries. (135kg without). They are alloy block and head, with wet liners. Some tuners have managed to take them out to 3.8 with new liners and crank. Zombie said:
Are you sure the GT has an LSD? They didn't come with one as standard, but most have been retrofitted with a Q2 or Quaife torsion type diff.
Ah ok, mine must have been retrofitted as it has a Q2 diff fitted and again that had a refresh and the engine builder mention resetting something as part of the work. Like I say, the techy stuff goes over my head. Every day’s a school day As a 10 year old in 1977 I can vaguely remember my dad giving me a set of Top Trump supercar cards. There were all kind of exotica on display, but the Stratos stood out by a country mile. It was red with gold wheels with a new price of £4,000 if advancing years haven't gotten the better of me! Time machine anyone??
This is fantastic - and you have an army of supporters eager to just eke a smidgeon of the experience vicariously.
Great work getting hold of a 3.2 - I would like to think if you could ask an Alfa whether it would be an organ donor it might say "Only for a Stratos replica." In Italian. Certainly that's where a number of 164 3.0s ended up a few years back - all the very best for the build.
Great work getting hold of a 3.2 - I would like to think if you could ask an Alfa whether it would be an organ donor it might say "Only for a Stratos replica." In Italian. Certainly that's where a number of 164 3.0s ended up a few years back - all the very best for the build.
Glad there's a bit of interest.
Mrs R thought it sounded like a daft idea, especially when I said it would have pop up headlights, lots of additional lights at the front and rally stickers all over it. She came round when I explained it still had lots of space for luggage and the weekly shopping. It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission I guess
I'd love to say something informative about the chassis but as ever the interesting stuff flies well over my head, so.... from the LB site:
The base of the car is a torsionally rigid CAD designed space frame chassis which is constructed using a semi monocoque central structure, tubular section front and rear cradles and a full integral roll cage. The chassis has been designed to mimic certain elements of the original Lancia’s appearance whilst adding in some modern day safety features along with a few additional creature comforts.
In terms of chassis colour I decided to go for anthracite and also optioned the lowered floorpan below the seats which gives an extra couple of cm of extra head room. I'm 6ft and sitting in the demo car didn't present any problems but I guess with a helmet on I might appreciate the extra room.
Mrs R thought it sounded like a daft idea, especially when I said it would have pop up headlights, lots of additional lights at the front and rally stickers all over it. She came round when I explained it still had lots of space for luggage and the weekly shopping. It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission I guess
I'd love to say something informative about the chassis but as ever the interesting stuff flies well over my head, so.... from the LB site:
The base of the car is a torsionally rigid CAD designed space frame chassis which is constructed using a semi monocoque central structure, tubular section front and rear cradles and a full integral roll cage. The chassis has been designed to mimic certain elements of the original Lancia’s appearance whilst adding in some modern day safety features along with a few additional creature comforts.
In terms of chassis colour I decided to go for anthracite and also optioned the lowered floorpan below the seats which gives an extra couple of cm of extra head room. I'm 6ft and sitting in the demo car didn't present any problems but I guess with a helmet on I might appreciate the extra room.
Hope you got good money for the Jetfins on the donor GT - they look in good order and regularly go for 4 - 500 quid on eBay.
3.2 is a stonking engine, I have three of them (GT, GTA, 166). What are you going to do about the manifold cats? You can get very nice replacement manifolds from Wizard....with no cats. Makes a huge difference to the operating temperature.
Also have a think about engine management. Working 3.2 ECUs are like hen's teeth. If you don't need all the integration for the 3.2 (OE instruments, etc) then you might be better off with something aftermarket and flogging the original one (with keys and blue box) for about £700....
3.2 is a stonking engine, I have three of them (GT, GTA, 166). What are you going to do about the manifold cats? You can get very nice replacement manifolds from Wizard....with no cats. Makes a huge difference to the operating temperature.
Also have a think about engine management. Working 3.2 ECUs are like hen's teeth. If you don't need all the integration for the 3.2 (OE instruments, etc) then you might be better off with something aftermarket and flogging the original one (with keys and blue box) for about £700....
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