New Can Am owner
Discussion
Hi Folks after lurking for a long time Ive finally arranged to buy an Ultima. I was planning to build one. But Ive played with many types of cars and have build so many I getting a bit fed up of it and currently lacking time! So I decided to buy a 2nd hand Black can am 2011. You may have seen it in the classifieds.
I think its a great base car. I was always planning to build a black Can am. It does need air con (sooooo looking forward to that , not!) a rear wing and my gut tells me an engine upgrade at some point.
Its got an old SBC reconned to 6.3 540hp, but having messed around with Audis for so long I think an rs6 v8 Twin turbo or even an audi V10 would go in there nicely! so Im predicting 10mpg at best and difficult starts!
Im thinking about a stalk conversion for the indicators and possibly working with chucknorris on a hardtop of some description. Maybe tweak the tail pipes.....
I'll probably enjoy it this year, finish another project, sell another and then get to work on this.
If any one has any info on the history of the car I'd appreciate it? Maybe someone knows the builder?
Comments welcome!
This is the fella here.
Cheers
Mark.
I think its a great base car. I was always planning to build a black Can am. It does need air con (sooooo looking forward to that , not!) a rear wing and my gut tells me an engine upgrade at some point.
Its got an old SBC reconned to 6.3 540hp, but having messed around with Audis for so long I think an rs6 v8 Twin turbo or even an audi V10 would go in there nicely! so Im predicting 10mpg at best and difficult starts!
Im thinking about a stalk conversion for the indicators and possibly working with chucknorris on a hardtop of some description. Maybe tweak the tail pipes.....I'll probably enjoy it this year, finish another project, sell another and then get to work on this.
If any one has any info on the history of the car I'd appreciate it? Maybe someone knows the builder?
Comments welcome!
This is the fella here.
Cheers
Mark.
Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 20th July 21:24
If you could get cold air from in front of the radiator into the foot wells I would bet your desire for air conditioning would decrease. I've always wanted to install some scoops on the inner skin of the radiator compartment floor and use the space between the inner and outer skin as a duct to route cool air around the radiator. Thereafter two four inch ducts could take it into the cabin.
Your car looks great, enjoy the summer;)
Your car looks great, enjoy the summer;)
Has anybody thought about getting a deflector made to channel the hot radiator air down each side of the cockpit?
What I have in mind would connect to the lip of the front clip above the radiator vent with a 'v' shape piece underneath deflecting the air to the sides of the car.
I would draw a picture if I knew how to do it.
Could be made out of carbon fibre and bolted into place so no paintwork.
Paul
What I have in mind would connect to the lip of the front clip above the radiator vent with a 'v' shape piece underneath deflecting the air to the sides of the car.
I would draw a picture if I knew how to do it.
Could be made out of carbon fibre and bolted into place so no paintwork.
Paul
Good to see another black Can Am 
I've had mine on the road for 12mths now and have just come back from a 6 day road trip to The 'Ring. My view is that you do need air con, but that's because you're fighting heat from under the dash more than anything. Any Ultima gets radiator heat warming up the bulkhead, as well as heat rom the side ally rad pipes & heater pipes.
Even with a double skinned front bulkhead, additional radiator bulkhead and loads of heat proofing around the car, I still need A/C on a warm day. Without any of these things, heat will be much worse and you'll cook. Heat over the car of from the rear isn't that bad, except for when you're sitting stationary in traffic. When moving, I don't get much hot air over the aeroscreen, so with a full screen, you shouldn't have an issue. Heat proofing & A/C are your friends
Oh, and welcome!
I've had mine on the road for 12mths now and have just come back from a 6 day road trip to The 'Ring. My view is that you do need air con, but that's because you're fighting heat from under the dash more than anything. Any Ultima gets radiator heat warming up the bulkhead, as well as heat rom the side ally rad pipes & heater pipes.Even with a double skinned front bulkhead, additional radiator bulkhead and loads of heat proofing around the car, I still need A/C on a warm day. Without any of these things, heat will be much worse and you'll cook. Heat over the car of from the rear isn't that bad, except for when you're sitting stationary in traffic. When moving, I don't get much hot air over the aeroscreen, so with a full screen, you shouldn't have an issue. Heat proofing & A/C are your friends
Oh, and welcome!
356Speedster said:
Good to see another black Can Am I've had mine on the road for 12mths now and have just come back from a 6 day road trip to The 'Ring. My view is that you do need air con, but that's because you're fighting heat from under the dash more than anything. Any Ultima gets radiator heat warming up the bulkhead, as well as heat rom the side ally rad pipes & heater pipes.
Even with a double skinned front bulkhead, additional radiator bulkhead and loads of heat proofing around the car, I still need A/C on a warm day. Without any of these things, heat will be much worse and you'll cook. Heat over the car of from the rear isn't that bad, except for when you're sitting stationary in traffic. When moving, I don't get much hot air over the aeroscreen, so with a full screen, you shouldn't have an issue. Heat proofing & A/C are your friends
Oh, and welcome!
Did you install the 'H pipe' fitting in the flow and return lines to the heater matrix? Only interested as even with the heater off i'm getting a load of heat soak from the heater (apparently the pressure on the system forces hot water through the valve - the H pipe is supposed to help equalise/reduce this). I've just ordered one from the factory and am considering capping the heater off in the car entirely. I've had mine on the road for 12mths now and have just come back from a 6 day road trip to The 'Ring. My view is that you do need air con, but that's because you're fighting heat from under the dash more than anything. Any Ultima gets radiator heat warming up the bulkhead, as well as heat rom the side ally rad pipes & heater pipes.Even with a double skinned front bulkhead, additional radiator bulkhead and loads of heat proofing around the car, I still need A/C on a warm day. Without any of these things, heat will be much worse and you'll cook. Heat over the car of from the rear isn't that bad, except for when you're sitting stationary in traffic. When moving, I don't get much hot air over the aeroscreen, so with a full screen, you shouldn't have an issue. Heat proofing & A/C are your friends
Oh, and welcome!
No AC in my car and it get V. hot with 6.7lts of SBC burning the worlds resources!
Nabbott said:
Did you install the 'H pipe' fitting in the flow and return lines to the heater matrix? Only interested as even with the heater off i'm getting a load of heat soak from the heater (apparently the pressure on the system forces hot water through the valve - the H pipe is supposed to help equalise/reduce this). I've just ordered one from the factory and am considering capping the heater off in the car entirely.
No AC in my car and it get V. hot with 6.7lts of SBC burning the worlds resources!
Yup, H-piece installed, but the water still heats up down the pipes and into the heater box No AC in my car and it get V. hot with 6.7lts of SBC burning the worlds resources!
356, I have to say your car is looking awesome on the other thread. On my purchase list is the half screen. The reason being is I'm an ex motorcyclist and have driven open top single seaters and love it. The half screen gives me that experience (and also why in my eyes the Can am is the car to go for over the GTR). Plus I have the appropriate helmet jacket already Your pics have helped my decide that a wing isn't really needed to finish the can am look with the half screen ( but the wing does look the part with the full screen!). You number plate placement is pretty much exactly where I thinking to put mine (evo esk), It looks silly on the front where it currently is. On mine I hate the silver grilles and also not a huge fan of the silver sticker on the side. Fear not, we wont end up with identical looking cars (but lets face it if its a can am and black we aren't far away!) my plan is to introduce some cobra esk red strips down the middle..... or yellow but im liking red for the moment.... something like this:
Oh and I'll do something with the silly orange side indicators! white or black!
back to the hotness... the air intake to the engine on the GTR will be better, especially if we are talking about the windscreen vacuum on the can am effectively sucking out air from the intake hole!!
I have heard the clear screen makes a difference too, but again only for use with a windscreen I would have thought, not the half screen. Soo, I'll see how hot it gets, 1. H pipe the heater matrix 2. Heat insulate everything behind the dash! 3.then rear screen (4mm perspex I would imagane would suffice?) 4. potential vents from the front 5. fit air con....
sounds like a job for over the winter!
Has anyone fitted an unboltable front roll cage hoop on the can am behind the windscreen? I'm assuming the windscreen doesn't really give much roll protection? Wondering how difficult it would be, then with a central brace to the back hoop....
Your pics have helped my decide that a wing isn't really needed to finish the can am look with the half screen ( but the wing does look the part with the full screen!). You number plate placement is pretty much exactly where I thinking to put mine (evo esk), It looks silly on the front where it currently is. On mine I hate the silver grilles and also not a huge fan of the silver sticker on the side. Fear not, we wont end up with identical looking cars (but lets face it if its a can am and black we aren't far away!) my plan is to introduce some cobra esk red strips down the middle..... or yellow but im liking red for the moment.... something like this:Oh and I'll do something with the silly orange side indicators! white or black!
back to the hotness... the air intake to the engine on the GTR will be better, especially if we are talking about the windscreen vacuum on the can am effectively sucking out air from the intake hole!!
I have heard the clear screen makes a difference too, but again only for use with a windscreen I would have thought, not the half screen. Soo, I'll see how hot it gets, 1. H pipe the heater matrix 2. Heat insulate everything behind the dash! 3.then rear screen (4mm perspex I would imagane would suffice?) 4. potential vents from the front 5. fit air con....
sounds like a job for over the winter!Has anyone fitted an unboltable front roll cage hoop on the can am behind the windscreen? I'm assuming the windscreen doesn't really give much roll protection? Wondering how difficult it would be, then with a central brace to the back hoop....
Edited by confusionhunter on Thursday 10th July 17:07
Edited by confusionhunter on Thursday 10th July 17:08
Edited by confusionhunter on Thursday 10th July 17:08
are you sure? The behind windscreen shouldn't be an issue, loads of kit cars do that:
and the unboltable part should be an issue as I have a safety devices bolt in cage that attaches using these kinds of fittings.
Having said that Ive never done an IVA!!
Im thinking similar to this:
Potentially three bolt points 2 to chassis at the appropriate point (obviously access and ease of fitment may be huge issues) and another bolt oiut to the raer hoop...
something like this:
and the unboltable part should be an issue as I have a safety devices bolt in cage that attaches using these kinds of fittings.
Having said that Ive never done an IVA!!
Im thinking similar to this:
Potentially three bolt points 2 to chassis at the appropriate point (obviously access and ease of fitment may be huge issues) and another bolt oiut to the raer hoop...
something like this:
confusionhunter said:
356, I have to say your car is looking awesome on the other thread. On my purchase list is the half screen. The reason being is I'm an ex motorcyclist and have driven open top single seaters and love it. The half screen gives me that experience (and also why in my eyes the Can am is the car to go for over the GTR). Plus I have the appropriate helmet jacket already Your pics have helped my decide that a wing isn't really needed to finish the can am look with the half screen ( but the wing does look the part with the full screen!). You number plate placement is pretty much exactly where I thinking to put mine (evo esk), It looks silly on the front where it currently is. On mine I hate the silver grilles and also not a huge fan of the silver sticker on the side. Fear not, we wont end up with identical looking cars (but lets face it if its a can am and black we aren't far away!) my plan is to introduce some cobra esk red strips down the middle..... or yellow but im liking red for the moment.... something like this:
Oh and I'll do something with the silly orange side indicators! white or black!
back to the hotness... the air intake to the engine on the GTR will be better, especially if we are talking about the windscreen vacuum on the can am effectively sucking out air from the intake hole!!
I have heard the clear screen makes a difference too, but again only for use with a windscreen I would have thought, not the half screen. Soo, I'll see how hot it gets, 1. H pipe the heater matrix 2. Heat insulate everything behind the dash! 3.then rear screen (4mm perspex I would imagane would suffice?) 4. potential vents from the front 5. fit air con.... sounds like a job for over the winter!
Has anyone fitted an unboltable front roll cage hoop on the can am behind the windscreen? I'm assuming the windscreen doesn't really give much roll protection? Wondering how difficult it would be, then with a central brace to the back hoop....
Hi & thanks for your compliments! I don't get the same hot air sensation from the engine (except for when stationary) that some people talk about, but I wonder if that's because with the aeroscreen you don't have the same air-flow / aerodynamic characteristics. Your pics have helped my decide that a wing isn't really needed to finish the can am look with the half screen ( but the wing does look the part with the full screen!). You number plate placement is pretty much exactly where I thinking to put mine (evo esk), It looks silly on the front where it currently is. On mine I hate the silver grilles and also not a huge fan of the silver sticker on the side. Fear not, we wont end up with identical looking cars (but lets face it if its a can am and black we aren't far away!) my plan is to introduce some cobra esk red strips down the middle..... or yellow but im liking red for the moment.... something like this:Oh and I'll do something with the silly orange side indicators! white or black!
back to the hotness... the air intake to the engine on the GTR will be better, especially if we are talking about the windscreen vacuum on the can am effectively sucking out air from the intake hole!!
I have heard the clear screen makes a difference too, but again only for use with a windscreen I would have thought, not the half screen. Soo, I'll see how hot it gets, 1. H pipe the heater matrix 2. Heat insulate everything behind the dash! 3.then rear screen (4mm perspex I would imagane would suffice?) 4. potential vents from the front 5. fit air con....
sounds like a job for over the winter!Has anyone fitted an unboltable front roll cage hoop on the can am behind the windscreen? I'm assuming the windscreen doesn't really give much roll protection? Wondering how difficult it would be, then with a central brace to the back hoop....
Having just done the best part of 1,400 miles in 6 days with the car and only wearing sunglasses, I can confirm you really don't need a helmet. The screen does a great job of flicking the air over your head. Inside the cockpit, it's very serene and use of heater or AC (depending on the outside temp!), makes a difference to the occupants. I've driven the car at near freezing point with the heater on and a normal Berghaus wind proof coat and it's fine. Wearing a helmet takes a lot away from the driving experience & the rush to your senses
That said, depending on your height, the curve of the Perspex screen in the top 2 inches (where it flicks up), could annoy you. I look over it (I'm 5-11 tall), but when going up hills or manoeuvring, I have to look thru' it and the distortion annoys me greatly. I was going to cut it down below this point, but then I think it might disturb the airflow over the cockpit and make the car blustery inside.
I look forwards to seeing what you do to it
Interesting RE the aeroscreen! Do you have the lowered floor too? Im 5'10" and yes the distortion would be annoying, I remember having that issue with a double bubble screen on one of my bikes. I think I do have the lowered floor so with that, I may need to raise the seat for use with an aero screen.
As a point of reference how far up does the aero screen come up?
This is a bit sad but I'll go to pick the car up and immediately get the measuring tape out
On the cage, I did ask Richard at the factory about it and he simply stated that its something they do not offer. I'll consult with chucknorris when hes back from holiday (I suspect we will have some plotting and scheming to do!). He doesn't live that far from me and is almost finished his Can am Build.
As a point of reference how far up does the aero screen come up?
This is a bit sad but I'll go to pick the car up and immediately get the measuring tape out
On the cage, I did ask Richard at the factory about it and he simply stated that its something they do not offer. I'll consult with chucknorris when hes back from holiday (I suspect we will have some plotting and scheming to do!). He doesn't live that far from me and is almost finished his Can am Build.
Edited by confusionhunter on Sunday 20th July 21:24
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