Best car to own. Advice Please.

[Dave R D]

Suddenly realised whats missing in my life an Ultima. My seach begins. Can any one give me some advice on say what is the difference between 5.7 and a 6.3 powered car? Different types of camshalfts?
Any big no no's when looking for a car?
Is there any one near to southend essex who would show me there car please and chat about Ultima's.

[F.C.]

Dave R D said:

Suddenly realised whats missing in my life an Ultima. My seach begins. Can any one give me some advice on say what is the difference between 5.7 and a 6.3 powered car? Different types of camshalfts?
Any big no no's when looking for a car?
Is there any one near to southend essex who would show me there car please and chat about Ultima's.

you need to research via the search facility,
there's no right or wrong, just technology and price where engines are concerned.
SBC is old tech but you can still hit high numbers with it.
LS series engines are more modern and usually cleaner burning (something to think about for a new build).
Cammed up LS engines can be problematical when trying to pass emission tests,
Older builds with SBC generally avoid emission testing altogether, just have to pass a visual "smoke test".
There is no such thing as a slow Ultima the vast majority will have more than 350ish BHP, which makes for an entertaining ride.
So 350- >1000 bhp is available, most are satisfied with 450-500

[Dave R D]

Thanks F C I think that I would be happy with an older 5.7 car. Still lots more information that I will need to find out before I find my dream Ultima for sale.

[XASLTD]

Advice rules
1. Go see the factory...there customer support is really good....
2. If your a numpty and have never built anything they will help.
3. A major factor for me was having the factory 45mins away....an absolute must....can't stress this enough.
4. Never assume that it'll just be a bolt together big mechano kit....things need fettling....but thats part of the enjoyment...it is for me......
5. Depending on how much cash you have. ...be prepared to buy stages you dont need Early on....you will need some bits later in the build to enable early bits to fit......
6. The ultima factory has 2 cars you can take a look at through your build....this is really cool...it will help immensely. ...
Ta

[Dave R D]

Thank you for reply XASLTD better get along to the factory asap

[Graham-P]

Dave, I'll be going to the breakfast meet this Saturday at the Horseshoe Garden Centre in Bicknace, I think there are a couple of guys coming from your area, see the thread in the Kent and Essex forum.
I've been down the 383SBC and LS route so have a bit of expierence to be able to compare both.
I'm in the Maldon area if you want a look see at some other time, but I have the hairdressers version :big laugh:

[V8Dom]

there should be a factory open day soon???

as said the factory are fantastic and their support second to none.

[Dave R D]

I will see you at Bicknace on saturday Graham-P. I will be in the hairdresser's number one choice of car white Ferrari spider 360. I was there last month and just missed you as I had to leave early. Can't wait to learn as much as I can about Ultima's.
V8 DOM I hope that the factory have an open day soon.
I was thinking about the green ultima that was for sale on ebay and pistonheads but is now sold.
Its just that I did not want a green car, it did seem a bit of a bargain though.
Have been to see the blue ultima that is for sale at hallmark sports cars, hainault.Was very impressed as looks like a great car in excellent condition.

[karl c]

Dave im going to put my ultima up for sale when I get round to it, another one to choose from cant be a bad thing, take a look at the picture on my profile to see if you like the look of it, its got a very nice LS2 in it rated at 514bhp.

Cheers Karl.

[V8Dom]

that's a nice car Karl.. know the car very well, attention to detail is fantastic.

[GTRMikie]

V8Dom said:

there should be a factory open day soon???

Sunday, 4th August.

[karl c]

Thanks for your comments Dom, Im hoping to get up to the factory open day weather permitting, are you going?

Karl.

[Stig]

V8Dom said:

there should be a factory open day soon???

as said the factory are fantastic and their support second to none.

There will be indeed:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Verde]

As a bit of a geek (well, maybe more than a bit) I felt that life is too short to suffer with a carbureted engines, rod-shifted transmissions, raw interiors and wheezing air conditioning. So I was lucky enough to find a brilliant owner/builder/driver that created a magnificent interior with digital gauges, a complete doubling of a/c capacity (from vents to condensers) a reprogrammed LS7 (built before the factory supported such things). Perhaps the only place it's a bit short is that it's an older rod-powered transmission. But a 6 speed.
So if you're getting a factory build, then be assured of the quality of construction but I would focus on the well constructed LS7 and up-to-date transmission. OTOH, if the factory builds the car, you may not be able to tap in to any different-from-OEM construction options that non-factory builders can create. Interiors, suspension mods, alternate engine options (though that is quite a challenge) and others.
Either way, yes, your life is missing an Ultima. GTR or Can Am depending on where you live. Get one. Soon.
V

[3Dee]

Verde said:

...extra AC condensor
V

Verde... as a matter of interest, where is the extra condenser mounted and how is it plumbed up?
Got any pictures?

Surprisingly we in the UK have been ?suffering? high (for us) constant temps this July with no sign of it changing. The last time I remember something like this must be over 20 years ago... Usually it is a few days of heat followed by rain, followed by cloud, followed by a few more days of heat (if we were lucky) etc...

[Stig]

Verde said:

As a bit of a geek (well, maybe more than a bit) I felt that life is too short to suffer with a carbureted engines, rod-shifted transmissions, raw interiors and wheezing air conditioning. So I was lucky enough to find a brilliant owner/builder/driver that created a magnificent interior with digital gauges, a complete doubling of a/c capacity (from vents to condensers) a reprogrammed LS7 (built before the factory supported such things). Perhaps the only place it's a bit short is that it's an older rod-powered transmission. But a 6 speed.
So if you're getting a factory build, then be assured of the quality of construction but I would focus on the well constructed LS7 and up-to-date transmission. OTOH, if the factory builds the car, you may not be able to tap in to any different-from-OEM construction options that non-factory builders can create. Interiors, suspension mods, alternate engine options (though that is quite a challenge) and others.
Either way, yes, your life is missing an Ultima. GTR or Can Am depending on where you live. Get one. Soon.
V

I'm pretty sure the factory would build it pretty much anyway you'd like - given the right financial incentive

[ultiman]

Hi Dave
I'm often in Southend (Westcliffe) possibly with the Ultima so contact me and we can at least meet up. I've owned mine for 16 years so quite keen. Nick

[Dave R D]

Thanks Nick, I am slowly learnig lots of very useful information and hope fully my first Ultima will be the right one for me.
My first main question is do Ultima's have a general over heating problem, when in slow moving traffic?
Is there a way around over heating issues.

[ultiman]

Hi Dave. Ive found that if the revs on tickover are kept down it helps. I had problems in traffic originally in hot weather (France and Italy) but fitted an oil cooler with thermostatic bypass. Never experienced overheating after that. Cockpit is another matter after an hour parked in the sun! N

[UltimaCH]

You may need to get out your swimming trunks of perhaps try finding a A/C cooled space suit...!