My Spire GTR slow burn accountability/manmaths/badinfluence
Discussion
Late in 2024 I was looking at ND MX5s and went to drive a few but was considering other "fun cars" to replace my daily such as 987s etc. The girlfriends cousin has a Westfield Megablade and I've always taken the piss of my car searches saying I should just get a Honda Jazz and be done with it.
I've always fancied a kit car such as a Fisher Fury and even ordered a MK Indy kit in 2004 along with stripping a sierra down and buying a vauxhall red top. My dad kept saying how dangerous they were so I cancelled the kit, did a DAS course, bought an VFR400 NC30, then a Ducati 848 and commuted weekly Fleet to Barnstaple on a 5pw R1 before falling out of love with biking.
The girlfriend therefore quickly persuaded me to look for a "silly" car and have a sensible daily. I considered the usual Westfields and MK indy but didn't want a 7 style car and prfer the full bodied Fisher Fury. I thought a part built project was the way to go as they were usually cheaper and I could easily put my stamp on it but time will tell. So while bobbing around the Pacific ocean last autumn with non existent WiFi I purchased an unseen Spire GTR and had it delivered to the garage.
The kit was delivered new to a college up North and part built "badly" from what I can see and sat unloved before being bought by my seller during lockdown. I'm not sure where It was stored as some parts look brand new while the wrap looks very weathered and the chassis in the footwells is flaking its finish with corrosion showing. The bodywork has been cut badly around the chassis too.
Its currently set up for a zzr1100 engine with some badly welded mounts. I have a letter from Kawasaki showing the engine is pre cat so would only need a visual smoke test during IVA. Bit of a heavy and low on power engine these days though so am considering other options despite being initially keen. It has six RMD alloy wheels which makes me think some may be wider but not checked, wilwood calipers all round, wilwood master cylinders, a Davis Craig water pump and paddleshift levers among the two boxes of junk. Big spendy items required are seats, engine, exhaust, lights and potentially diff upgrades.
The elephant in the room is that I have my complete 5pw R1 bike that I've not ridden in ten years. It has 16000 miles, a Barnet spring clutch kit already and a PC3 (serial port version though). They were apparently really good in kit cars with only a sump baffle required. It was overheating before being layed up which I think is a blocked radiator so need to investigate. I've too much sentimental value to rip it apart though but could sell it to fund something else once I've sorted the cooling and put new chain and sprockets on it. Man maths required here.
Newer 1000s are putting out about 10-20 more bhp than the 5pw and have slipper clutches which I'm not sure I need so thinking of going with one of those. The zzr1400 appeals but weighs 40kg more than a 1000 which is a lot if I'm aiming for a car weighing 450-500kg. I'd struggle to lose that on the car without spending massive amounts of cash. On the left field a z1000sx makes similar power to the 5pw once tuned but a glob more low down torque. It was an "All new" engine design in 2013 but looks a lot like a zx9r engine so 80kg v the 65kg 1000s.
I'm busy looking for a k5 onwards gsxr1000, 2004-2013 zx10r or 2008 onwards blade in bad physical condition but mechanically sound. The Blade seems to be flavour of the month but the billet sump and third gear mods required pump the price up a fair amount verses the cheaper sumps of the others. I keep dreaming of it being Kawasaki green, blue and white which clouds my judgement. Or dog dick pink
Then there's the conundrum of using bike style engine orientation with a lighter home made (bodged Quaife ÀTB in a swinging adjustment frame) chain diff. It came with a prop of unknown quality and a 7 inch Sierra differential in the car. I have actually had the diff case off and it's a 3.62 open diff so may need to swap the crown wheel and pinion for a 3.38 and consider an LSD option while there. Bike orientation would mean I'd likely have to get a different shaped fuel tank too but less transmission losses, potentially better oiling prospects and an easier route for the induction. More maintenance though but it's a toy.
I guess I'm starting this thread for some sort of accountability so that I actually progress with then car. I've still not had a chance to look it all over so need a kick up bum every now and again. I also want to throw ideas around and get encouraged to do silly things with it.
Phew.
I've always fancied a kit car such as a Fisher Fury and even ordered a MK Indy kit in 2004 along with stripping a sierra down and buying a vauxhall red top. My dad kept saying how dangerous they were so I cancelled the kit, did a DAS course, bought an VFR400 NC30, then a Ducati 848 and commuted weekly Fleet to Barnstaple on a 5pw R1 before falling out of love with biking.
The girlfriend therefore quickly persuaded me to look for a "silly" car and have a sensible daily. I considered the usual Westfields and MK indy but didn't want a 7 style car and prfer the full bodied Fisher Fury. I thought a part built project was the way to go as they were usually cheaper and I could easily put my stamp on it but time will tell. So while bobbing around the Pacific ocean last autumn with non existent WiFi I purchased an unseen Spire GTR and had it delivered to the garage.
The kit was delivered new to a college up North and part built "badly" from what I can see and sat unloved before being bought by my seller during lockdown. I'm not sure where It was stored as some parts look brand new while the wrap looks very weathered and the chassis in the footwells is flaking its finish with corrosion showing. The bodywork has been cut badly around the chassis too.
Its currently set up for a zzr1100 engine with some badly welded mounts. I have a letter from Kawasaki showing the engine is pre cat so would only need a visual smoke test during IVA. Bit of a heavy and low on power engine these days though so am considering other options despite being initially keen. It has six RMD alloy wheels which makes me think some may be wider but not checked, wilwood calipers all round, wilwood master cylinders, a Davis Craig water pump and paddleshift levers among the two boxes of junk. Big spendy items required are seats, engine, exhaust, lights and potentially diff upgrades.
The elephant in the room is that I have my complete 5pw R1 bike that I've not ridden in ten years. It has 16000 miles, a Barnet spring clutch kit already and a PC3 (serial port version though). They were apparently really good in kit cars with only a sump baffle required. It was overheating before being layed up which I think is a blocked radiator so need to investigate. I've too much sentimental value to rip it apart though but could sell it to fund something else once I've sorted the cooling and put new chain and sprockets on it. Man maths required here.
Newer 1000s are putting out about 10-20 more bhp than the 5pw and have slipper clutches which I'm not sure I need so thinking of going with one of those. The zzr1400 appeals but weighs 40kg more than a 1000 which is a lot if I'm aiming for a car weighing 450-500kg. I'd struggle to lose that on the car without spending massive amounts of cash. On the left field a z1000sx makes similar power to the 5pw once tuned but a glob more low down torque. It was an "All new" engine design in 2013 but looks a lot like a zx9r engine so 80kg v the 65kg 1000s.
I'm busy looking for a k5 onwards gsxr1000, 2004-2013 zx10r or 2008 onwards blade in bad physical condition but mechanically sound. The Blade seems to be flavour of the month but the billet sump and third gear mods required pump the price up a fair amount verses the cheaper sumps of the others. I keep dreaming of it being Kawasaki green, blue and white which clouds my judgement. Or dog dick pink
Then there's the conundrum of using bike style engine orientation with a lighter home made (bodged Quaife ÀTB in a swinging adjustment frame) chain diff. It came with a prop of unknown quality and a 7 inch Sierra differential in the car. I have actually had the diff case off and it's a 3.62 open diff so may need to swap the crown wheel and pinion for a 3.38 and consider an LSD option while there. Bike orientation would mean I'd likely have to get a different shaped fuel tank too but less transmission losses, potentially better oiling prospects and an easier route for the induction. More maintenance though but it's a toy.
I guess I'm starting this thread for some sort of accountability so that I actually progress with then car. I've still not had a chance to look it all over so need a kick up bum every now and again. I also want to throw ideas around and get encouraged to do silly things with it.
Phew.
This looks like an interesting build, a bike engined car is always a cool thing. Just out of interest, is the zzr1100 engine from a ‘C’ model or even earlier? I know they can be tweaked for a little additional power, but it still might not make what you’re looking for - nice an torquey though (for a bike engine anyway 
)
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