HELP PLEASE!.. Parts for a Formula 27 Kit car

[ol]

Hi there,

I was unfortunate enough to have a little bump recently in my Honda Blackbird powered Formula 27 Kit car and am having trouble sourcing the bits to fix it. I have only owned the car for a couple of months, and so am desperate to get it back on the road.

This was my first venutre into Kit Cars, so I don't know very much about them, but have a local (Lotus approved) garage / bodyshop that can carry out all the work.

The accident occured when someone with better brakes than me slammed on in front of me, causing me to lock up and make light contact with his rear quarter. It was low speed impact, but due to the fragile nature of the car I am now trying to source the following parts:

- O/s/f top suspension arm inc ball joint.
- O/s/f lower suspension arm inc ball joint.
- Steering shaft, to u/j on steering rack, from steering wheel.
- Rhf flexy brake hose, braded

We have tried many times, to get the answers from Formula 27 cars directly, but they have been bought out by Image Sports Cars. They have a mobile number and email on their website, but it's like trying to get blood from a stone to get them to reply.

Can anyone give me an idea about where to source the parts, what car they came from, or what companies can supply them. I was told the car was factory built, so any ideas about how there were put together?

Here are a few photos of the car:









and how it's looking at the moment :-(



Any help would be much apreciated.

Thanks in advance

Edited by ol on Monday 22 August 17:00

[Sam_68]

Check all the following to make sure they look visually dientical to what is on the car already before parting with any cash, but I think the early cars at least are:

• Top ball joint: Ford Cortina
• Bottom ball joint: Ford Transit
• Steering: Ford Escort Mk. 2 with Austin Allegro column joint (Allegros are now thin on the ground, of course; the Maestro/Montego was the same joint, though IIRC). I'm guessing an alternative might have been sourced for the later cars, though?
• Brake flex hose; these are all made up of standard components - any supplier of Goodridge/Aeroquip-type braided hoses will be able to make you a pair of front hoses, if you give them your existing undamaged hose to match against. I can personally recommend Hel, but there are plenty of others.
• The suspension arms really will be easiest to obtain from the manufacturer, as they'll have the jigs, but if you're having real trouble, then any decent race/kit car welding/fabrication company should be able to copy the arms from the undamaged side of the car.

It might also be worth joining the Locost Builders Forum and asking on there; there will doubtless be several F27 owners, and there will be guys who can point you in the direction of someone local who can do the necessary fabrication for your suspension arms, if the manufacturer is a dead loss.

[Woody]

No connection to the seller but found THIS on ebay when looking for cars may be of use.

[ol]

Thanks for the replies, appreciate it.

Sam- I joined that forum and they have been very helpful and confirmed pretty much what you said. Cheers

Woody- Thanks for the link, if it goes for a decent price it may be worth it, as part of my chassis was twisted too. The bodyshop are planning on cutting it out and welding a new bit in, but it may be worth just using a new one.

[pewe]

Hi, Ol. According to your pics you have a later model as far as the top arms are concerned - bolt through shocks. I have plans somewhere for these if you need them.
The rack should be Escort MK2 using an Allegro/Maestro/Montego modified joint however my early one uses a VW one so look for marking on the original parts.
Ball joints may be Cortina upper and Transit lower drag link 18mm x 1.25 mm pitch.
Can't see if you need body parts but email me if you do.
Peter at Image is helpful when you do manage to contact him but like many in the kit car industry can't devote full time to it - if you leave a message he'll contact you in due course.
Anything-else let me know and I'll try to help a fellow owner.
Cheers, Pewe