Going to look at a Sylva Striker.....

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I'm going to look at a Sylva Striker over the weekend. Any advice as to what to specifically look for?

When I say I'm going to look - unless it's an absolute dog, I'm buying it!

It's running a 1.4 K series (105bhp) which is a good start. Not sure on the donor car - will be interesting to hear.

Thanks

Oi_Oi

Edited by Oi_Oi_Savaloy on Saturday 9th September 06:48

[ugg10]

Check the log book says Sylva or raw striker on it and not escort/Sierra/dutton/robinhood etc. It should describe the car. If not walk away. Check engine number on logbook and calcify is correct, not many Sylva strikers with k series so may be a transplant from an older crossflow car. Check it has been properly sva/Iva tested.

Car could be live axle based on escort mk1/2 or possibly cortina front uprights or indeoendent rear based on Sierra.

Goodies to look out for are lsd at the rear, four pot front brakes (note rear discs are not necessary in if they have them they need a bias box or in line limiter), check out the gearbox, 5 speed type 9 has very short first and big jump to second, long first box is a big bonus, you will have stuck gold if it is an engine swap from a caterham and has the 6 speed box and updated engine (130 or 140hp iirc). Check brake lines, fuel lines are nicely routed and clipped to the chassis in even and relatively closely spaced, check loom looks tidy and is well wrapped or in conduit. Basically does it look well put together.

Enjoy the test drive.

Edited by ugg10 on Friday 8th September 17:14

[SantaBarbara]

Has it got a Q registration plate

[Equus]

ugg10 said:

Car could be live axle based on escort mk1/2 or possibly cortina front uprights

Were there ever Strikers with Cortina uprights?

My recollection is that they were either modified Escort struts, or Vauxhall Chevette (mine was the latter).

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Thanks guys for your replies and advice.

If it's a chevette or cortina upright (and brakes too then?) are parts hard to get? Should that be a factor in my decision?

I'm just looking today, payment etc will only be done once it's been mot'd and serviced by current owner. It's been stored for 2 yrs I understand.

Not sure on registration plate or v5 name but I'll know more later.

V doubtful it's got any goodies but that's ok. I'll add them.....

If it's had an engine change - does it have to have another IVA? Bit confused with the sentence that info was included in.

[Equus]

Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

If it's a chevette or cortina upright (and brakes too then?) are parts hard to get?

Chevette uprights were used only on early cars, so you're unlikely to encounter them (easily identified: if it's outboard front suspension, it's Chevette, inboard front suspension with rocker arms will be Escort, not Cortina: there's no such animal as a Cortina-based Striker, as far as I'm aware), but no particular issue with parts for any of them.

One thing that might be worth mentioning is that if taking your wife/girlfriend/female significant other out with you as a passenger will be a consideration, you might want to take them with you for the test drive. The Striker is tiny and has an offset engine and transmission tunnel, making the seat narrower on the passenger side. Women, with their wider hips, sometimes find the passenger seat intensely uncomfortable, if not impossible to use.

[ugg10]

Sorry for the misinformation on the cortina uprights.

About the engine, does not need a new Iva if changed but v5 needs to have been updated.

[S47]

If it has 'rocker' arms front suspension, check they ain't cracked or bent/damaged. They break if car is driven as intended, ususally when going around corners which have indents/dips in, which uses up full suspension travel and then some more which causes the breakage - I've seen this twice whilst following a mate in a Fury [with similar rocker suspension]. Not nice, otherwise the sylva's are great handling car's

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I'm going to take some photos and upload them. Not sure what outboard and inboard actually look like etc. I've got time (it's not on the mkt as such. Family friend selling it as he's decided he's too old now to drive it).

I really want something like this (fun to drive and an event each time I go out in it) that won't be a huge chunk of money sitting in the garage accusingly when we need the money for a major project etc etc. It's going to have be an utter basket case for me not to buy it tbh. I'll update it/rolling project as I go along

[ugg10]

Inboard looks something like this



Outboard like this

[ugg10]

Inboard looks something like this

[ img]http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/galpreviews/160.JPG[\img]

Outboard like this

[img]http://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/21/2003/11/135_0401_ifs_04_z.jpg[\img]

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Ok - sorry for the delay in updating this. I've bought it. I pick it up late september (its being mot'd, serviced and then I'm away so we've agreed late september.

There's a trackday at Pembrey in early October - 1st I think - might try to go to that. (Pembrey is only 30 mins from me)

I'll upload some pictures once I've got them on the pc.

Definitely inboard suspension.

I don't know much about kitcar builds but I was impressed with the workmanship (the wiring, the thought that clearly gone in to the build, the fabrication, the parts used.) but you might have a totally different viewpoint.

I'm not going to be using it on the roads for the moment - just trackdays. there are some things I need/want/have to sort before I'll be going on the road.

[ugg10]

See comments on locostbuilders, look at the top of the page, my first response, first line!

[ugg10]

See comments on locostbuilders, look st the top of the page, my first responce, first line!