ListerBell Stratos
Discussion
rxe said:
Hope you got good money for the Jetfins on the donor GT - they look in good order and regularly go for 4 - 500 quid on eBay.
3.2 is a stonking engine, I have three of them (GT, GTA, 166). What are you going to do about the manifold cats? You can get very nice replacement manifolds from Wizard....with no cats. Makes a huge difference to the operating temperature.
Also have a think about engine management. Working 3.2 ECUs are like hen's teeth. If you don't need all the integration for the 3.2 (OE instruments, etc) then you might be better off with something aftermarket and flogging the original one (with keys and blue box) for about £700....
Not OP but I expect he's going with standalone management - would make sense on a build like this.3.2 is a stonking engine, I have three of them (GT, GTA, 166). What are you going to do about the manifold cats? You can get very nice replacement manifolds from Wizard....with no cats. Makes a huge difference to the operating temperature.
Also have a think about engine management. Working 3.2 ECUs are like hen's teeth. If you don't need all the integration for the 3.2 (OE instruments, etc) then you might be better off with something aftermarket and flogging the original one (with keys and blue box) for about £700....
I have always had a soft spot for the Stratos. Unfortunately, the rest of the family don't see the attraction.
I do love the sound of the V6 and if I did build one then the Alfa V6 would be the way forwards, however, I have seen one fitted with the Cyclone Hayabusa based V8 on YouTube (edited to say found it) and that sounded something else.
Cyclone Stratos (Quality is a bit rubbish)
I do love the sound of the V6 and if I did build one then the Alfa V6 would be the way forwards, however, I have seen one fitted with the Cyclone Hayabusa based V8 on YouTube (edited to say found it) and that sounded something else.
Cyclone Stratos (Quality is a bit rubbish)
Edited by MKnight702 on Tuesday 30th April 13:30
rxe said:
3.2 is a stonking engine, I have three of them (GT, GTA, 166). What are you going to do about the manifold cats? You can get very nice replacement manifolds from Wizard....with no cats. Makes a huge difference to the operating temperature.
Also have a think about engine management. Working 3.2 ECUs are like hen's teeth. If you don't need all the integration for the 3.2 (OE instruments, etc) then you might be better off with something aftermarket and flogging the original one (with keys and blue box) for about £700....
Yeah, it should sound awesome.Also have a think about engine management. Working 3.2 ECUs are like hen's teeth. If you don't need all the integration for the 3.2 (OE instruments, etc) then you might be better off with something aftermarket and flogging the original one (with keys and blue box) for about £700....
The plan is to do away with the Alfa manifolds completely and have a full custom tubular exhaust fabricated to match the original Stratos GP4 twin exhaust, so no cats whatever and with minimal silencing at the end of the tailpipes. I'll need a spare silenced and catted replacement system once for IVA and then again for MOT but can live with that. I hope to have pics of the exhaust and ITBs over the weekend.
Engine management will be using an SCS Delta 800 ECU package with a bespoke ECU / Engine harness.
The throttle body conversion will utilise BMW M3 ITBs with 6 injectors and Audi R8 Coil packs.
Vroom Vroom!!
Edited by renmure on Tuesday 1st October 15:22
MKnight702 said:
I have always had a soft spot for the Stratos. Unfortunately, the rest of the family don't see the attraction.
I do love the sound of the V6 and if I did build one then the Alfa V6 would be the way forwards, however, I have seen one fitted with the Cyclone Hayabusa based V8 on YouTube (edited to say found it) and that sounded something else.
Cyclone Stratos (Quality is a bit rubbish)
I have to say I’ve never been convinced of the merits of any motorcycle based engine in a road car, and that video perfectly confirms why.I do love the sound of the V6 and if I did build one then the Alfa V6 would be the way forwards, however, I have seen one fitted with the Cyclone Hayabusa based V8 on YouTube (edited to say found it) and that sounded something else.
Cyclone Stratos (Quality is a bit rubbish)
markiii said:
interesting to see what was once seen as a short twitchy wheelbase is actually very little different to an elise
I think a lot of the more modern aspects of the LB cars are designed to iron out some of the more "interesting" handling characteristics of the originals.Wiki says the of the original cars:
The front suspension initially used a double-A-arm setup, as on many purpose-built race cars. But early racing failures forced a hasty redesign. The arms were replaced by a MacPherson strut capped by a strong box structure.
Where as LB say
The front suspension is based around an aircraft grade billet aluminium upright this is located by means of a double wishbone assembly which is fully adjustable for castor, camber, toe and ride height. Damping is provided by Nitron coil over dampers with single way adjustment as standard. The rear suspension is again based around an anodised billet alloy upright which is inkeeping with the original Stratos. This is controlled by a strut type rear suspension system with an adjustable lower wishbone. Damping in this case is provided by a bespoke Nitron strut and the suspension is adjustable for camber, toe and ride height. Adjustable anti roll bars are fitted front and rear. All pivots are PTFE lined rod end and spherical bearings for minimal stiction and adjustability. The springs fitted are dual rate to allow comfortable progression under normal conditions but with increased resistance under hard cornering scenarios.
I'm guessing it will still turn on a sixpence but hopefully more by design than by default.
I'll dig out some pics of my suspension set-up. Certainly a work of art.
renmure said:
markiii said:
interesting to see what was once seen as a short twitchy wheelbase is actually very little different to an elise
I think a lot of the more modern aspects of the LB cars are designed to iron out some of the more "interesting" handling characteristics of the originals.Wiki says the of the original cars:
The front suspension initially used a double-A-arm setup, as on many purpose-built race cars. But early racing failures forced a hasty redesign. The arms were replaced by a MacPherson strut capped by a strong box structure.
Where as LB say
The front suspension is based around an aircraft grade billet aluminium upright this is located by means of a double wishbone assembly which is fully adjustable for castor, camber, toe and ride height. Damping is provided by Nitron coil over dampers with single way adjustment as standard.?The rear suspension is again based around an anodised billet alloy upright which is inkeeping with the original Stratos. This is controlled by a strut type rear suspension system with an adjustable lower wishbone. Damping in this case is provided by a bespoke Nitron strut and the suspension is adjustable for camber, toe and ride height. Adjustable anti roll bars are fitted front and rear. All pivots are PTFE lined rod end and spherical bearings for minimal stiction and adjustability. The springs fitted are dual rate to allow comfortable progression under normal conditions but with increased resistance under hard cornering scenarios.
I'm guessing it will still turn on a sixpence but hopefully more by design than by default.
I'll dig out some pics of my suspension set-up. Certainly a work of art.
West17 said:
Col 666 said:
Wow! memories - I saw them in Oban and clearly remember seeing Rowan driving the Stratos. Was it Oban, Col?
200Plus Club said:
Fond memories of these in the forests in the RAC rally era back in the day . 6R4 metro also but suprised no one has ever done a proper replica / homage in the same way as the Stratos as I think they'd sell also.
6R4 being probably the ugliest rally car ever conceived might be a good reason why there are no replicas. Not knocking the plucky intent but it made the ugly metro even uglier , something which the other group B contenders seemed to do the opposite of with their humble origin conversions . fredd1e said:
6R4 being probably the ugliest rally car ever conceived might be a good reason why there are no replicas. Not knocking the plucky intent but it made the ugly metro even uglier , something which the other group B contenders seemed to do the opposite of with their humble origin conversions .
That was one factor but they are now fetching mega money and have always attracted a following amongst rally enthusiasts. Financially now most folk can't afford a genuine Stratos, or a 6R4. As I said, given their rarity and value, plus the fact it's an easily copied shape atop what would be a similar construction frame, I'm suprised no one as yet has offered one. I have seen 6R4 replicas built onto rusty metros in the past tho. 
Well, that initial photograph drew out an involuntary groan out of me! I've had a thing about these for years, and while Alitalia isn't an airline I would choose to fly with, ever, their livery is just sensational.
Can I ask why you chose LB over Hawk? I regularly toy with the notion of having one built, but put off by the fact that better drivers than me say it's a dangerous little sod. If they've genuinely tamed the snap oversteer, I'm all ears. Chapeau to you for taking the plunge.
Can I ask why you chose LB over Hawk? I regularly toy with the notion of having one built, but put off by the fact that better drivers than me say it's a dangerous little sod. If they've genuinely tamed the snap oversteer, I'm all ears. Chapeau to you for taking the plunge.
TheJimi said:
West17 said:
Col 666 said:
Wow! memories - I saw them in Oban and clearly remember seeing Rowan driving the Stratos. Was it Oban, Col?
456mgt said:
Can I ask why you chose LB over Hawk? I regularly toy with the notion of having one built, but put off by the fact that better drivers than me say it's a dangerous little sod. If they've genuinely tamed the snap oversteer, I'm all ears. Chapeau to you for taking the plunge.
The only consideration for me was knowing exactly what I was going to end up with. I've got no skills to bring to the table in terms of car building and have no interest in taking up a new hobby or spending years in a shed or workshop learning how to build a car. All my research indicated that the Hawk cars needed a lot more fettling and sourcing of donor parts from various places and are more old-tech rather than being a pretty much fully developed and modern stand alone product like the LB. To be fair, that's reflected in the much increased cost of the LB but it made sense for me.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff