Which Ultima - Advice Please!
Discussion
Strongly considering taking the plunge and getting an Ultima. Not interested in building one so will be looking for a used car - there seem to be a fair few around, at a good saving on original build cost too.
Any thoughts on - given a fairly open ended budget budget - which engine/box combo is best and are there any real 'must haves'. I'm particularly worried about cooling as there seem to be a lot of conflicting opinions on this. Don't won't this thread to become all about cooling though! - would appreciate general advice - even recommendations re. specific cars. Car will be used for serious track day work but must get me to the 'Ring and back in 'comfort'. Would like there to be scope for future developement in the car.
Any thoughts on - given a fairly open ended budget budget - which engine/box combo is best and are there any real 'must haves'. I'm particularly worried about cooling as there seem to be a lot of conflicting opinions on this. Don't won't this thread to become all about cooling though! - would appreciate general advice - even recommendations re. specific cars. Car will be used for serious track day work but must get me to the 'Ring and back in 'comfort'. Would like there to be scope for future developement in the car.
Pugsey said:
Strongly considering taking the plunge and getting an Ultima. Not interested in building one so will be looking for a used car - there seem to be a fair few around, at a good saving on original build cost too.
Any thoughts on - given a fairly open ended budget budget - which engine/box combo is best and are there any real 'must haves'. I'm particularly worried about cooling as there seem to be a lot of conflicting opinions on this. Don't won't this thread to become all about cooling though! - would appreciate general advice - even recommendations re. specific cars. Car will be used for serious track day work but must get me to the 'Ring and back in 'comfort'. Would like there to be scope for future developement in the car.
Any thoughts on - given a fairly open ended budget budget - which engine/box combo is best and are there any real 'must haves'. I'm particularly worried about cooling as there seem to be a lot of conflicting opinions on this. Don't won't this thread to become all about cooling though! - would appreciate general advice - even recommendations re. specific cars. Car will be used for serious track day work but must get me to the 'Ring and back in 'comfort'. Would like there to be scope for future developement in the car.
Pugsey, I can only speak from experience, but I would say....
Engine/box combo - have tried monster power Chevy and G50 and now have a more 'mild' (but still 400+hp) Chevy with Getrag. From experience (and looking at your current fleet), I'd opt for the Getrag (conventional central shift position). The engine is easily changed to whatever power you require, providing that the rest of the bits are up to it (cooling, brakes etc.)
Don't worry too much about cooling. Believe me, been there, done that. A lot is paranoia really. Disconnect the temp guage in most cars and I bet owners would rarely have a problem, but it's in our nature to dial-watch as we've pain stakingly put these things together in the most part. That said, I would recommend as a minimum, the uprated rad and probably fans too to be safe.
As for your final objective - a GT/Trackday hybrid, well, this will sound awfully biaised, but that's what I set out to do with the Can-Am - and succeeded. Have a look at the videos I've posted on PH TV to see it on the road and on track. Cruising video's are pretty boring as you can imagine, but it does that very well I can assure you
This isn't meant to be an advert, but my car is up for sale at the moment (just been into the garage and felt like a little cry) so if you'd like to know more, just drop me a line offline. No obligations of course.
As for development, that's easy and another reason I specced the car in the way that I did. For creature comfort, it's got everything, for performance it's monstrous and even then, it's got the potential to be far more 'track' if you feel so inclined. Just remove one engine, drop in another (and add dry/accusump if you really feel the need) and voila - anything up to 720hp is ready to go. As I said, everything else is already there.
Anwyay, ad. here www.pistonheads.com/sales/92706.htm but make sure you know what you're after before taking the plunge.
It would seem that Stig has covered pretty much everything and although my car is not yet on the road, I have been heavily involved for quite some time and have observed that once a few well documented issues have been resolved, Ultima ownership seems fairly trouble free and buying an already built model seems to be the most sensible way to go.
Thanks guys - particularly stig - sounds like a plan to make sure that the rest of the car is the right spec. and develope the engine over time.
Must confess hadn't considered a Can-Am. How useable is roof - ie do you have to creep around at 70mph if it's up.
Oh agree about black too - the one on the pics. site is stunning. Keen on orange aswell.
For no good reason other than I've raced a lot and it therefore seems more authentic, I actually quite fancy a right hand gear shift.
Must confess hadn't considered a Can-Am. How useable is roof - ie do you have to creep around at 70mph if it's up.
Oh agree about black too - the one on the pics. site is stunning. Keen on orange aswell.
For no good reason other than I've raced a lot and it therefore seems more authentic, I actually quite fancy a right hand gear shift.
Edited by Pugsey on Saturday 12th August 10:43
Edited by Pugsey on Saturday 12th August 10:53
Edited by Pugsey on Saturday 12th August 10:54
Can't spell! Edited by Pugsey on Saturday 12th August 10:57
I have known a couple of CanAm owners who have both said that the soft top is no problem. It seems to be good for any speed and from their words is waterproof.
On the spelling go to Google and download the Google tool bar. Not only does it make searches easier it also has a spell checker that can be used in forum posts.
Steve
On the spelling go to Google and download the Google tool bar. Not only does it make searches easier it also has a spell checker that can be used in forum posts.
Steve
I had my canam on the road for 2 yrs and the soft top is well up to the job, mine was used rain or shine and even in the snow so it was tested quite hard.
My advice for buying would be to look at quite a few in detail (even ones not for sale if necessary) as condition is as important as spec (maybe more so as spec can be upgraded).
If you are tracking the car look for an oil cooler, big wing sump and accsump as a minimum (or budget to add them) however dry sumping would be the ideal IMO.
Finally regarding the engine don't get lost in power figures as they are usually not comparable (unless dyno'd at the SAME engine builder), ask about the spec of the engine and compare that way instead. Anything with 400+bhp is going to feel and be mind blowingly fast anyhow.
My advice for buying would be to look at quite a few in detail (even ones not for sale if necessary) as condition is as important as spec (maybe more so as spec can be upgraded).
If you are tracking the car look for an oil cooler, big wing sump and accsump as a minimum (or budget to add them) however dry sumping would be the ideal IMO.
Finally regarding the engine don't get lost in power figures as they are usually not comparable (unless dyno'd at the SAME engine builder), ask about the spec of the engine and compare that way instead. Anything with 400+bhp is going to feel and be mind blowingly fast anyhow.
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