Newbie - Help Please
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I have decided to can my current project and switch to building ann Ultima instead - reason is my current project is all custom engineering and has run away with tens of thousands of pounds and needs tens of thousands more, so I am going to cut my losses and run. The Ultima package has all of the thinking, engineering and designing done for me already so I might with a bit of thought and a fair tail wind actually manage to put one together :-)
Now the rub, Ted was a great host when I went to visit the factory and I was blown away by the quality of everything and the sheer "normality" of the guys and the place. Only in Britain could you build the wolrd's fastest supercar behind Morrisons :-) ... quintessentially British ! Ted Kindly took me for a spin in a GTR which was not a problem to get in and out of (I am 6'2 and 16 1/2 stone). However, there is currently no Can Am demonstrator to try as a comparison so I am hovering between the two.
Ted assures me that ther Can Am drives the same, is no louder, has no wind noise and is "right".
Can I please ask those guys who have Can Ams :
Is it OK to get in and out of with the soft top on ?
Is it any noisier than a GTR ?
Generally, what are the differnces in living with a Can Am vs a GTR ? Of course I will track it but (please don't throw things) I want to build a road going supercar not a track day weapon, so I will be trimming it like a production car not a racer.
Any feedback would be really helpful as I will need to spec the cage to go on top of the spaceframe before I order the chassis.
Many Thanks
Andy F
I have decided to can my current project and switch to building ann Ultima instead - reason is my current project is all custom engineering and has run away with tens of thousands of pounds and needs tens of thousands more, so I am going to cut my losses and run. The Ultima package has all of the thinking, engineering and designing done for me already so I might with a bit of thought and a fair tail wind actually manage to put one together :-)
Now the rub, Ted was a great host when I went to visit the factory and I was blown away by the quality of everything and the sheer "normality" of the guys and the place. Only in Britain could you build the wolrd's fastest supercar behind Morrisons :-) ... quintessentially British ! Ted Kindly took me for a spin in a GTR which was not a problem to get in and out of (I am 6'2 and 16 1/2 stone). However, there is currently no Can Am demonstrator to try as a comparison so I am hovering between the two.
Ted assures me that ther Can Am drives the same, is no louder, has no wind noise and is "right".
Can I please ask those guys who have Can Ams :
Is it OK to get in and out of with the soft top on ?
Is it any noisier than a GTR ?
Generally, what are the differnces in living with a Can Am vs a GTR ? Of course I will track it but (please don't throw things) I want to build a road going supercar not a track day weapon, so I will be trimming it like a production car not a racer.
Any feedback would be really helpful as I will need to spec the cage to go on top of the spaceframe before I order the chassis.
Many Thanks
Andy F
I think Andy it all about your image! ...or more to the point, the image you want to project!
Can-Am: Smart, Well-heeled, poser, babe-puller, party-animal, successful hairdresser (Doooh! - did I say that!), hero, rocket-man
GTR: Petrol-head, mean, danger-man, don't f wiv me, extreme racer, mines HUGE etc
Keith
Can-Am: Smart, Well-heeled, poser, babe-puller, party-animal, successful hairdresser (Doooh! - did I say that!), hero, rocket-man
GTR: Petrol-head, mean, danger-man, don't f wiv me, extreme racer, mines HUGE etc
Keith
I think the CanAm should be your target........But take care of your head passing the garaje door......;)Andy where are you based, maybe theres an owner close by to advise seriously.
From past experience of cab's + a topless kit a lot depends on what you want from it, and your local climate. Here, around lancashire you have to be brave to commit to a longish run out without your top on or at least have it very handy. If its just for track-days or a 30 minute blat locally then its less of a concern.
Personally its not that inspiring to keep stopping and starting whilst you sort the rag top and I want to use the car whenever its suits me, not just the weather. (slightly bitter having had bikes for many years too)
The CanAm is very eye-catching though!
From past experience of cab's + a topless kit a lot depends on what you want from it, and your local climate. Here, around lancashire you have to be brave to commit to a longish run out without your top on or at least have it very handy. If its just for track-days or a 30 minute blat locally then its less of a concern.
Personally its not that inspiring to keep stopping and starting whilst you sort the rag top and I want to use the car whenever its suits me, not just the weather. (slightly bitter having had bikes for many years too)
The CanAm is very eye-catching though!
I have spoken to a guy today who has owned both and I think the GTR will be a better bet given the climate, also it is easier to get in and out of than a can am with a soft top :-)
Not about image to me :-) I think both look great
I am in Telford so if there is a can am close by I would be seriously grateful fo a look :-)
Not about image to me :-) I think both look great
I am in Telford so if there is a can am close by I would be seriously grateful fo a look :-)
AndyGTR said:
I have spoken to a guy today who has owned both and I think the GTR will be a better bet given the climate, also it is easier to get in and out of than a can am with a soft top :-)
Not about image to me :-) I think both look great
I am in Telford so if there is a can am close by I would be seriously grateful fo a look :-)
im in market drayton with a GTR!!! Russ is in Cheshire Malpass he has one of each!! Martin is in Stoke with a GTR and a Sport.Not about image to me :-) I think both look great
I am in Telford so if there is a can am close by I would be seriously grateful fo a look :-)
you are welcome to pop round whenever suits.
i was in exactly the same delema after being at the factory and having a good chat with Ted. I ended up going back again to have a look..but i was fortunate that a canam was there for me to sit in.. Im 6.2 and i must admit GTR was easier to get into as you could lean on the roof as support.
All the guys on here are very very helpful and informative but the decision at the end of the day will always be yours.
Ive decided to go with the can-am rather than GTR, although dont get me wrong i love the GTR and have always wanted a GTR and ive only been in a GTR, but with a can-am you can alway take the top off and i would build a removable hardtop for it anyway. The GTR i feel a bit too claustrophobic as you cant open the windows and if you remove them at high speed the doors try to open up again..
There are a few Ultima guys arround the Telford area, one in Shrewsbury(kylemrushall with a GTR) and one in Telford (actuary (http://www.ultimagtr640.com/)who has just sold his GTR but is hoping to build a can-am when he is back on his feet).
The other Lord o master of both cars is 'stig' which he has 2 websites for both car builds (www.ultima-gtr.info and www.ultima-canam.info )which are really really worth reading and then having a chat with him..
Good luck either way you will have the best kit car available and the envy of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dom
All the guys on here are very very helpful and informative but the decision at the end of the day will always be yours.
Ive decided to go with the can-am rather than GTR, although dont get me wrong i love the GTR and have always wanted a GTR and ive only been in a GTR, but with a can-am you can alway take the top off and i would build a removable hardtop for it anyway. The GTR i feel a bit too claustrophobic as you cant open the windows and if you remove them at high speed the doors try to open up again..
There are a few Ultima guys arround the Telford area, one in Shrewsbury(kylemrushall with a GTR) and one in Telford (actuary (http://www.ultimagtr640.com/)who has just sold his GTR but is hoping to build a can-am when he is back on his feet).
The other Lord o master of both cars is 'stig' which he has 2 websites for both car builds (www.ultima-gtr.info and www.ultima-canam.info )which are really really worth reading and then having a chat with him..
Good luck either way you will have the best kit car available and the envy of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dom
highflyer said:
Andy drop me a mail, if you want a comparison between the two, I am near Malpas Cheshire.
Regards Russell
Hi Russell, tried to email but new members can't for the first 24 hours - would really appreciate some guidance albeit I think I have decided on a GTR for practicality's sake. Malpas is not far away if ever you had an hour for a coffee and a gasbag about how to build and run one of these things.Regards Russell
Kyle - consider the offer gratefully accepted, I will pop over to Market Drayton one day next week at your convenience
This place is a breath of fresh air compared to the forum I am used to being on with my current project - blinkered, cliquey people who DRASTICALLY over estimate the value and performance of their cars. I'm going to like it here I can tell :-)
AndyGTR said:
highflyer said:
Andy drop me a mail, if you want a comparison between the two, I am near Malpas Cheshire.
Regards Russell
Hi Russell, tried to email but new members can't for the first 24 hours - would really appreciate some guidance albeit I think I have decided on a GTR for practicality's sake. Malpas is not far away if ever you had an hour for a coffee and a gasbag about how to build and run one of these things.Regards Russell
Kyle - consider the offer gratefully accepted, I will pop over to Market Drayton one day next week at your convenience
This place is a breath of fresh air compared to the forum I am used to being on with my current project - blinkered, cliquey people who DRASTICALLY over estimate the value and performance of their cars. I'm going to like it here I can tell :-)
AndyGTR said, this place is a breath of fresh air compared to the forum I am used to being on with my current project - blinkered, cliquey people who DRASTICALLY over estimate the value and performance of their cars. I'm going to like it here I can tell :-
That is, until you put your car up for sale, certain people stab you in the back !!
when mods etc have been made People assume the worst and publically air there concerns, instead of contacting the seller, whereas other people inform prospective buyers of your original purchase price, and encourage them into buying there own car that just happens to be for sale
so its not all Cadburys Roses
That is, until you put your car up for sale, certain people stab you in the back !!
when mods etc have been made People assume the worst and publically air there concerns, instead of contacting the seller, whereas other people inform prospective buyers of your original purchase price, and encourage them into buying there own car that just happens to be for sale
so its not all Cadburys Roses
Edited by highflyer on Friday 7th November 07:54
AndyGTR said:
When anything is up for sale people hover like vultures - I am about to get rid of a project I have become jaded with and I KNOW I will get raped when I sell it - have not even ordered the Ultima yet so do not expect to sell it for a LOOOONG time :-)
What is it you have been building?? My current project was to take a 1971 240Z that I bought in california and turn it into a modern supercar. The power to weight ratio would be about the same as the Ultima .... The only original part being the shell - everything else was new
However .....
I imported the car, stripped it, had it dipped at surface preparations to clean all the paint and sealer off, had a LHD to RHD conversion donne, Lonnger thicker chassis rails fitted, seam welded all over, half cage etc etc etc ...
Sorted out how to mount the LS2 / T56 drivetrain and then the problems started. Had to get a NISMO diff, subsequently changed for a Quaife ATB. Had to have billet aluminium diff mounts made - then realised that the drive shafts would explode so had companion flanges machined and GKN Lobro F1 style driveshafts made up. Next issue was the hubs ... so had billet aluminium 5 stud hubs made to replace the old pig iron ones from Datsun.
Suspension was a huge challenge to get right, camber plates for the top of each strut tower, adjustable coil overs where adjustable coil over were not supposed to go ... etc etc
Even down to brakes - standard brakes were similar to early 1970s Raleigh ones, remember those rubber blocks ? So everything had to be machined to suit ... very expensive and very time consuming.
At the end of the day no matter HOW much engineering went into the car I was always concerned about traction, handling would be spot on but putting the power down would be a challenge when you consider the engine is in the front and the BIGGEST rear tyres possible to fit, even under extended and stretched rear quarters would be 245 or 255 at a huge push. When Ted took me for a ride and popped my Ultima cherry I was frankly STAGGERED by the amount of traction from a 500BHP V8 on wet roads ... sold instantly.
This is the tip of the iceberg, I have not covered being ripped off by two seperate engineers, having stuff stolen by people I trusted and the endless money pit scenario.
The attraction of the Ultima is that I can do all of the building myself, calling on help if I get stuck ... the 240Z project relied on engineers to do most of the work for me, the quotes at each stage were OK but when the bill came it was usually three or four times higher than the quote and the one week timeframe had turned into three months.
I have a workshop but it is two hours drive from my house, there is sufficient space to store a couple of extra cars so I am wondering about renting out "winter storage space". It has a steel deadlocked security door, the roller shutter sinks into the ground, an alarm is being fitted linking to the owners house a hundred yards away and there is security lighting all round.
However .....
I imported the car, stripped it, had it dipped at surface preparations to clean all the paint and sealer off, had a LHD to RHD conversion donne, Lonnger thicker chassis rails fitted, seam welded all over, half cage etc etc etc ...
Sorted out how to mount the LS2 / T56 drivetrain and then the problems started. Had to get a NISMO diff, subsequently changed for a Quaife ATB. Had to have billet aluminium diff mounts made - then realised that the drive shafts would explode so had companion flanges machined and GKN Lobro F1 style driveshafts made up. Next issue was the hubs ... so had billet aluminium 5 stud hubs made to replace the old pig iron ones from Datsun.
Suspension was a huge challenge to get right, camber plates for the top of each strut tower, adjustable coil overs where adjustable coil over were not supposed to go ... etc etc
Even down to brakes - standard brakes were similar to early 1970s Raleigh ones, remember those rubber blocks ? So everything had to be machined to suit ... very expensive and very time consuming.
At the end of the day no matter HOW much engineering went into the car I was always concerned about traction, handling would be spot on but putting the power down would be a challenge when you consider the engine is in the front and the BIGGEST rear tyres possible to fit, even under extended and stretched rear quarters would be 245 or 255 at a huge push. When Ted took me for a ride and popped my Ultima cherry I was frankly STAGGERED by the amount of traction from a 500BHP V8 on wet roads ... sold instantly.
This is the tip of the iceberg, I have not covered being ripped off by two seperate engineers, having stuff stolen by people I trusted and the endless money pit scenario.
The attraction of the Ultima is that I can do all of the building myself, calling on help if I get stuck ... the 240Z project relied on engineers to do most of the work for me, the quotes at each stage were OK but when the bill came it was usually three or four times higher than the quote and the one week timeframe had turned into three months.
I have a workshop but it is two hours drive from my house, there is sufficient space to store a couple of extra cars so I am wondering about renting out "winter storage space". It has a steel deadlocked security door, the roller shutter sinks into the ground, an alarm is being fitted linking to the owners house a hundred yards away and there is security lighting all round.
AndyGTR said:
My current project was to take a 1971 240Z that I bought in california and turn it into a modern supercar. The power to weight ratio would be about the same as the Ultima .... The only original part being the shell - everything else was new
However .....
I imported the car, stripped it, had it dipped at surface preparations to clean all the paint and sealer off, had a LHD to RHD conversion donne, Lonnger thicker chassis rails fitted, seam welded all over, half cage etc etc etc ...
Sorted out how to mount the LS2 / T56 drivetrain and then the problems started. Had to get a NISMO diff, subsequently changed for a Quaife ATB. Had to have billet aluminium diff mounts made - then realised that the drive shafts would explode so had companion flanges machined and GKN Lobro F1 style driveshafts made up. Next issue was the hubs ... so had billet aluminium 5 stud hubs made to replace the old pig iron ones from Datsun.
Suspension was a huge challenge to get right, camber plates for the top of each strut tower, adjustable coil overs where adjustable coil over were not supposed to go ... etc etc
Even down to brakes - standard brakes were similar to early 1970s Raleigh ones, remember those rubber blocks ? So everything had to be machined to suit ... very expensive and very time consuming.
At the end of the day no matter HOW much engineering went into the car I was always concerned about traction, handling would be spot on but putting the power down would be a challenge when you consider the engine is in the front and the BIGGEST rear tyres possible to fit, even under extended and stretched rear quarters would be 245 or 255 at a huge push. When Ted took me for a ride and popped my Ultima cherry I was frankly STAGGERED by the amount of traction from a 500BHP V8 on wet roads ... sold instantly.
This is the tip of the iceberg, I have not covered being ripped off by two seperate engineers, having stuff stolen by people I trusted and the endless money pit scenario.
The attraction of the Ultima is that I can do all of the building myself, calling on help if I get stuck ... the 240Z project relied on engineers to do most of the work for me, the quotes at each stage were OK but when the bill came it was usually three or four times higher than the quote and the one week timeframe had turned into three months.
I have a workshop but it is two hours drive from my house, there is sufficient space to store a couple of extra cars so I am wondering about renting out "winter storage space". It has a steel deadlocked security door, the roller shutter sinks into the ground, an alarm is being fitted linking to the owners house a hundred yards away and there is security lighting all round.
the Ultima build will be a walk in the park after that!!However .....
I imported the car, stripped it, had it dipped at surface preparations to clean all the paint and sealer off, had a LHD to RHD conversion donne, Lonnger thicker chassis rails fitted, seam welded all over, half cage etc etc etc ...
Sorted out how to mount the LS2 / T56 drivetrain and then the problems started. Had to get a NISMO diff, subsequently changed for a Quaife ATB. Had to have billet aluminium diff mounts made - then realised that the drive shafts would explode so had companion flanges machined and GKN Lobro F1 style driveshafts made up. Next issue was the hubs ... so had billet aluminium 5 stud hubs made to replace the old pig iron ones from Datsun.
Suspension was a huge challenge to get right, camber plates for the top of each strut tower, adjustable coil overs where adjustable coil over were not supposed to go ... etc etc
Even down to brakes - standard brakes were similar to early 1970s Raleigh ones, remember those rubber blocks ? So everything had to be machined to suit ... very expensive and very time consuming.
At the end of the day no matter HOW much engineering went into the car I was always concerned about traction, handling would be spot on but putting the power down would be a challenge when you consider the engine is in the front and the BIGGEST rear tyres possible to fit, even under extended and stretched rear quarters would be 245 or 255 at a huge push. When Ted took me for a ride and popped my Ultima cherry I was frankly STAGGERED by the amount of traction from a 500BHP V8 on wet roads ... sold instantly.
This is the tip of the iceberg, I have not covered being ripped off by two seperate engineers, having stuff stolen by people I trusted and the endless money pit scenario.
The attraction of the Ultima is that I can do all of the building myself, calling on help if I get stuck ... the 240Z project relied on engineers to do most of the work for me, the quotes at each stage were OK but when the bill came it was usually three or four times higher than the quote and the one week timeframe had turned into three months.
I have a workshop but it is two hours drive from my house, there is sufficient space to store a couple of extra cars so I am wondering about renting out "winter storage space". It has a steel deadlocked security door, the roller shutter sinks into the ground, an alarm is being fitted linking to the owners house a hundred yards away and there is security lighting all round.
AndyGTR said:
I have a workshop but it is two hours drive from my house, there is sufficient space to store a couple of extra cars so I am wondering about renting out "winter storage space". It has a steel deadlocked security door, the roller shutter sinks into the ground, an alarm is being fitted linking to the owners house a hundred yards away and there is security lighting all round.
Andy - the place where I am building my GTR is also 2 hours from my house - that need not be any obstacle - I have been going almost a year now and I am hoping to be finished late next year. It's very enjoyable - the build - no need to be in any hurry.Best of luck with whatever you decide.
Regards
Kelvin
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