Another Newbie !
Discussion
Hello Ultima Forum !
This is my first post....... I have been following things here for a while, and getting some useful tips, aso thought it time to make a contribution.
I have previously built 2 westfields, a cobra and had a hand in a number of other projects and have always been interested in carrying out an Ultima project. On the basis I could not justify the expense of a new build Ultima I was initially considering a Noble, Tuscan or F328.......but eventually I saw the light (and a potentially cost effective way to Ultima ownership) and bought the ultima GTR ‘winter project’ advertised on here in October last year.
It is a black one, 05 reg, Supercharged SBC, Getrag box, Intrax shocks, AP brakes etc, and originally had the registration V80 GTR. When first built, it had a bespoke cream leather interior that Huggy Bear would have been proud of. When I bought it it had been little used for 3 years, was completely dismantled by the previous owner (Hi Russ) and was liberally spread around his workshop and garden......a sad sight but a worthy project....
My aim is to refurbish and completely rebuild it to, broadly, standard Ultima specification and more in line with my view of what an Ultima should be........i.e. a bit more understated than its previous incarnation.....I gave myself a year to complete it.
As for progress, it has so far been largely painless...interior is now complete, as is 95% of mechanical build. First engine start planned for next couple of weeks.....will find out then if there are any problems with it as I have not heard it running .......following that it needs a bunch of work on the rear clip and doors to get them up to scratch....then on with the rear wing, in with the windscreen and off for an MoT.
from this:
to this so far:
This is my first post....... I have been following things here for a while, and getting some useful tips, aso thought it time to make a contribution.
I have previously built 2 westfields, a cobra and had a hand in a number of other projects and have always been interested in carrying out an Ultima project. On the basis I could not justify the expense of a new build Ultima I was initially considering a Noble, Tuscan or F328.......but eventually I saw the light (and a potentially cost effective way to Ultima ownership) and bought the ultima GTR ‘winter project’ advertised on here in October last year.
It is a black one, 05 reg, Supercharged SBC, Getrag box, Intrax shocks, AP brakes etc, and originally had the registration V80 GTR. When first built, it had a bespoke cream leather interior that Huggy Bear would have been proud of. When I bought it it had been little used for 3 years, was completely dismantled by the previous owner (Hi Russ) and was liberally spread around his workshop and garden......a sad sight but a worthy project....
My aim is to refurbish and completely rebuild it to, broadly, standard Ultima specification and more in line with my view of what an Ultima should be........i.e. a bit more understated than its previous incarnation.....I gave myself a year to complete it.
As for progress, it has so far been largely painless...interior is now complete, as is 95% of mechanical build. First engine start planned for next couple of weeks.....will find out then if there are any problems with it as I have not heard it running .......following that it needs a bunch of work on the rear clip and doors to get them up to scratch....then on with the rear wing, in with the windscreen and off for an MoT.
from this:
to this so far:
Hi Stu
I knew this car very well in its first incarnation.
Lee the original builder, would have been horrified to see what had happened to the car after he emigrated whilst it was left standing.
He was also on about a second build, much more of a stripped out racer, so i'm sure he would be pleased to see the work you have carried out.
It's looking good. Do you think you will be driving by the end of the summer?
Dave
I knew this car very well in its first incarnation.
Lee the original builder, would have been horrified to see what had happened to the car after he emigrated whilst it was left standing.
He was also on about a second build, much more of a stripped out racer, so i'm sure he would be pleased to see the work you have carried out.
It's looking good. Do you think you will be driving by the end of the summer?
Dave
Hi Dave
Good to hear someone who knew this car well first time round.....obviously had lots spent on it....certainly had all the right bits and very impressive interior. As for driving at the end of the Summer....well if the motor has no horrors in store then that should be about right. All ancilliaries are now on and I just need to drill and tap the oil filter sandwich plate for the Stack temp sensor...then should be able to get it started.
Stu
Good to hear someone who knew this car well first time round.....obviously had lots spent on it....certainly had all the right bits and very impressive interior. As for driving at the end of the Summer....well if the motor has no horrors in store then that should be about right. All ancilliaries are now on and I just need to drill and tap the oil filter sandwich plate for the Stack temp sensor...then should be able to get it started.
Stu
Looking good and welcome Mr Pid 
Looks like the Weiand 177 onthe SBC - same as I had on my old GTR. Make sure you get the cooling right, there's not a lot of airflow around it once the rear clip is on and it's important to give it a decent suppply of fresh, cool air to stop it leaning out.
Looking forward to tracking your progress
Looks like the Weiand 177 onthe SBC - same as I had on my old GTR. Make sure you get the cooling right, there's not a lot of airflow around it once the rear clip is on and it's important to give it a decent suppply of fresh, cool air to stop it leaning out.
Looking forward to tracking your progress
Hi Stig
Good to hear from you. I have been using both your GTR and CAN AM build sites as a really useful resource.....great job and properly professional....all round you cover my build with similar engine to your GTR (mines AS dynoed at 605 hp....when new !)and box from your CAN AM.
I have read the various issues you had regarding cooling with the supercharged engine. I have a new aluminium fabricated rad that came with the project and have put a fan on the oil cooler....linked to the rad thermostat and fan override switch. I have also changed the grills on this car....they were sheet ally with round holes in....not very airflow friendly. I am fitting grill material similar to the factory but with coarser perforations....should help airflow particularly at radiator exit. So far have got the std rad fans but on the basis that the profans are a direct swap I will wait and see how I get on.
Today....filled with oil....checked starter....fuel pumps etc....insurance starts tomorrow (if it ends in a ball of fire at least I am insured even if the wife never speaks to me again)....should have big noise in next day or two !......v excited.
Good to hear from you. I have been using both your GTR and CAN AM build sites as a really useful resource.....great job and properly professional....all round you cover my build with similar engine to your GTR (mines AS dynoed at 605 hp....when new !)and box from your CAN AM.
I have read the various issues you had regarding cooling with the supercharged engine. I have a new aluminium fabricated rad that came with the project and have put a fan on the oil cooler....linked to the rad thermostat and fan override switch. I have also changed the grills on this car....they were sheet ally with round holes in....not very airflow friendly. I am fitting grill material similar to the factory but with coarser perforations....should help airflow particularly at radiator exit. So far have got the std rad fans but on the basis that the profans are a direct swap I will wait and see how I get on.
Today....filled with oil....checked starter....fuel pumps etc....insurance starts tomorrow (if it ends in a ball of fire at least I am insured even if the wife never speaks to me again)....should have big noise in next day or two !......v excited.
Mr Pid said:
Hi Stig
Good to hear from you. I have been using both your GTR and CAN AM build sites as a really useful resource.....great job and properly professional....all round you cover my build with similar engine to your GTR (mines AS dynoed at 605 hp....when new !)and box from your CAN AM.
I have read the various issues you had regarding cooling with the supercharged engine. I have a new aluminium fabricated rad that came with the project and have put a fan on the oil cooler....linked to the rad thermostat and fan override switch. I have also changed the grills on this car....they were sheet ally with round holes in....not very airflow friendly. I am fitting grill material similar to the factory but with coarser perforations....should help airflow particularly at radiator exit. So far have got the std rad fans but on the basis that the profans are a direct swap I will wait and see how I get on.
Today....filled with oil....checked starter....fuel pumps etc....insurance starts tomorrow (if it ends in a ball of fire at least I am insured even if the wife never speaks to me again)....should have big noise in next day or two !......v excited.
Nice one Good to hear from you. I have been using both your GTR and CAN AM build sites as a really useful resource.....great job and properly professional....all round you cover my build with similar engine to your GTR (mines AS dynoed at 605 hp....when new !)and box from your CAN AM.
I have read the various issues you had regarding cooling with the supercharged engine. I have a new aluminium fabricated rad that came with the project and have put a fan on the oil cooler....linked to the rad thermostat and fan override switch. I have also changed the grills on this car....they were sheet ally with round holes in....not very airflow friendly. I am fitting grill material similar to the factory but with coarser perforations....should help airflow particularly at radiator exit. So far have got the std rad fans but on the basis that the profans are a direct swap I will wait and see how I get on.
Today....filled with oil....checked starter....fuel pumps etc....insurance starts tomorrow (if it ends in a ball of fire at least I am insured even if the wife never speaks to me again)....should have big noise in next day or two !......v excited.
Glad to hear the site's are still proving useful!
Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff