grover Posted October 11, 2000 Share Posted October 11, 2000 Has anyone ever converted a 7 from flared to cycle wings? Is it possible to fill the holes left from the flared arches without them being visible from the outside? I say this because I find that currently, the areodynamics are such that anything over about 80 and it's like a brick! Also I'd like to go over to wide track as the front's looking a bit tired and I don't know if this would be realistic with the width of the flared arches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted October 11, 2000 Share Posted October 11, 2000 I've seen some conversions done but they have always looked like a bodge! The only one I saw that was really good was 'cos it had been re-skinned by 'Arch Motors'. My personal opinion (well known on this subject); don't do it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red SLR Posted October 11, 2000 Share Posted October 11, 2000 The only way you will get a perfect finnish as Chris says it to get it re-skinned. Why not make the holes look like bullet holes - might start a new trend. Maybe a new system of cooling for the engine? X777CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted October 11, 2000 Share Posted October 11, 2000 Seriously, I like that idea! I saw a converted car a few months ago and it looked dreadful. The holes had been 'filled' with poppers, like those used for the roof. I think bullet holes would look cool! Or, a bit silly, pictures of birds/other sports cars/whatever with a red cross through them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted October 11, 2000 Share Posted October 11, 2000 The other part of your question: For widetrack, to be legal, you need cycle wings. Biggest benefit is easier access to the engine bay when working on the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red SLR Posted October 11, 2000 Share Posted October 11, 2000 Maybe just one on the back. That would look quite good me thinks....... X777CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted October 12, 2000 Share Posted October 12, 2000 One cycle wing at the back! I don't think so Simon!!! I know what you meant! (See Peters comment) The worst I've seen lately was on a forecourt in Kent (Sept '00) and just had rusting screws in the riv-nuts and a big rusty bolt. Dreadful doesn't sum it up. S£$t job might!!!!!!!! Can't believe a dealer would expect good money for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casbar Posted October 12, 2000 Share Posted October 12, 2000 My mate converted his 89 live axle from flared to cycle wings a couple of years ago. It still looks really good. A body shop filled the holes with some kind of special fibreglass. The car had to be re-sprayed, but from the outside you can't tell it used to have cycle wings. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted October 12, 2000 Share Posted October 12, 2000 Good point. Is the car alli or painted? If it's painted then just full the holes and respray the sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted October 12, 2000 Leadership Team Share Posted October 12, 2000 Don't do it. You'll devalue the car, and even if the holes look good when filled, there is often a tendency for them to reappear over time because of the expansion levels of differing materials (hence the use of "lead filling" by traditional coach-builders). The aerodynamics of the car are more effected by the nose and the screen, don't overplay the wings. Peter, how come wide track gives better engine access??? Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted October 12, 2000 Share Posted October 12, 2000 Not widetrack, silly. teeth.gif Cycle wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted October 12, 2000 Share Posted October 12, 2000 Better access, poorer looks! My opinion!!! (That should wind up a few). Grover. Has the car still got the full 'screen? Ask Dave Hollington for a view on this 'air brake'!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted October 12, 2000 Leadership Team Share Posted October 12, 2000 Sussed that one out Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 13, 2000 Share Posted October 13, 2000 I'm thinking of going to cycle wings on my new (to me) HPC .... Its a VERY dark green (Jag racing green apparently) - I was thinking of putting a black rubber grommet type thing in each hole (trimmed to fit hole exactly) and painting the top the matching colour to the car - I was hoping this would be almost unnoticeable...but by the sound of this discussion that may not be the case? How does the cycle wing attach to the front suspension area? Do I need any new bits around that area? concerned of Southampton..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 13, 2000 Share Posted October 13, 2000 (contents deleted as posted to wrong topic)... Edited by - Dave W on 13 Oct 2000 11:22:11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted October 14, 2000 Share Posted October 14, 2000 Why not replace the "rusty" bolts in the rivnuts by mushroom head anodised ali bolts, and put anosised ali cap washers on the heads of the two large bolts. You can get them in various colors matching the body of your car. I do not believe that they will be more visible than with the flare wings and the normal bolts which, to me , are quite visible. If the value of your car was lower after conversion to cycle wings, you could always go back to the original setting, the threaded holes being well protected. Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted October 15, 2000 Share Posted October 15, 2000 Oh Pierre. Of all owners I had you down as one with taste! Any 'hole filler' ie bolt /cap/cover looks awful. Repeat. Re-skin or don't do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted October 16, 2000 Share Posted October 16, 2000 OK Chris, I admit that I have "just" been contemplating this sacrilege! My Seven is always in its original 40 th Anniversary Pearlescent ruby guise with the silver stripe and I am not planning to devalue it by doing so. Potential buyers in this country are pretty much on the "lotus" side rather than on the more modern look of the Caterhams. Anathema! My approach looking for ali caps and bolts was really more to find an elegant solution to the high visibility of those zinc plated bolts menacing to rust... Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted October 17, 2000 Share Posted October 17, 2000 OK Pierre; you're re-instated as a man of taste & class!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted October 17, 2000 Share Posted October 17, 2000 Thanks Chris. It is so good to be confirmed by a man of your quality! Best Regards, Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike ashurst Posted October 18, 2000 Share Posted October 18, 2000 DAVE W If you go to cycle wings you'll need to fit a pair of wing stays, one to each front upright. These cost just under £50 plus the dreaded from caterham. (It also means bleeding the brakes as the brake pipe goes through the stay). If you have 205/45 r16 tyres (A la HPC) you'll need to mention this because they are slightly different to the 185/60 r13 ones (I've just had to swap mine for this reason). If you're only contemplating 13"s I'll have a pair of stays going cheap. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted October 18, 2000 Share Posted October 18, 2000 And probably also different headlights brackets whose price I have never been able to find on the Caterham CD Rom. Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted October 18, 2000 Share Posted October 18, 2000 Plus you have to relocate the repeater indicators, or forget them altogether like many do. I made this conversion last year and think it is worthwhile. As my car is used for sprints I just put a dirty great race number background over the holes and it looks okay. When it comes to selling the car though, I will convert it back to clamshell wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Lydford Posted October 19, 2000 Share Posted October 19, 2000 blinding idea, just keep the orignal wings in case you ever wanted to convert the car nack to orignal, has anyone out there got a set of cycle wings and stays for a 1988 long cockpit with std front suspension, british racing green or yellow, cheers Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_hasking Posted October 19, 2000 Share Posted October 19, 2000 I saw something in the build manual indicating that cycle wings require a different steering rack (2.5 vs 2.75 turns?),with corresponding reduction in turning circle. I guess this is to avoid fouling of the wings against the body. cheers, Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now