stafford1500
stafford1500 Reader
5/1/15 12:06 p.m.
JThw8 wrote: That green bar would actually probably tie in to the top tube or behind the torsion tubes looking at the actual mock up photo and remembering where the mounts are.

The diagram you made and the correction of the green adjuster to the upper torsion bar tube will work just fine. The endplates effectively make the wing work like a bigger (wider) wing. If the existing endplates don't interfere with any hardware, extend them back and down.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
5/1/15 12:47 p.m.

Thanks again for the great input Steve!

ultraclyde
ultraclyde UltraDork
5/1/15 12:54 p.m.

I'm sure you thought of this, but on the drawing you posted, when you pivot the wing steeper, the front edge will drop lower. If you really get the Lizard low in the end, it might get pretty close to the pavement. I'm not an aero guy but I would think it could stall your belly pan if you ever get to that too. That's the only reason I could see to use a pivot point along the front edge - constant ground clearance.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
5/1/15 1:14 p.m.
ultraclyde wrote: I'm sure you thought of this, but on the drawing you posted, when you pivot the wing steeper, the front edge will drop lower. If you really get the Lizard low in the end, it might get pretty close to the pavement. I'm not an aero guy but I would think it could stall your belly pan if you ever get to that too. That's the only reason I could see to use a pivot point along the front edge - constant ground clearance.

I did think of it but the mounts are already built into the wing and I'm trying to not make this any more of a project than it has to be. I need to get back to all the things I put off for the last 4 months :) If I end up lowering the front more I can always redo the mounts.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
5/27/15 6:29 p.m.

Just in case everyone thought I had forgotten about this project, its wing time. I was able to make up the lower struts and mounts today. They are a nice tight slip fit so they will just be pinned for easy installation and removal.

This is how it will sit at its lowest angle of attack. Any lower and the side plates foul the suspension. I wanted to mount the wing lower but that meant an even higher angle of attack. The top mounts will have 4-5" of travel so it can be raised up for even more if needed. Please disregard the fact that my welder is sitting right next to my gas can....I certainly did until I noticed it after welding on the mounts...ugh, I need to work on my situational awareness.

Next local autocross is June 14th. Its at Bader Field which is an old airstrip so it has some nice fast courses, should be a lot of fun. There is a double in July so I'll probably hit that as well but....

This one is going up for sale. I did what I set out to do and I'm having fun with it so no hurry to sell but I need the space back and the money can certainly be put to good use around here with other projects. Keep a look out for a for sale thread to pop up in the open classifieds (this one isn't near challenge price sorry) The price will probably mean I'll be keeping it awhile still but I'm also looking for some trades which I may be able to get when it hits the VW sites. (VW Thing or a nice VW based Trike are high on the list)

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
5/29/15 9:01 p.m.

Did the top mounts tonite. These were a little tricky as they need to be in the right line so the supports can telescope in and out.

Works pretty good, has nice adjustability.

Side plates installed, almost ready to go. Need to get some pins and drill for those.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/13/15 10:51 a.m.

Finally its Autox weekend! Finished the wing install and got my numbers on

Started gathering all my stuff for Sunday and had to deliver that Kawasaki I've been working on for my buddies wife today so I go to grab my helmet and......nope. No where to be found. I may have left it at the Mitty. It was out of date anyway but our local group isn't too picky. Still it was time for a new one I guess. I went out this morning to get one.

And found THIS!! How perfect is that for the Lot Lizard? Sadly they did not have it in my sized and I couldn't wait on a special order so its not what I got. I has a sad.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/14/15 2:59 p.m.

FAIL! :(

Well the car lunched its throwout bearing coming off the trailer, I thought I heard something from it down at the Mitty but forgot about it by the time I got home. Pulled the motor right there in the parking lot to the amazment of many people but the bearing was too shot to do anything with. We shall rebuild.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/14/15 6:53 p.m.

Carnage photo...

bgkast
bgkast UberDork
6/14/15 8:54 p.m.

That helmet is fantastic

sanyarcosean
sanyarcosean Reader
6/15/15 6:22 a.m.

Bright side..... now you have time to order that helmet in your size... :-)

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/15/15 7:24 a.m.
sanyarcosean wrote: Bright side..... now you have time to order that helmet in your size... :-)

Sadly no, I had to deliver a motorcycle on saturday so I had to get a new helmet that day.

JThw8
JThw8 UltimaDork
6/17/15 10:49 a.m.

Bad idea of the day, found this...

Clean title, cheap price. Would be an interesting way to make the Lot Lizard street legal.

sanyarcosean
sanyarcosean Reader
6/17/15 11:11 a.m.

I love the way you think! that's been for sale for a long time.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/17/15 11:19 a.m.
sanyarcosean wrote: I love the way you think! that's been for sale for a long time.

I really kinda have myself gearing up for Wartburg build mode so not sure I want to get into this level of project, but it's tempting.

Apexcarver
Apexcarver PowerDork
6/17/15 12:58 p.m.

Needs more Deserter GS

Or at least Manx / Manx clone

You sure there isnt a way to title a sandrail in your state? Have a friend in another state who can title it for you?

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/17/15 1:09 p.m.

Fiberglass buggy doesn't make the titling process any easier than sandrail

There IS a way to do it, its just a huge pain in the ass and not worth it to me to go through it.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/22/15 6:52 p.m.

15 minutes from my house...just sayin

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/5047448073.html

Photo in case ad gets deleted. Has a title, would make an interesting street legal Lot Lizard ;)

Dusterbd13
Dusterbd13 UltraDork
6/22/15 7:18 p.m.

Oh dear God YES!

might have to narrow the body for appropriate ridiculous-ness. Or widen for full can-am flavor.

Either way, you have to do this. I'll even send you $20 just to see it happen.

Wally
Wally MegaDork
6/22/15 7:18 p.m.

I like the bug body better. I missed out on a home built buggy last summer on a shortened pan. I thought of shortening a Thing into a two door to register it.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/22/15 7:27 p.m.
Dusterbd13 wrote: Oh dear God YES! might have to narrow the body for appropriate ridiculous-ness. Or widen for full can-am flavor. Either way, you have to do this. I'll even send you $20 just to see it happen.

If you can get 39 of your friends to join you I'll do it ;) Right now the boss is not too keen on any more money being spent on "that thing" I'm thinking fit it over as is then see what needs to move where to cover the tires enough to be "legal"

Wally wrote: I like the bug body better. I missed out on a home built buggy last summer on a shortened pan. I thought of shortening a Thing into a two door to register it.

Another 'vert bug has shown up local too that would be good for it. But I love the idea of pissing off a lot of purists with a 'vette body ;)

Speaking of pissing off purists, pleast dont cut up a Thing.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/22/15 7:32 p.m.

Oh, and it would absolutely need to get the full Corvette Summer treatment in case I hadn't mentioned it ;)

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/22/15 7:40 p.m.

Ok, I measured. Good news I dont need much extra width, vette is 69", LL is 72" Id need to stretch the LL by 12" or shrink the vette by 12" for the length but that's doable...Im thinking stretch the frame on the LL, easy to do.

JThw8
JThw8 PowerDork
6/22/15 7:45 p.m.

The debate is raging now

Corvette summer

or Death Race

Im still partial to Corvette Summer but I'll admit the Death Race car fits the Lot Lizard theme.

I'm so glad I dont have the money right now or I'd seriously build this.

Wally
Wally MegaDork
6/22/15 8:21 p.m.

In reply to JThw8:

If you cut the Vette between the door and the front wheel it looks like it would come close to the Death Race car

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