Locost Lola and introduction...

ccrunner · **Posted:** Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:46 pm

JaysinSpaceman wrote:

Just a quick post here, I'm working. First I wanted to say thanx for all the replies. Second, CS3, I have an email out to the guy with the Climax we shall see what I get back, thanx for the link. I searched the blueprint site to no avail, lost of other Lola stuff but nothing for the MK1.

Joe, I would love to borrow your book and I would happily pay shipping both ways and take the best care of it while in my possession. I will PM you my address.

One of the reasons I am thinking that I might go with IRS is to match the 47 1/2" rear track width. The front will be easy to narrow but I am not sure that I would want to go through the trouble of narrowing a straight axle for the rear. IRS is easier to make the width I want, and it would be truer to the original Lola, but that doesn't mean straight axle is out of the question we will see as the plan starts to come together.

Back to work,
Jaysin

Hey Jaysin.. first off, welcome, and here's a rear IRS option... I'm at work and have no pics, but I've just narrowed a stock Miata rear IRS subframe by 9.5" to give me a rotor face to rotor face width of 49 inches (my car is silly small).. I'm keeping the stock Miata control arms and geometry.. The reason I'm posting about it is I'm still be able to squeeze a Ford 7.5 diff in the middle of the subframe- it's tight, but will go- maybe an option for your app should you choose...

cs3tcr · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:16 pm

Forgot that i had these on the camera:

kf2qd · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:41 pm

Love those tires. What are they? Most of the builds have tires that are way to wide. IMHO...

JaysinSpaceman · **Joined:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:53 pm **Posts:** 8

cs3,

Thanx for the pictures. I have been doing as much research as I can (work has been getting in the way) and collecting picture after picture, I must have 100+ total and 25 or 30 of those are pretty good chassis shots.

I haven't heard back from Joe yet and it's no worries, but I have been looking for a copy of the book he's talking about. I have searched for "Lola's First" but can't seem to find even a reference to it, can anyone verify the name?

I have looked at lots of pictures of the Subaru diffs and done a bunch of reading and I think that might just be the ticket so I will start keeping an eye out for a cheap one to use.

Thanx again guys and I will keep you posted as I progress in the research and hopefully I'll be able to start into some of the real work soon.

Jaysin

P.S. can someone give me an overall height and length of the Coventry Climax FW engine (just 'cuz my brain is working on the fitment of the fiat TC)?

JaysinSpaceman · **Joined:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:53 pm **Posts:** 8

kf2qd wrote:

Love those tires. What are they? Most of the builds have tires that are way to wide. IMHO...

Best I can find is that they are vintage CR65 Dunlop Racing tires about 4.5-15 front and 5.00-15 rears.

Jaysin

cs3tcr · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:59 pm

Jaysin,
Lola's First was written by David Pratley. Unfortunately, the hard cover edition is out of print and is worth something north of $200. There is a soft cover version of the book (which i bought a couple years ago) that might still be in print. If not, once Jack is done with my copy i can send it south, but i'm sure Joe will respond sooner than later.

As for the Climax dimensions, i've got an ad for the FWE which has dimensions, but it includes the breather on top of the cam cover. So, the overall height is 23 1/2" and length is roughly 22 1/2". The breather is about 1 1/2" tall, so that brings the over all height down a bit, and the length thats listed on the brochure includes the flywheel but not the very tip of the crank pulley. I can verify all these on the weekend if needed (thats the soonest i'll be at the garage).

Quote:

Love those tires. What are they? Most of the builds have tires that are way to wide. IMHO...

The tyres are vintage race Dunlops, they look amazing but cost a small fortune. I wish i could afford them for my car, but for the time being i'll stick with the very inexpensive Firestones.

Cheers,
Rod

Lotus19 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:01 pm

kf2qd wrote:

Love those tires. What are they? Most of the builds have tires that are way to wide. IMHO...

Look like period 5.00-15 Dunlops.

Joe

Lotus19 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:05 pm

cs3tcr wrote:

Lola's First was written by David Pratley. Unfortunately, the hard cover edition is out of print and is worth something north of $200.

Rod, Are you sure!!?? I have the hardcover, but I think it was only around 50 bucks. Good to know...

Joe

cs3tcr · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:57 pm

http://www.amazon.com/Lolas-First-D-Pratley/dp/1870519477

I was shocked at the price myself, its kreeping up to Ortenburger's Lotus Eleven book.

waltj · **Posted:** Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:02 am

Try this if you are looking for your own copy:
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=David+Pratley&bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&n=100090007&recentlyadded=all&sortby=17&tn=Lola%27s+First&x=57&y=5

Hope this works, but if it does not, it is Abe Books. The search there found 1 soft cover at about $80 shipped from UK and another site showing inv qty of 20 new hard cover for about $84 shipped from NJ. I think some of the amazon venders are Overly Proud of their wares.

edit for post sub spell chk

Walt

Lotus19 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:13 am

Jaysin,

Sent you a PM...

Joe

vroom · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:41 pm

Any body seen that Lolas First book ??? I am very interested in how the Lola skipped having one of those tubes and sheet metal bulkheads that ol' CAE Chapman seemed so fond of.

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Locost Lola and introduction...

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