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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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PostPosted: September 7, 2016, 12:29 am 
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Joined: November 11, 2013, 4:47 am
Posts: 1617
Location: No. Nevada
Finally had some money in my pocket at the right time!
My neighbor, a long time fabricator, died of old age last week.
He did it all in his day, hot rod frames to wrought iron.
Today his family was cleaning out his shop and selling off the tools.
No one taking over the business, too bad.

Got some pallet shelving and the build table.
Not sure what the table base is from, it has twin jack screws to raise and lower it.
His daughter said it also tilts but I have not found a way to do that yet.
Not sure what the motorized three jaw chuck down below is for.

Thinking about trying to also buy his slow speed cold saw, the type with metal blades.
Had one before and really liked the clean and precise cuts with no work-hardening.
Pretty expensive just to chop metal, maybe......

This table along with my welders and recently acquired Dio Tipo 61 body should mean that my long held dream of a nice light Alfa-Romeo based Italian look special may be realized at last.
Sevenish type chassis, all Alfa drive-train, suspension, and brakes from a single '74 donor.
That does mean a live rear axle with limited slip which should be much simpler to do than my IRS GT6 project.
Intent is to end up about half as heavy as original and twice as stiff in the chassis.
Track 50" and 90" +- wheelbase.
Engine only makes about 120 HP but it's all classic Alfa Twin-Cam and Weber goodness.

The only bad news is that I really cannot get too deep into the Dio/Alfa until at least one of my other projects is much further along. :chev:
But that does not prevent planning.

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PostPosted: September 7, 2016, 8:30 am 
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Joined: October 19, 2012, 9:25 pm
Posts: 3365
Location: Summerville, SC
That looks like a base from an old drafting table. Nice score!

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OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216


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PostPosted: September 7, 2016, 11:00 am 
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Joined: October 24, 2008, 2:13 pm
Posts: 5326
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA
That's a great score on the build table. Did they let you spend some time looking through his shop too? You might find some other very useful stuff like for layout, drilling, reaming, etc., etc.

Is the Dio Tipo 61 body you have modeled off the Maserati race car? Do you have any photos of it? That sounds very interesting, indeed. What not do the full birdcage chassis instead of a 7-esque one?

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


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PostPosted: September 7, 2016, 9:13 pm 
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Joined: November 11, 2013, 4:47 am
Posts: 1617
Location: No. Nevada
Lots of other good stuff if I had a lot more money.
Mostly welding/fab stuff but high dollar.
Got the table cheap because they had no way to move it since it's so big and HEAVY!
Got some pallet shelves for another $100 plus a few odds and ends.

The Dio Tipo sort of looks like a Maserati, but not really.
Actually an AMBRO Special body from the vintage days.
Still in production at about $6,500.00
Not what I paid! :wink:
Company already asked if I want to become a dealer for them. :shock:
Lets see how this build goes before doing that.

The Dio is typical of the old school kits, virtually no build manual, no chassis, no body supports, you pretty much have to do all of your own design.
So pretty much in the Locost mode.
I am getting a set of their space frame prints but expect that I will be modifying them substantially.
Will probably be looking for advice here.

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http://www.diocars.com/cars-for-sale/

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Last edited by RichardSIA on October 23, 2017, 11:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: September 7, 2016, 10:00 pm 
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Joined: January 1, 2015, 1:55 pm
Posts: 327
Congratulations on your Dio body and build table. My home town, and where I live today is Elizabethtown, NY. I met a gentleman by the name of Bill Ames years ago in Elizabethtown. Bill was from Minneapolis. (I lived there at one time too.) Bill and a partner created the AMBROS. Style wise it's a combo of a Lister Knobbly and Maserati type 61. I built a few cars of my own and competed in some events at Gateway International Raceway. I met Bill Bonadio there and his DIO. He had purchased the molds from Bill Ames. Bonadio's car, small block Ford powered is very fast.

Have fun with your build!


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