Sportster Chassis dimensions

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Message originally posted by: Eric Dahlberg
Hello everyone,
I have recently fallen in love with 7esque cars and am planning on building a locost using a BMW 325e as a donor. I really enjoy the look of the Marlin roadster, but can't afford a kit - let alone shpping from overseas.

I am hoping to get some dimensions and information on the chassis.

What size tubing is used? How do the dimensions compare to a Lotus7/Locost/Caterham?
I am especially interested in dimensions in the engine bay area. The M20 engine I plan on using is much taller than what most people use in a "book" locost.

Does anyone have a good series of pictures of their chassis? What about the Marlin CD/assembly book?

I am mostly trying to get close in look to the sportster, but if you have the time for lots of measurements or CAD drawings etc, I would gladly accept them.

Thanks,
Eric

[pnutter21]

Re: Sportster Chassis dimensions

Hi Eric,
post your email address and i'll send you some pictures of the chasis before I started work,
regards

Peter

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Sportster Chassis dimensions

Message originally posted by: Eric Dahlberg
Thanks Peter that would be fantastic!
My email is eric.dahlberg(at)gmail.com
dont be afraid to send any higher resolution pics - I can handle quite a few pictures.
Thanks for the help,
Eric

[Patrick]

Re: Sportster Chassis dimensions

There's a few pictures on my site dotted about the place:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/ in Marlin Factory Visit/Collection and close ups in Construction. The manual covers the ford donor vehicle. The BMW "manual" is a CD with a set of pictures.

[amalgamated users from prior forum]

Re: Sportster Chassis dimensions

Message originally posted by: Eric Dahlberg
Patrick - I have been ogling (spelled right?)your site for days now. You are doing exactly what I want to be!
When you painted your rocker cover, is that the same POR 15 silver, masked off and then covered with a black POR? It looks more like you painted the whole thing black and then polished the raised areas to bare metal.
I am still hoping for some ballpark dimensions.
The frame styles of Marlin vs. locost are much more different than I thought, but I'd like to see if what I have planned (a MxSorley +442 chassis)is at least close. I'm worried about fitting all of that stuff into a tiny space.
Does the Marlin use the stock BMW radiator, or something smaller? That would help me with the front dimensions.
The length of the sides of the engine bay, and height from bottom of rail to max height of scuttle area would be good to know too. Anyone have time to run out to their garage?

Patrick or anyone else - any way I could download a copy of the CD, or get a collection of your photos on a DVD??? I really love your build site - very nicely done.

Thanks everyone,
Eric

[Patrick]

Re: Sportster Chassis dimensions

Hi Eric

Thanks! I can sort out a ZIP of all our high res photo's for you to download.

Richard did the work on the rocker cover. He cleaned it up, sanded and polished before painting black (took a long time!). Then masked the raised bits, sprayed and cleaned it up. All the raised parts are polished metal. The masking reduced the amount of clean up work, but I would guess you could probably spray the whole lot black and then polish down afterwards - although you run a higher risk of damaging the black pain by accident then.

The radiator does not fit. I ended up buying the BMW one from Marlin which turned out to be from a car with an M10 engine. I can measure up my front end next time I'm in the garage and let you know.

Thank you,

Patrick

[Patrick]

Re: Sportster Chassis dimensions

Hi Eric, email on its way to you with a link