Mid- Engine Modified Sports

[manta22]

Thanks-- I hope so, too!

[robfrey]

Neil,
Do you have a photo bucket or similar account that you are pulling your img codes from?
I for one would like to see all photos of the build so far.

[manta22]

Robfrey;

I'm pulling these photos from my hard disk but they are also posted at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mantacars/photos/album/422677104/pic/list

Since it is a Yahoo page, you will need to sign up with a user name & password. There are lots (121 so far) of pictures of things that were later eliminated, modified, or junked, too so you will see things change as the time stamps increase. You can also see that this project has dragged on forever but more progress is being made lately.

Regards & Merry Christmas, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[robfrey]

Neil, have you made any progress lately? Pics?

[manta22]

Robfrey;

Yes, I've made a bit more progress but my e-mail has been down so I haven't posted for a few days. Pictures to come.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[manta22]

This is the latest bit of progress. I wanted to be able to power the car's electrical systen from an external source for starting, etc. The battery is not very accessible and it is in a battery box as well so I thought a high-current connector that is used for aircraft GPUs would do the trick-- they are rated as 500A continuous and 1000A for a short time. This connector also provides a plug to charge the car's battery.

The mounting bracket is a surplus 2024-T3 angle and a piece of 7075-T6. Lots of fun cutting out the oval hole for mounting the connector. All I have to do now is tighten the Hi-Locks. If you are not familiar with Hi-Locks, don't feel lonesome. They are like regular hex nuts but they are self-locking and are scored circumferencially so at the right tightening torque, the top shears off. No torque wrench needed! Cool little things.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[robfrey]

You do nice work Neil!
Keep them pictures coming, please.

[robfrey]

Neil, did you make any progress lately?

[manta22]

Despite having been down with a bad cold, I have done a bit more on the car. I just finished making rear hinges for the tilt-up rear body section and a pair on mounting brackets for a 10 lb fire bottle. Those will be riveted to the stressed aluminum panel across the bottom if the chassis. Photos to come.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[manta22]

I’ve spent some time trial fitting a few body panels on my Black Mirage. There is still quite a bit to do to get the fiberglass panels to fit the new chassis modifications. For example, the cockpit rear bulkhead needed to be cut so that it would fit into the roll cage. I may glass the upper & lower doors together and hinge it a la Lola T70; it would make a quick exit in an emergency somewhat easier.

The upper doors and side pod panels are not installed in these pictures. The blue tape on the front is where I may make a cut for a removable access panel.

[SteveM]

Schweet 

[Milwaukee Midget]

We've been staring at suspension and electrical components for so long that I'd forgotten just what an aggressive bodyline these things have.

Excellent looking car, Neil.

[manta22]

Thanks, Guys-- it is taking forever but it's getting there.


The body is a pretty close copy of a McLaren M8B Can-Am car but they (Manta Cars) converted it into a coupe instead of an open-cockpit so the aerodynamics should be good. It is pretty wide but it's also very low so the frontal area should not be too bad.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[saltwheels262]

very aero.

[lsrjunkie]

Looking awesome Neil!  I love the stacks sticking up out back! Should be pretty slick.