Changes to #758 and on....

patrickt · #1 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 09:54 AM

Bob, what are the changes in bodies #758 and on that warranted a new manual? The only difference I could see was the mention of shims in adjusting the hub end float.

Bobcat · #2 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 10:10 AM

Patrickt .... I can tell you one change .... I think . I`m currently building #757 and went to install the 4 " oil cooler and it won`t fit . Seems the opening between the inside of the scoop and the sheet metal that the fittings go through is a little over 4 " and the total height of the cooler with support bracket and mounting bolts and clips is close to 4.5 " . I verified this with Rob , the oil cooler man at ERA yesterday . He says the cause appears to be that the body changed in the scoop area and the mounting sheet metal didn`t .... but they would check further. Since I have been unable to find the special tool to make it fit ( BIG hammer ??? ) , I`ll be installing the 6" cooler as soon as Peter sends it .
I have both manuals and it appears that more detail has been added to to the new manual to clarify some things and add more detail .

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobcat

I can tell you one change .... the 4 " oil cooler ... won`t fit ............ I`ll be installing the 6" cooler...

Ahh, the march of progress.

There's got to be something more to it than though.... Bob, whoa Bob...

Bobcat · #4 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 10:47 AM

Patrickt .... maybe there is , but when Rob told me that this change slipped by the guy who designed the sheet metal for the 4 " kit , I quit measuring and checking .... and Rob also said he couldn`t get it in . He also said this hadn`t been a problem in the past .... advantages of the new body

?? I`m not upset at all as the newer chassis / body has a lot of improvements ... and in any build , you run into some gremlins .

See ya

ZOERA-SC7XX · #5 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 11:07 AM

Completely new body and body mounts (better symetrically, cleaner mold, less prep), aluminum inner fender panels & trunk floor, cockpit floor is lower in chassis, aluminum trans tunnel, plus a few other misc. changes. The ERA evolves on a semi-regular basis.

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

Completely new body and body mounts (better symetrically, cleaner mold, less prep), aluminum inner fender panels & trunk floor, cockpit floor is lower in chassis, aluminum trans tunnel, plus a few other misc. changes.

And that is completely different from this stuff that started on #731 and above?

New body mounting tubes, at the nose opening and underneath the cowl.
New-style bottom radiator mounts.
New front frame horns, side tubing and bumper mounting system.
New aluminum front wheel splash panels. The rear panels are removable for battery and exhaust access.
New tubes from cowl to front suspension
Wider footboxes.
New original-style throttle mounting.
Original-style fresh air valves on both footboxes.
Original-style wiper mount on footbox.
New front battery support.
Curved outer cowl support tubes for wider footbox.
New formed outriggers from main rails to side rails
Slanted side rails for smooth transition from floor to door opening
New floor design.
Extra reinforcement for side intrusion protection.
New Aluminum tunnel.
Stronger door latch mounting system.
New rear splash panels.
Aluminum trunk panels

strictlypersonl · #7 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 11:41 AM

The changes mentioned by ZOERA began at #731. I put another break at 758 because we changed the steering gear and mounts (which actually haven't made it into the manual yet...).

As far as the body change mentioned by Bobcat, we're trying to figure out what's going on. Same mold, but the lower body seems to be 3/8" higher in the front relative to the chassis. Not a bad thing because the oil cooler scoop is really low.

patrickt · #8 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

The changes mentioned by ZOERA began at #731. I put another break at 758 because we changed the steering gear and mounts (which actually haven't made it into the manual yet...).

Well no wonder I couldn't find them.

Thanks for the update.

strictlypersonl · #9 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 01:03 PM

I swear (Framistan! Skazifrazicks!) that I had already made the changes but I must have gotten distracted along the way. Illustrations are done but didn't make it into the manual. It'll be fixed right after I do a few other things.

patrickt · #10 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

I swear (Framistan! Skazifrazicks!) that I had already made the changes but I must have gotten distracted along the way. Illustrations are done but didn't make it into the manual. It'll be fixed right after I do a few other things.

Well you have to chuckle that there are actually morons out there like me that are comparing new manuals with old manuals as soon as you release them just to see what gets changed and what stays the same.

strictlypersonl · #11 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 04:58 PM

You guys certainly keep me on my toes so much, I'm thinking of becoming a ballerina.

Bobcat · #12 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 05:07 PM

Hey Bob .... if you do that , do we get to see you in that cute little pink costume , complete with shoes

?? Maybe you could post some pictures ...

.

patrickt · #13 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobcat

Hey Bob .... if you do that , do we get to see you in that cute little pink costume, complete with shoes.

strictlypersonl · #14 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 06:40 PM

You guys have a strong streak of masochism...

Bobcat · #15 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 07:27 PM

Bob .... thanks for the compliment !! .... do you think you can talk Peter into posing for pictures with you ??? It would probably be the hit of Club Cobra

.

SSSammy · #16 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 07:49 PM

#745 here .. the cooler fit, but the struts that mount to the lower radiator bolts were too short by about 1.5". I fabbed new struts, pretty simple, with 1/2" alum bar from Home Depot. I don't know what this means relative to the body changes. But Bob may want to take note of the strut issue.

Sam

Bobcat · #17 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 08:12 PM

Sam .... thanks for the heads up on the struts . ERA is looking into this . Until they have an answer , I`m going to sit tight ... I have plenty of other things to do on the build .
Just FYI .... many years ago ( 20 + ) , I used to go to McKinney on business ...there was a Holiday Inn that I stayed at ... and I think it was the only motel in town at the time . Even back then , I thought McKinney was a neat town .

SSSammy · #18 (**permalink**) 04-24-2008, 08:28 PM

Bob .. you wouldn't recognize the place .. I believe it was the fastest growing municipality in TX if not the US last year. The HI is still there, new convention center just broke ground down the road.

Further info on the cooler .. it just barely fits between the sheet metal and the inside of the fiberglass scoop.

Sam

xracerbob · #19 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 07:21 PM

Whoa, now I have a "special" car with provenance that will certainly add tens of dollars to the selling price if and when that time ever comes. Waiting patiently does have its rewards after all.

Bobcat · #20 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 07:51 PM

I talked to Bob P. at ERA today .... and he says he will NOT wear the ballerina costume ... something about he did have some pride .
He also said he would be getting back to me on the 4 " cooler as he thinks they have a sheet metal modification that will allow it to work .... i.e. not modifying the existing one , but a new one . I`ll let you guys know what he comes up with . Xracer bob .... my guess is that will be incorporated into your build by then as yours is probably still a ways out .