How are you getting your Stratos fix

[STR_Strat]

So on the basis we can't drive them for the foreseeable future, what modifications, upgrades and general tinkering activities are you finally going to get round to doing.

I currently have the sump off and have fitted a baffle kit that has been sitting on the shelf for a couple of years. I put it off by convincing myself I may as well wait for the first oil and filter change, but in reality I knew it was going to be a real PITA with the engine in situ.

Can't believe how I'm actually looking forward to self isolating in the garage instead of my home office tomorrow to re-fit it, even though I know it's going to be an even bigger PITA.

Stay healthy

Dave

[Moxox]

Any advice on sump removal Dave? It looks very tight to me (Toyota engine) and I read on some Lotus forums that the original, even after removing the bolts, is very firmly attached...

[STR_Strat]

Hi Marcus,

It is tight to get all the bolts out particularly on the right hand side where it sits above the chassis rail and yes it is well stuck on with Silicon but a very thin bladed scrapper will sort that out.

Almost forgot, the link pipe needs to come off as well if you are fitting a baffled sump.

[Fingers]

I'm part of a group of guys who get together early on a Sunday morning for a drive and breakfast once every couple of months. We normally meet about 6am and go for a good long drive somewhere for a feed and a laugh. I've suggested we all meet in a supermarket carpark about an hour before opening, then line up outside observing social distancing so we can still have a chat and drive.

[Fingers]

I've been called in to work later in the week, so after a week of not leaving the house I'll have an excuse to drive the Stratos

[Normb666]

So judging from the number of replies to this thread, it seems nobody's getting any Stratos fixes at all... can't believe we've all gone cold turkey???

Dave, how did you get on with your baffling sump job? - or are you still stuck under the car, inventing a new swear word every 15 minutes? :)

It was only after I'd dropped the motor and box into the chassis and delivered the thing to LB, that I realised I should've had the sump off on mine - it's supposed to have steel rods and I could've checked. I wasn't actually sure you could get the sump off in situ, thinking back, due to that row of bolts being right over the R/H chassis rail. So...are you offering a 2GR sump removal/refit service now?
No, thought not ;)

[Lancialulu]

I had a cheeky drive out in my 1600 Sport to check on my elderly Lancia fleet that were in self isolation 12 miles from my home. On that run and back I saw a Moggy1000 and a Lancia Augusta (I know the guy but what coincidence....).

Other than that I am busy in my Lancia shed having just finished a 1300 Fulvia engine (for sale if anyone is interested) and am now going to do the engine in a Lancia Fulvia 2C. A gearbox swap for my works Fulvia is in the pipeline too... GGuy do you want to sell your part finished Strato's project as we haven't heard about it for ages....

[Guy Mayers]

Guy do you want to sell your part finished Strato's project as we haven't heard about it for ages....

No.

But i might be tempted in a swap for a 1600 Fulvia Zagato?

[STR_Strat]

All done and dusted Norm, the two bolts above the right side chassis rail are a challenge but fortunately Toyota kindly fitted bolt with extended hex heads so you can get a spanner on them. Oil is in and not coming out so that's a bonus:)

I'm struggling now to find things to do so may have to practice TIG welding aluminium, its been too cold since I bought the welder.

Reversing camera may be an option to fit if I can get hold of one, otherwise as a last resort I'll be re-felting the shed roof:(

[STR_Strat]

Forgot to say, I am actually working from home and probably doing more hours than if I go into the office which is a bit bizarre.

I think maybe the grown ups in our company are sitting at home thinking up more pointless reports they think they need.
They have probably binge watched anything vaguely worth watching on Netflix by now.

[Bernard]

No.

But i might be tempted in a swap for a 1600 Fulvia Zagato?............ 1300 Zagato... nice rust...4 wheels...all the parts are there.................................. No I thought not ! LOL

[ChrisCar6]

Not getting much really, I really ought to sit in it and go brrmmm brrrmmm again. The half of the garage that had been taken over by another car'so I don't have to scrape the windscreen' had been repossessed, but then the lock-down resulted in it being commandeered as a gymnasium by returning yoof. Who's bloody man-shed is it anyway? So I've done some sweeping and tidying, but not yet started polishing the spanners or servicing the trolley jack. That way lies madness.
Currently confined to barracks awaiting the results of a broomstick-up-the-bugle so that I can go back to work and try to catch it properly next time. I've browsed the Demon Theives catalogues and planned an unfeasible spending spree, and I can't even go and buy a lottery ticket to fulfill it.

[Guy Mayers]

............ 1300 Zagato... nice rust...4 wheels...all the parts are there.................................. No I thought not ! LOL

Phil - you can read my mind!

[Bernard]

Phil - you can read my mind!............ didn't think I would be that lucky !!

[Normb666]

Not the same as reading his mail tho, eh? ;)

[Fingers]

I was called in to work for a couple of days this week, a bit hard to do my job from home. Took the Stratos both days and the weather was perfect. So I guess you could call it my daily driver. Dropped the PW1100 off an A321. Sorry, I forgot to put a club hammer in the picture.
16032

[john]

Immaculate social distancing there Paul!

[ChrisCar6]

Would that fit in the back of a ....oh never mind.

[Normb666]

Plane-ly not....although I reckon it's probably Paul's biggest fan :)

[ChrisCar6]

It would get your hair dried rapidly.

[Bernard]

It would get your hair dried rapidly.

Wot....... Norms hair ???....

[Normb666]

Don't worry Phil, I keep it safe in a box under the bad.... (sob)

[Lancialulu]

A friend sent me a copy of Summer 1986 Lancia Motor Club Journal because he knew I was interested in the Lancia Aprilia and it had a special editon celebrating 50 years of that model.

Well during lock down one takes the opportunity to digest things more thoroughly so I read the mag from cover to cover (Guy you probably have the original copy as you have been in the LMC for yonks). I was surprised to see a photo of my ex-works Fulvia 1.3HFR competing in a latter day Coppa Della Alpi

What I did not bargain for was an advert towards the back for Allora!

Keep safe and motivated everyone!

Any one got a Strato's part finished for sale???

[Guy Mayers]

Hi Tim - I think I'd been an LMC Member for a couple of years by then. The Aprilia never ceases to amaze me, to think it's pre-war is amazing and how long it remained ahead of the "competition" in this country post war just boggles the mind! By the time that issue came out I'd already decided the Transformer (Hawk) was the way to go and was busily saving my £6500 for a very comprehensive kit!

An no, I still don't know of any part builds for sale!
Guy

[ChrisCar6]

I'm having a break from matters Stratos, as I need an MOT as the next step, and I can't decide whether to use the Cibie Turinis that I have on the shelf for the lamp pod or not. So they're on eBay to see if anybody will make up my mind by paying silly money for them!
Meanwhile I've recommenced work on another project i started in 1990 and had to abandon in 1993. Italian instructions with a translation that is whatever teh Italian version of Chinglish is. You know the sort, 3 paragraphs in Italian is translated into 4 lines of English. It has the traditional aspects of bits in the kit that are never mentioned anywhere, whole assemblies suddenly appear to be attached without any clue how they got made as well as bits that should be there but aren't (may be my fault, 30 years and 2 house moves later!). As well as the plans, photos and text all disagreeing at various point. I'll get there, it has parallels to a Hawk build 20 years ago!
And the Stratos makes a great place to spread the plans, so it's not feeling totally left out.

[Stratos Fear]

This reminds me of a similar balsa ship model I also started at about the same time (very similar to yours in fact). It's still not finished and is on a shelf in an outhouse - my father-in-law keeps asking me if it's finished yet! I have to remind him that I've got a bigger toy to play with now. Well done Chris for having a go, after all this time. Might get back to mine when I've finished the Stratos!

[Griff]

I've been meaning to do this for a while, this effort was just proof of concept. In the loft I probably have as much track again, but with all the
clever bits, Goodwood chicane, pit stop diversion, chicane bridge, and the 'flying leap'. I'm toying with the idea of laying it all out

[john]

Great weather for it Griff.
Get some super softs on!
Enjoy.