New LB builder in Reading

[turbonutter]

There are many questions above..... While it would be nice to see a 400bhp supercharged Alfa, it's not an Day task to do yourself and the "off the shelf" rotrex kits won't give you the sound you want and might not fit without modifications. You also need to remember that at that power level, you are at the limit of a 5 speed Alfa box, and probably past it with a six speed.... it is probably ok i the Alfa was they are front wheel drive and don't have the traction that a stratos has, especially if you go with wide tyres. Of course it does somewhat depend on how you drive.....
if you are looking for 400hp then the obvious choice is the supercharged Toyota engine which is already being installed in at least one ListerBell.

As for driving, with 500bhp, my car is far from easy to drive, but I have a turbo engine, so I ant really comment on a supercharged one, but if it's fun you are looking for don't go with big power, 300bhp is plenty to get you in trouble in a car like the stratos......

[Bernard]

Just for my 10 peneth

The Strato's was (and is mainly) about handling... going round corners very quickly, changing direction like a kart...a cross country pocket rocket.... I suspect that a 280 / 300 bhp Strato's will be just as quick round a tight twisty track as a 500BHP car

If you have any doubt's look at some of the Comas vids........and he does not have 500 bhp....... and unless you are a mega star you won't be any faster

Now pure straight line speed is something different.... but do you want to go 130mph + in a Strato's ??....... the wheelbase geometry will make it interesting !

Phil

[john]

Looking at the above posts I'd say listen to the voices of experience before you make your choices!

[Stradale493]

As others have said, I guess it depends what you want from the finished car - in my case something that looks and drives very close to an original Stradale road car with similar performance characteristics (power / torque), but with as many modern creature comforts (air con, cruise control, sat nav, reversing camera, DAB radio, digital music jukebox) as I can stealthily / subtly add. I went with the Busso engine as I always liked the look of the Alfa V6 (unlike other manufacturers engines that all seemed to have large plasic trays sat on them to hide the ugly plumbing and wiring). If I was going for pure performance I would have gone the Toyota route.
I had a S1 Elise for 10 years and kept the engine totally standard as it always have enough performance for me on the "twisty bits" of the local roads and I had no interest in taking it on the track

[ProtoTipo]

Fit a modest V6 for starters, get used the car, then upgrade later.

If light enough, any Stratos rep. will really shift with 160 to 200 bhp.
Upwards of 250 bhp is silly quick.

[turbonutter]

Just for my 10 peneth

The Strato's was (and is mainly) about handling... going round corners very quickly, changing direction like a kart...a cross country pocket rocket.... I suspect that a 280 / 300 bhp Strato's will be just as quick round a tight twisty track as a 500BHP car

Phil

We proved that at curborough (if you don't know it's tight and twisty) the other week, most of the time Bob and me were lapping around the same time, and I have nearly double the horsepower. my best lap was a couple of seconds faster, and I have no doubt a better driver would have been even faster.... and I could probably go faster if I had more track time, but on a twisty track, it's hard to use the power, without spinning, which I did a few times just to prove I was trying

[Raj_UK]

Hi All

nice to find an active forum and thanks for all your comments

TBH when I had my Evo I was happiest with how it felt when it was 400/400 ... when I went to 600 I couldn't be flat out as much and I'd start to get torque steer despite it being AWD and I'd lose traction in all but the hottest weather

Currently I have a KTM X-bow which is running 375 hp and I'm getting the STR as an all-weather version of a fun car to have

I've had turbo'd cars as my fun car (brum brum cars as my 7 year old and 4 year old called my Evo then X-bow) ... but I'm thinking I'd like to have a really intrusive supercharger whine ... for a change

I guess this must be the silliest reason on the forum for someone to go for a supercharger ... LOL

I'm thinking I just want it to have a reliable drivetrain ... what are stock internals and drive train good for ? since I always seem to have bad luck with cars ... LOL

Is there anyone with an STR or another Stratos near Reading who would let me have a poke around it plz ?

cheers

Raj

[strat24v]

Superchargers all generally all about torque which is what the Alfa gearbox isn't too good at. If you fit one, you need a fair bit of boost to offset the weight of kit fitted compared to the weight of the vehicle otherwise you can have even less power to weight. Only kit available is the rotrex but that's a belt driven turbo, more about top end. The right part for the job is an opcon/autorotor lysholm supercharger but you'll have a Merry time engineering it all . Sensible advice is to aim for 300 HP, ample in such a short car, you can achieve that with a high stressed Alfa installation or go the Toyota route which is what most here would now do if they were starting again.

[Raj_UK]

how do the Toyotas sound compared to the Alfas ?

I know it should be about function not form ... but tbh this will be a toy

[ProtoTipo]

Just for my 10 peneth

The Strato's was (and is mainly) about handling... going round corners very quickly, changing direction like a kart...a cross country pocket rocket.... I suspect that a 280 / 300 bhp Strato's will be just as quick round a tight twisty track as a 500BHP car

Now pure straight line speed is something different.... but do you want to go 130mph + in a Strato's ??....... the wheelbase geometry will make it interesting !

Phil

This man seems to know what he's talking about.
Whoever he is??