Is there such a thing as a "Bowler"

http://www.bowler-offroad.com/

or "Tomcat"

http://www.tomcatmotorsport.co.uk/

based around Suzuki running gear?

And what are the tallest available (sollid axle) diff ratios?

I'm thinking of a Suzi-dimensioned spaceframe machine running a small Rover/Honda/Acura engine/autobox combo with the diff in the autobox welded up and car front wheel driveshafts running to axles, with engine in the rear of the vehicle, gearbox in centre, the lot mounted north-south and the driver/passenger just in front of the engine.

Not 100% on the available ratios, but for a 0.75:1 top gear, 4:1 final drive in the autobox, 3.5:1 diffs in the axles and 215/75R15 tyres it should just nudge 60mph before the revlimit in top if I use a 1600 Honda/Acura/Rover engine - ideal for trialling/tight comp safari courses in the UK.

Is there such a thing as a "Bowler"

http://www.bowler-offroad.com/

I don't know about a Suzuki based rally rig but that Bowler'mobile' is cool.

-Eric

www.petesoffroaddesign.com
he built  a space frame sammy.

if I can find the article in Total Off Road there is a sammi based vehicle and it is pretty sweet!

Those Tomcats are kick a$$.  I wonder if I couldn't just mate one of the frame+chassis set up they sell with a Zuk driveline .  They want 1400pounds ($2500 U.S.) for a barebones skeleton set up.  That's reasonable.  I could build up from there.  Just gotta get it here from the UK though.  I wonder if the company has the capability to export to the U.S.??  The only question would be, what model...canvas top, ,or that awesome fiberglass body??

They use land cruser parts,

the bowler is a landrover based kit.there is a suzuki based kit availabke in the uk called the blitz.
see here...........
http://www.blitzmidlands.fsnet.co.uk/blitz_4x4__kit.htm

Pete's looks promising without the Suzi bodywork.

Not too keen on that Blitz - suspension isn't any better than the OE Suzi gear; plus it looks daft!

LawDog - the tomcats are rangerover/discovery based, so a size up from Suzi running gear. (They're around 1350kgs if you use the 3.9EFi and 4spd auto from a RaRo/Disco.) Not too difficult to build one from scratch based on what they show on the site either... ;-)

Not too keen on that Blitz - suspension isn't any better than the OE Suzi gear; plus it looks daft!

I don't think they look that bad. The quality is terrible though, I bought one of the first kits and it is still sat on my drive. I much prefer my Vit, windows, heaters, radio, a far better ride and plenty of power.


(Yeah, now I have a drive, when I was first building it up all I had was a small front lawn  )

I don't think they look that bad

I'd feel like 'challenge anneka' or a gay hairdresser in one.  

I much prefer my Vit, windows, heaters, radio, a far better ride and plenty of power.

That's the main gripe with it - other than 'not being rusty' it doesn't offer any more than a std Suzi - whereas the other spaceframe jobbie is a pukka spaceframe by a guy who can clearly design spaceframes and with its lighter weight/built in rollcage/coilovers/better axle control offers me something.

Those Wildcats are AWESOME! They just had one on that new Top Gear show one the Discovery channel. They did a testing of it. The thing is a ready to race vehicle made for Paris-Dakar Rally type stuff. They're super fast and extremely brake resistant. If you check out the specs on that site, it's a BEAST of a machine. I want one! lol

I'd feel like 'challenge anneka' or a gay hairdresser in one.  


That's the main gripe with it - other than 'not being rusty' it doesn't offer any more than a std Suzi - whereas the other spaceframe jobbie is a pukka spaceframe by a guy who can clearly design spaceframes and with its lighter weight/built in rollcage/coilovers/better axle control offers me something.

Its main advantage is that it is an awful lot lighter than a standard Zuk and even lighter than a standard Zuk with a roll cage, its the same as having 25% more power and torque. It'll also run 33s with a minimal suspension lift and no body lift so you get lots of ground clearance and a relatively low C of G. Its much simpler and cheaper than a spaceframe. Something like a Bowler can run £30-40K easily. A reasonably well sorted Blitz can be built for around 1.5K. You ain't going to get a gay hairdresser in one as their hair will get messed up  .

Its main advantage is that it is an awful lot lighter than a standard Zuk and even lighter than a standard Zuk with a roll cage

I guess so.

Still doesn't sort the suspension/handling out though. Don't get me wrong - leaves and beam axles are fun (I've got an old cart-sprung landie with a 2.0 16v  EFi Turbo lump in at the minute) but the novelty of wheelies, horiffic axle hop/axle tramp and comical roadholding can wear off!

A reasonably well sorted Blitz can be built for around 1.5K.

£500 inc the donor and materials if you can blag a tube bender. I wasn't after dirt cheap as such - just downsized!

You ain't going to get a gay hairdresser in one as their hair will get messed up  .

LOL!

They use land cruser parts,

Yeah, I figured as much, but I was kinda hoping that their skeleton could be mated to any kind of generic setup that could be modifyed to use Zuk axles.  I don't thing size and weight would make the project too impossible, but it's alot of cobbing and fudging to do to something I paid 2500 bucks for, plus the cost of getting it here, when it wasn't even made for what I was doing with it.  It would be cool, and alot better than a blitz or a homemade setup.  But, you're right marko, It'd probably be less hassle, and a better end result to just use that architecture on a homemade zuk sized model.