There's currently a Subaru powered TR Spyder on BaT, but it has a frame design that I've never seen. Does anyone have any knowledge of this frame being used on a Thunder Ranch Spyder? My only guess is that the body was bought as a kit, and the frame was made by someone else.
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I noticed that as well. I had always thought the the Thunder Ranch frame was a copy of the original Beck. It's neither a Beck nor a Vintage frame, so your theory may be correct.
@Lane Anderson posted:I noticed that as well. I had always thought the the Thunder Ranch frame was a copy of the original Beck. It's neither a Beck nor a Vintage frame, so your theory may be correct.
Thanks, Lane. Mine is a Thunder Ranch, and it's completely different. To further investigate, I went to all of the archived TR Spyder auctions on BaT, and none of them had this type of frame. And, it's missing the mid-cockpit, oval bulkhead, too. Hmmm....
that's a beast!....gotta be like driving a scalded cat 
....i LUV it!!...purely a moot point for me...when you are 6' 2" ....just very expensive yard art 
Having built more turbo spyders than probably anyone in the world I am VERY curious as to how this motor stays together, inlet air temps, and even overall cooling efficiency. I've never built a turbo without a water to air intercooler (even air to air in a spyder doesn't get enough cooling to be safe). And I've never seen a rear mount radiator that worked very well.
MOST TRs have a copy of our frames, both the standard swingaxle and the limited (abandoned) DeDion version. Obviously this is neither.
@chines1 posted:Having built more turbo spyders than probably anyone in the world I am VERY curious as to how this motor stays together, inlet air temps, and even overall cooling efficiency. I've never built a turbo without a water to air intercooler (even air to air in a spyder doesn't get enough cooling to be safe). And I've never seen a rear mount radiator that worked very well.
MOST TRs have a copy of our frames, both the standard swingaxle and the limited (abandoned) DeDion version. Obviously this is neither.
Thanks, Carey. The frame in this thing is very odd to me. Perhaps as the auction progresses, a bidder may inquire about it and then we'll know. In a way, to my eye, it looks like a dune buggy frame. ;-)
Did anyone notice the steering shaft? It enters the bulkhead at the center. I’d bet dollars to donuts that they are using a sand rail center steer rack and pinion. Can you say twitchy handling. Those racks have no business in street cars.
@LI-Rick posted:Did anyone notice the steering shaft? It enters the bulkhead at the center. I’d bet dollars to donuts that they are using a sand rail center steer rack and pinion. Can you say twitchy handling. Those racks have no business in street cars.
Didn't notice that! And, I learned something new. Thank you, Sir!
@Wulfrik (John) posted:Thanks, Carey. The frame in this thing is very odd to me. Perhaps as the auction progresses, a bidder may inquire about it and then we'll know. In a way, to my eye, it looks like a dune buggy frame. ;-)
No problem. The frame is also very odd to me. Looks to be a case of strength by mass rather than strength by engineering, and I use the term "strength" loosely. It's the smallest diameter tube I've ever seen used on a spyder, and I'm sure required all the added triangulation to try and stiffen it up. It may work well, I have no idea, but I have my doubts/concerns also.
The other items that I mention may have been less obvious to someone who just doesn't;t know, which is why I mentioned them.
@chines1 posted:No problem. The frame is also very odd to me. Looks to be a case of strength by mass rather than strength by engineering, and I use the term "strength" loosely. It's the smallest diameter tube I've ever seen used on a spyder, and I'm sure required all the added triangulation to try and stiffen it up. It may work well, I have no idea, but I have my doubts/concerns also.
The other items that I mention may have been less obvious to someone who just doesn't;t know, which is why I mentioned them.
Thanks for the explanation of the turbo setup. ;-)
Some of the tubing is nice & smooth (with a factory look), and other tubes are rough, with some kind of thick coating. Looks very "added after the fact."
Bid to $50k. That one looks like a drag strip hero to me. At best.
