The Pilgrim Sumo

[sprok]

I have been looking to build a Cobra Replica for some time now and have finally decided to take the plunge. I have been considering the Sumo but would like to seek thoughts and advise from the people who know best ie. owners. What is the final product really like? How does the car handle compared to its rivals? What is this strange "movement" in the steering I have read about in one of the major kit mags? Why do people pick at the car? I have about £18000 to spend and would like a car with grunt but also a car that can handle the power around the corners...is the Sumo the car for me? Many Thanks

[JP]

Presuming you are building it all yourself you should be able to pick virtually any of the kits and have a very nice motor.

You can talk to many people who will give you good and bad reports about many of the kits available. Talking to other owners / builders is important but you must satisfy yourself and do the leg work visiting manufacturers and shows etc.

Good Luck


JP

PS my choice is AK

[kev]

Read the posts in this website and go to view and drive the cars at the factory. I guess with a budget of £18k you can build virtually any of the kits, possibly not a Dax though. If you like what you see and read about the Pilgrim then go for it. It's down to personal choice and what you perceive as the more important aspects, for me as a non-engineer, an important consideration was company support during the build, I chose AK and am very pleased

Good luck
Kev

[graham]

I have built 3 sumos, 1 x SR, 1 x cobretti, 1 x BRA289 (father), and now building another SRV8,
All are great, Sumo will be top spec for your kind of money, but hey it is also down to you how you build it but Sumo certainly easy and straightforward and my opinion is that they are a higher quality budget kit. Have a look at the build videos as advertised in the magazines. I also can send you pictures of my previous cars if you like g.markland@talk21.com
good luck!!

[sprok]

Guys,

Thanks alot for your help

Sprok

Hi Sprok,

I'm just about finished on my Sumo chassis and I'm putting in a Ford V6. I've found the build to be very easy and even my friend who owns his own garage has commented on the fact that the manuals must be idiot proof for me to get it right. The videos are a good suplimentary point of reference.

With regard to the steering problem you've heard about I think it's probably more to do with the rack than the chassis etc. Mine certainly doesn't show any signs of movement (although pretty much stationary) and the two I,ve driven didn't suffer either.

If you want to interrigate me about the build so far please feel free.

Whatever you choose, enjoy it.

samandsevs@aol.com

Suggest you check over other threads on this website - there is a lot to trawl through. At 18k you can have whatever you want. A lot depends on how much work you want to do. Pilgrim is cheaper as there is a bit more work involved, but also perhaps more room for personal expression. IMHO GD is the d*gs nads if you have the cash, and want to race. Or try Metalline in Cambridge - probably the most refined 'luxury' Cobra replica in the world, but it could you cost 20k!

As to Sumo steering - there are no generic problems.
email me if you have any questions on the sumo
(k.wells@eim.surrey.ac.uk)

Kevin
Pilgrim Sumo nearly finished, but i said that last summer.

[PeteV]

The only problem I've noticed with Sumo steering has to do with the poor bracketry arrangement supplied with the standard kit to support the top of the steering column. This consists of an s-shaped bracket and an 'exhaust clamp'. This arrangement is supposed to clamp round the column and the bolts on to the sheet steel bulkhead (1mm). Its really quite inadequate in my opinion. What happens is that the thin sheet steel flexes and thus provides no real support for the top of the column - leading to movement in the whole assembly. Far better to make your own arrangement which 'picks up' on the manufacturers column fixings and 'brackets off' from the 1in. box section pat of the bulkhead as opposed to the sheet steel. Also, I don't know whether Pilgrims basic bracket really complies with the SVA requirements for protective steering, as it allows the column to move forward in the event of a frontal impact.

Pete.