Unique Questions.

[brainbugnj]

ok - I am almost ready to make my decision on the unique.... just a couple questions from you guys hopefully you can help me out...I am thinking a deluxe pallet kit..

How much room does one need to complete the kit... I have a 1.5 to 2.0 car garage and I think I should have a enough room, but want to know what size garages you guys have built in.... I don't have any room outside as its a condo...

The kit doesn't mention anything about a TKO trans mount or anything, you guys have them in there, everything seems to be centered around a toploader... any comments?

Wheels... what size wheels can go on the car? I see references to 15's on the site... but no reference to 17's anyone have them on there?

What rear-end ratio does the kit come with stock? (deluxe pallet kit)?

What options did most of you get ontop of the stock deluxe pallet kit? And can you help me out understand them, those which you picked and why?

I am sorry for the length.. but I really want to get this order in... by the way anyone know what the lead time on the deluxe pallet kit is running these days?


Thanks again for all your help...

Steve

[poorboy]

Steve;
Your space should give you plenty of room. The car is only 13'10" over the bumpers.
When you place your order they will ask what kind of engine & trans you are going to use and build it accordingly.
Personally I like 15" or maybe 16", I don't think 17" fill out the fenders right.
I think 3.08 open.
I got a bare bones basic kit.
12-14 weeks I believe.

Poorboy

[casaleenie]

Does 3:31 open sound correct???

[Jerry Cowing]

Steve,

I built mine in a 2-car garage. I guess it depends on how full or messy your garage is.

I bought a Deluxe Pallet and had it painted before it was delivered. It saved me a lot of time and Unique did a great job. I had a hard time finding anyone in the little town(s) in my area to paint it. They said they made more money painting for insurance claims and would paint it off-and-on between other jobs. That was a totally unsatisfactory answer for me. Once I start a project, I'm obsessed to finish it and waiting an unknown 2-6 months for someone to paint my car just didn't cut it. It took me 4 weeks to build my Unique after it was delivered. I worked on it every weekend (20 hours per day/night) and during the week after work until about 1 AM). Once I had the wiring laid out or the carpet laid out/cut, or..., I didn't want to stop half way through the install and have to rethink the whole thing again the next day. I think this approach saved me a lot of time in the long run.

Lots of opinions on what rearend and transmission to use. Originals used the Toploader which is rated at 1000 horse power, the TKO is rated for 350 HP. If you choose the Toploader and you're going to drive it in town more than on the highway, I'd stay with the Wide-ratio Toploader and the 331 rear-end. If you're going to primarily race it on a roadrace track, I'd go with the Close-ratio and same rear-end. If you're going to drag race it, use the Wide-ratio or an automatic. If you're not going to run the car hard (race it) and mostly cruise, I'd go with the TKO. I know a lot of folks running the TKO in 500 HP big blocks which create 550 ft lbs of torque and the TKOs seem to be handling the torque even though the TKOs are only advertised to endure 350 HP. If you choose the TKO, go with the 308 rear-end or your first gear will be too low and almost unusable. The TKO 5th gear also gives you a nice cruising gear for the Interstate (75-90 mph). The Toploader 4th gear is too low for my liking on the Interstate making the engine run constantly above 3700 rpm at Interstate speeds. I chose the Toploader Wide-ratio and 331 rear-end which, in my opinion, gave me the best of both worlds: strong for racing, but still drivable in town -- I don't like it for the Interstate though and wish I had a 5th gear.

Just my opinion and experience above. There's as much discussion about what transmission is better; Toploader, TKO, etc., as to whether a Big Block or Small Block engine is better. I don't think you can go wrong if you follow the two choices I gave you above for the Unique by choosing either the Race config or cruising config.

Wheels. Whatever you like is the real answer. The 15" are what the originals used so it will be more authentic looking. If you just like the looks of bigger wheels, then use them -- its your car. Stay away from wire wheels for big torque motors, they won't hold up, use a Mag wheel. I chose Precision Engineering wheels so they would fit over my large racing brakes and not the pin drives and am glad I did. In my opinion and my friends' opinions who have pin drives, the pins drives are a pain. If you want to change from street tires to racing tires you have to buy another set of expensive pin drive Mag wheels and mess around with safety wiring the nut on everytime you change a tire (and buying, carrying another tool to twist the safety wires). However, if you stay with the standard 5 lug wheels, you can buy cheap steel/aluminum wheels for your racing tires. Also the PE wheels have a better spinner attaching system, in my opinion, that will not corrode to your wheel. Some Mag wheels use a screw through the spinner to hold them on the wheel where PE uses 2 rubber O-rings. The screw type system will cause the spinner to weld itself to the wheel due to the dissimilar metals used and many folks have had to cut their spinners off. Just some things to think about and lessons learned from my experience again.

[poorboy]

Casaleenie;
Actuality there is no standard gear ratio with the kit. It depends on what they get from their supplier. Some ratios are getting harder to get (3.54 is one) so they will be extra.

Poorboy

[xlr8or]

Brainy,
I got to ride in a unique at the fling and can't for the life of me remember who's car it was.
I was very pleased with the way it handled the airport twisty track and it was very solid all the way through.

[pgermond]

Hi Steve,

I'm in the process of preparing for the arrival of my Deluxe Pallet Kit from Unique (sometime in August). I have a two car garage, which I believe will be plenty of room - I had a storage shed built this past week so I can move all of my wife's decorations, luggage, junk, etc. so I can make room for MY stuff

I ordered a 406 ci/430 hp and top loader (wide ratio) from Southern Automotive. The rear gears are 3:31 (you can go higher or lower, depending upon intended use). I'm planning on using PSE wheels, w/BFG's. Engine, transmission, tires and wheels will all be delivered to Unique (eliminates CA sales tax) and everything arrives at the same time. If you haven't done it already, call Unique with your questions - Alan and Maurice are extremely helpful. The way I see it, they've got a whole lot more experience and can offer expert advice if needed, not to mention they are great folks.

So far the most pleasure I've gotten out of this project is doing the research and then pulling the trigger and writing a check for the deposit - the least favorite has been waiting for the car to arrive.

Good luck!

[Cal Metal]

Go with the big brake upgrade. Much improvement over the standard units. Get the quad Carrera shocks for the rear. Gives you some adjustment options for ride height.

Personally, I would go with the Toploader. Talked to a guy with a 427 Hi-Tech at a show recently. He has had the car five years and is on his third Tremac. What ever you buy, David Kee can sell it to you (yes, even the Tremac). Talk to him about various options. The suggestion of a wide ratio TL and the 3.36 rear is a good combination. When you decide your trans, tell Maurice your decision so he can cut the drive shaft the correct length.

Unique builds a solid kit. If you farm out the paint and engine, you should be able to finish it in 100 hours. It is very straightforward. Like an old GM commercial, the Weaver's have already "sweat the details". The builder has an easy go.

[decooney]

brainbugnj,

two critical things before you order...

Make sure you figure out up front if you will be going with and staying with bolt-on or Pin Drive wheels AND the related wheel offsets for those. Unique provides two different differential widths, and the narrowed rear end is worth getting if you plan on using deep set rear wheels or pin-drives with hubs. Alan/Maurice can explain it... The pin-drive or deep dish bolt-on wheels will stick out if you go with the wider 55" vs. the 52.5" setup. I ended up having to narrow my last car to 52.5, and gee, that was loads of fun to do over again! Well worth it later...

Also, be sure to do the Carrera coil-over adjustable shocks in the front and rear, along with sway-bars and the rear stabilization setup that goes from the differential to the back of the car. To me, the good coilovers, sway-bars (front and rear), along with the stabilization kit and rear trailing arms makes a drastic difference in how the cars drives, handles, and maintains much improved control; especially coming in/out of turns. Good Luck.

[poorboy]

Steve

Carrera coil overs( front), front sway bar,& rear trailing arms are standard on Unique's kit.

Poorboy

[decooney]

Hey Poorboy,

how long ago did you order your Unique deluxe Pallet kit? I'm wondering when this became standard on the Deluxe Pallet Kit... my friend and I both had to pay "additional" for any (front/rear) coilovers, the rear stabilization setup, and rear sway bars, etc. All were extra line item charges above and beyond the DPK. Both cars started as Deluxe Pallet kits. The rear coilovers and rear sway bar are still not standard, right?

[pgermond]

Ordered mine in May - Carrera adustables in rear and rear sway bar are extra

[poorboy]

Hi Duane,

I built mine from a basic kit, finished it in 95. I added the rear trailing arms just befor finishing it. I think the adjustable front shocks have been standard sence they changed to their own front suspension. The rear adjustable shocks & rear sway bar are still extra. My shop is right next door & I some work for them.

Poorboy

[Geary L. Sarno]

brainbugnj - I have built three award winning Uniques in a 12 X 16 "Dutch Barn" which was built as a construction facility. It is a bit crowded but met local construction permit regulations for my property. Uniques are a straightforward build and don't require anything extraordinary. - Aggressor

[GeorgiaSnake]

Steve check out my gallery. You will see the really small area I had to work in not counting all the junk. I did the body and paint in the same space.

The front sway bar and coil overs came with the car as did the rear braces. I didn't order the rear coil overs and may up grade this winter.

I took my first test drive this past weekend Hope to get the tag and insurance issue resolved this week and then start racking up the miles.

Randy