Alan B
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| posted on 6/3/03 at 03:45 PM |
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Top tips
OK guys let's have your top 3 tips for car building.....with no repeats
I'll start:
1 - Get a digital camera.....
I've taken about 2000 pictures of my build and it's been very useful to look back on stuff that is now hidden or inaccesible...plus it is a great
motivator when you think you aren't getting anywhere.
2 - Buy whole cars for donor parts...
Yes, I know this isn't practical for everyone, but it saves you a lot of time and money. Also, don't strip them down any sooner than needed...the
donor car makes a great storage place with the stuff still attached
3 - Put a price on your time....
Some things you must buy, some things you must make, but what about the either/or cases? Look at it this way....say you have to finish for the day ask
yourself how much would an extra hour be worth...10p, 1 pound, 5 pounds? If you have a lot of time and little money you will set a low price....but
still set one...it is easy to dick around for hours only to save a pound or two....It is really time you are wasting that you should spend on stuff
you CAN'T buy........I know I really should not have made my pedals...far too much time spent for the money saved.
OK, who's next?
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Simon
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| posted on 6/3/03 at 04:06 PM |
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Alan,
How about:
1. Prepare all you donor parts thoroughly before assembly.
I've taken everything apart a few times just to paint this or that. Admittedly, I had to be able to move car around, so I've half an excuse.
2. Don't rush into buying things.
I asked someone if he knew of a Rover V8 (his son had one). So I bought it on the spur of the moment (I've no doubt it's ok) but it came with no
clutch/gearbox or starter motor. I know if I'd been patient, I could have got an engine/ box and all ancilliaries for half to 2/3rd's what it's
going to cost.
3. Don't underestimate how much time jobs take to do.
I had last week off work, hoping to reassemble everything, having finally prepared all donor parts, and was going to try starting engine on Tuesday.
On Saturday, I was still making (and will continue this w/end) making an exhaust.
There's definitely a few more, but they're my main three.
ATB
Simon
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Simon
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| posted on 6/3/03 at 04:12 PM |
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Alan
Not wanting to dilute the thread too much, but with regard your last point re making things.
I needed a fuel pump blanking plate, so made one. Took probably ten minutes, and looks/fits fine, and cost about 4p in scrap metal. Noticed I could
something that looks identical from Real Steel for £6.3 (+vat/del call it a tenner!!)). So I guess my time's worth £50/hour.
This car is going to be worth an absolute fortune!!
ATB
Simon
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gjn200
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| posted on 6/3/03 at 04:30 PM |
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Heres mine:
1) Would you buy something you'd made? If not try again.
2) Have time away from it, don't make it a chore.
3) Don't take 2000 pictures, people will think your odd.
<- Me!
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Alan B
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| posted on 6/3/03 at 04:58 PM |
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" 3) Don't take 2000 pictures, people will think your odd. "
I exagerated, maybe only 1800 or so...plus it's only odd if you insist on showing them all.....
Anyway back to it...good posts keep it up...
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chrisg
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| posted on 6/3/03 at 07:01 PM |
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I have only one tip, but it's a biggie!
Alan B, Steve G and the hippy read no further, you won't like it!!!!
Here goes:-
KEEP IT SIMPLE!!
I reckon my build time was doubled by things that I added to the car that have no impact on the driving experience eg.
the boot and steel lid, the heater, the full interior, carpet, fancy dash,etc, paint job. Build it to the book and you'll be on the road MUCH
quicker!
Here endeth the lesson.
Cheers
Chris
oh maybe one more thing, flowers and chockys for her indoors once in a while!
Note to all: I really don't know when to leave well alone. I tried to get clever with the mods, then when they gave me a lifeline to see the
error of my ways, I tried to incite more trouble via u2u. So now I'm banned, never to return again. They should have done it years ago!
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Metal Hippy™
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 posted on 6/3/03 at 08:21 PM |
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Cobblers
President of the Non-conformist Locost Builders Club. E-mail for details...
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 6/3/03 at 10:35 PM |
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Actually Chris, I WAS gonna recommend to stay as close to the book car as poss, or expect to spend a lot more time on the project.
On the one hand, I really look forward to turning up in summat different and saying its based on a locost - probably some time in 2015 - more
realistically about summer next year - 4 years!
As well as KISS (keep it simple stupid - and to a great extent Im glad I didnt) - seriously consider a bike engine. Its light, got a lot of power,
and keeps the car light and fast. Saw a wally rip up the tarmac on a fast bike yesterday and thought how nice that sound would be in a car! I got a
nice burbling V6 tho!
DONT EVEN THINK of building a locost unless you have a garage. Or like to soldier on against the odds. If you have to build outside, buy an MK indy
or - gasp - a robin hood. Why suffer longer than you need to.
Keep all the bits from your donor you can. You will need that part you took down the dump a week after you trashed it.
Dont spend too much time on here - you could be in the garage. (I dont follow this rule).
Dont, under any circumstances, say anything remotely off topic, funny, or controversial on TOL. 
Think hard before you make the car wider, longer, taller. My car is 4 ins higher off the ground, 10 ins or so longer, and six ins wider and is a giant
compared to a cateringvan superlite. If you want a tiny racer, you will need to hang your arm out of the side. And a few more bits perhaps....
Before you dump your donor shell, block off the gearlever aperture. Cats get in and might get sent to the crusher. I had to evict 3 in the two weeks
it was waiting for car heaven.
Dont even think of welding your own chassis unless you are confident in your welding. Practice first.
Building the chassis is the most enjoyable bit. A lot of visual progress. It gets slower from that point!
atb
Steve
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Rorty
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 07:10 AM |
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Rorty's Top Tips
1. Don't pay any attention to anything you read on this forum.....half the lies you read aren't true.
2. Take all my posts with a pinch of salt. I'm always having a chuckle, except when I'm being serious.
Cheers, Rorty.
"Faster than a speeding Pullet".
PLEASE DON'T U2U ME IF YOU WANT A QUICK RESPONSE. TRY EMAILING ME INSTEAD!
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Rorty
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 07:36 AM |
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- Buy a note book.
- Log your hours to the nearest 1/4.
- Keep every single receipt, no matter how small.
- Record all formulae and data used during the build.
- Every time you buy something, ask for a technical sheet for it. You'd be amazed what some companies print.
- Clean up regularly, it's good for the morale, and you often find stuff.
- If you need a tool once, you'll need it again. Buy it. You'll find many other jobs for it too.
- If you don't know, ask someone who does. When your car's finished, your life may depend on it.
- Always wear a parka to the car wrecker's. Parkas have big pockets.
- Don't become obsessed or it will erode any relationship.
Cheers, Rorty.
"Faster than a speeding Pullet".
PLEASE DON'T U2U ME IF YOU WANT A QUICK RESPONSE. TRY EMAILING ME INSTEAD!
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 08:42 AM |
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1. Don't buy anything until you need it - you may find that the bargain you bought many months ago is no longer what you want (you should see the
size of my "unused bits" box! )
2. Sometimes the project drags on (5 years in my case!) - my solution was to go into the garage and do any little job instead of wasting my
time watching rubbish TV programmes. If you do one little fiddly job every time you go into the garage, then all of a sudden things get done. It
also means that if you get a whole day to work on the car, you can concentrate on the big jobs.
3. If you're welding the chassis, spend a bit of money to make life easier - false economies waste time and may risk your life. This includes:
a. Get a good mask - automatic if you can afford it, or try the BOC/ESAB ones (ithey have a very large window, most of which is 'gas welding'
grade. The bit you look through has an extra filter to protect your eyes. This means that you can tilt your head a little to aim, then tilt back &
weld).
b. Get good clothing - thick cotton overalls, good welding gloves, and a leather apron (this cost me a grand total of £20 at a show!). This will
protect you from burns - and more importantly, prevents the worry of burns while you're welding.
c. Get good gas - argon/CO2 mix - much easier than plain CO2. Both work, but the mix is easier for a novice.
d. Be very critical of your own welding - do loads of practice pieces, then saw them up or beat them senseless with a hammer. If the penetration is
poor, or they fall apart, then practice some more. If you suspect that a chassis weld is not up to standard then grind it out and do it again.
e. Get an angle grinder (and gloves and eye protection!). This tool is essential.
Phew!
David
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MK9R
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 09:10 AM |
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3 tips if your missus is a she devil.
1. After returning from the the garage, show or anything kit car related:- Block all orifices, wear full body armour, do not speak unless an
emergency, buy her lots of expensive things.
2. Divide the actual amount you have spent by at least 4 before you tell her
3. Remove own testicles before embarking on project, it is a lot less painful if you use a sharp knife rather than the blunt razor she shaves her legs
with that she has in store for you
Cheers Austen
RGB car number 9
www.austengreenway.co.uk
www.automatedtechnologygroup.co.uk
www.trackace.co.uk
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MK9R
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 09:12 AM |
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oh yeah, and get a good lawyer!
Cheers Austen
RGB car number 9
www.austengreenway.co.uk
www.automatedtechnologygroup.co.uk
www.trackace.co.uk
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Chris Leonard
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 11:51 AM |
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My top tips:
1) do it or supervise it yourself: Went to work, with all good intentions the father in law went in the garage, that evening he came over and
anounced that he had the wiring loom out the car! - no labels just a pile of wires. Cant critise too much as he has been a good help but he is of the
rip it out and hit it with a big hammer brigade
2) Look after your eyes :as previoulsy mentioned - get a good welding mask. I took the lens out to clean it and must have left a little gap or
something when I put it back in. Believe me arc eye is f*~#ing painfull. Having your eye lids peeled inside out and the doctor probing around with a
stick incase it was metal splinters is not nice. Also make sure you use protective glasses when grinding
3) Buy the bits you need little and often - then the misses will have no idea how much this 250 car really costs
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kingr
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 12:48 PM |
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I'd agree with the health and safety comments. I have and use on a regular basis : Thick welding gloves, thin welding gloves, respirator, goggles,
ear protection, face protection, welding face protection. The worst thing is grinding and wire brushing, a lot of particulates, sparks, noise and risk
of injury. I use the thick welding gloves for grinding and general hand protection and the thin ones for welding, they give far better feel than thick
ones, and although feel isn't super critical in MIG, it helps more than you think. I don't have a lot of money to play with, but one thing I did
spend out on was an eland automatic variable colour face shield, it's just so convenient and quick to be able to see exactly what you're doing
before, during and after a weld. If you can, give one a try, you'll never want to go back to fixed colour lenses.
Kingr
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 07:56 PM |
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Firstly David....
Three points, with the last point being sub sectioned abcd is cheating and fools no one 
secondly, when you wear goggles make sure they are really tight fitting. I had a stray spark go under and into my eye a year ago. They get the metal
out with a hook. Not as bad as it sounds, but best avoided!
Keeping the wife happy is certainly something to watch.
atb
steve
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Dick Axtell
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 08:39 PM |
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Gaiters
From the ex-Army stores, buy some webbing gaiters. Very useful for protecting the zone between overall bottoms and boots/shoes. Welding sparks popping
down your footwear can be very uncomfortble.
Work-in-Progress: Changed to Zetec + T9. Still trying!!
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 08:48 PM |
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Steve: Pthpthpth (blowing large rasberry!)
Dick: I've got slightly over-large overalls that I let hang over the top of my steel-toecap boots. Seems to keep most of the spatter out of the way.
Mind you, on the hot summer days (when?) when I've not worn all the gear, I've ended up with a few holes in my socks! (the missus hasn't worked out
what's causing them...)
rgds,
David
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Stu16v
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| posted on 7/3/03 at 09:12 PM |
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quote:
Welding sparks popping down your footwear can be very uncomfortble.
Hehehe!!! Good one Dick! Had the blob of molten metal in the boot.... Looked like I was auditioning (badly) for Riverdance!
My tips...
When things are not going to plan, and you are wondering why the f**k you ever started the f**king thing in the first place, blag a ride in someone
elses car. Works wonders.....
If you are building your own kit (and to some extent, this applies to builds too) try and think/plan as far ahead as possible, and trial fit
components. How frustrating it is to find that the item you have spent hours making is no good, because it is in the way of something else...
Forget about deadlines. It would be great to have the car ready for the summer etc, but why compromise the build. Take your time, and make the car you
want. You will be kicking yourself for years after whilst putting things right....
Dont forget, it's (supposed to be) a hobby. Enjoy....
Get yourself a decent rollbar. See the MK rollover bar club for details....
Stu.
Dont just build it.....make it!
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Wadders
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| posted on 8/3/03 at 03:41 PM |
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1-Save money on fancy chrome bits, by simply saving all your used cooking foil and sellotaping it to the required parts.
2- Before putting on safety glasses,apply a blob of silicone behind each ear,that way you'll never forget to wear them.
3-Hacksaw all your spanners in half, then you will have twice as many at your disposal, and nuts will be impossible to overtighten.
Wadders.
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Alan B
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| posted on 8/3/03 at 05:33 PM |
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Sounds like someone's been reading Viz a lot....
Surely everyone has some spanners sawn in half???
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Stu16v
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| posted on 8/3/03 at 08:41 PM |
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quote:
Surely everyone has some spanners sawn in half???
Oh yes. And ones that are bent to go round corners!
Dont just build it.....make it!
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