Dan Ingram
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| posted on 19/8/08 at 08:03 PM |
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I'm new to all this and would like some help and advice
Hi everyone.
Just after a bit of help and a point in the right direction. I'm going to be building a Seven type kit car of some description. I've been
driving and modifying 205 GTis for quite a few years now but have had about enough of them and can't really go any further with them other than
spending thousands. I'm also now the proud owner of a rather large garage/workshop to do with as I please. Now I have this the mrs has finally
let me go ahead with building a kit 
I'll be getting some help from my dad who is having to sell his hanger and homebuilt aeroplane due to health problems and other commitments. So
he's at a bit of a loose end and wants to come and hide in my garage away from my mum :lol:
We like a bit of a challenge and want to build a car from scratch, chassis included. Welding isn't a problem and neither is anything else really
as my dads had plenty of practice from building his plane which was a tubular space frame (and a bit of a masterpiece) and I have plenty of mechanical
skills from my years of tinkering so we should to be able to come up with something between us :lol:
I'd just like some ideas on where to start really. I'd really like to build a BEC but don't want to spend loads on a factory kit
like the westfield megablade. I have the 'how to build a sports car on a budget book' on order but don't know if its going to be a
lot of help with a BEC .
Are there any plans I can get to build a bike engined chassis from scratch or do I just need to adapt a car engined chassis?
Also the only thing I cant quite work is how you get a propshaft to connect to a bike gearbox? Is there some sort of adaptor thats readily available
or is it not that easy?
I'm sure I'm probably asking a load of questions that your already sick of hearing but anything you can help me with would be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks
Dan
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smart51
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| posted on 19/8/08 at 08:27 PM |
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This site is dedicated to the book "build your own sports car for £250" by Ron Champion. That said, most of us have built other similar
cars. The Champion book uses a mark 2 escort as a donor and these are rare these days.
A newer book "build your own sports car on a budget" by Chris Gibbs is better and uses a sierra as a donor. There is a website dedicated
to this book.
Or, you could design your own car. Plenty of people on here do, including me.
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Paul TigerB6
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| posted on 19/8/08 at 08:35 PM |
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Best advice for now is do loads of research on here and then get yourself down to the stafford show next month (3 1/2 weeks away i think). Try a few
of the online build diaries for BEC's and that will give you a few ideas as to whats involved. For starters, try team Hellfire's site
here:-
http://www.mkhellfire.co.uk/
Thats an MK Indy build but there are similar cars from MNR, Mac#1, Tiger, RAW, Aries Motorsport etc etc etc. Best get along to a show to look at as
many as possible though
PS welcome to the nuthouse.
[Edited on 19/8/08 by Paul TigerB6]
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tom windmill
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| posted on 19/8/08 at 08:36 PM |
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Hi Dan,
Welcome To LocostBuilders!
Not sure i can help you with the plans part of it but the BEC and CEC chassis are pretty much the same. the only part that differs is the engine bay
the the engine will sit inside a "cradle" apposed so being fixed directly to the chassis.
As far as the prop goes, most use the modified Sierra prop or TRT equivalent, which will attatch to the engine using the adaptor as suggested by
yourself which are generally available off the shelf depnding on your engine choice.
You sound like you have a good understanding of how the whole lot works so stop talking and get building 
Hope that helps a little
Tom
PS. BEC ALL THE WAY, they are the best
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hellbent345
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| posted on 19/8/08 at 09:08 PM |
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as above really, there are lots of friendly people on here that will help you out and point you in the direction of useful information, welcome to the
forum, and happy building  the BYO sportscar on a budget book is very useful as well as ron champions ( i recommend getting both) for getting
started on any build, as they are really only a base for elaborating upon rather than a full instruction list on how to do everything exactly,
chris's book also says a little about BEC engine cradles and things so im sure youll find it v useful
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Andy B
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| posted on 19/8/08 at 09:55 PM |
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Hi
I run AB Performance - basically 7500sqft dedicated to bike engined kit cars - over the years I have built a good few different bike engine cars and
look after about 40 odd cars running in the RGB Championship. You are more than welcome to phone us on 01449 736633 or even visit our factory (based
in suffolk)
advice is free as is the tea and we normally have at least 5 cars in at any one time which may help with your considerations.
Hope that helps
Andy
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Dan Ingram
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| posted on 20/8/08 at 11:47 AM |
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Thanks very much for the replies and offers of help. Its a very busy forum, wasn't expecting quite so many views and replies in such a short
space of time
I think I'll get myself along to a couple of shows then and see if I can have a sit in some different models.
First job is to get my garage in order and get organised. Tidy work place is a happy and all that.
Thanks again for the replies, I'm off to do some more reading on here.
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wilkingj
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| posted on 20/8/08 at 11:47 AM |
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Welcome to the madhouse! (We are all mad on here)
Best thing is to buy Chris Gibbs Haynes Roadster book. It will give you a lot of guidance and info.
The Original books by Ron Champion are also good but a bit dated now, and Ford Escort Donors are virtually non existent. Even Sierra's are
getting rare.
Regardless of what engine you fit the cars are basically the same except for the engine cradle if you are going down the BEC route.
You can always ask questions on here, there is a wealth of knowlege available just for the asking.
Also use the Search facility, as everything has been done to death before, and may be in the archives, if not just ask!.
If you have the expertise to build a plane and get it through CAA certification, then a car will be a doddle.
Good luck..
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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