I've been looking at this for some years now and I think it's about time I did something about it!
I've seen a quite few websites of self builders and most say that 'next time I'd buy the chassis'
I've a friend who has an engineering workshop and he says that he would have the lads build me one as per the 'book' for time/materials, I've seen
quite a few companies on the web who sell these built.
My question is do most people make or buy the chassis? My friend has said he could build any number of these if he is setting up the jigs etc. so do
any of you think these would sell or do I just get mine (and probably his!) done.
Most companies are selling for around £400-450 plus VAT (for steel) and £150 to £200 for powder coating, my friend say he could probably do these for
£450 + VAT inc powder coating, would anyone be interested at that price?
I'm just seeing the lie of the land at present, but he says he could have these made up, powder coated and stocked for dispatch on next day delivery,
if there was a demand.
He's not interested in doing GRP/body panel stuff, just the chassis and maybe the suspension mod parts?
Drop me your thoughts.
Regards
Peter
Price for steel for basic chassis plus cutting all lengths and angles as per book cost me sub £180.
Problem is the book has too many inaccuarcies to be given to a steel supplier as a cut list. Ended up buying additional lengths on an ad hoc basis.
I built as it was part of the challenge of the car. It has given me a certain smug factor when I speak to people building "kit cars", and it has been
fun. For me I would buy 2nd time around, not because it was a mistake 1st time (it wasn't) just the been there, done that, what's next. . .
I'd have thought the market for ready made chassis was already well supplied. If anyone else wants to start supplying Locost chassis (I presume you
mean £450 plus Vat for a steel chassis , not just the steel!) they should be thinking of producing something different and inventive. If anyone starts
producing standard chassis as a business now they will be starting a lap behind.
John
This question seems to appear almost every week.
I would say that if you have the space and even moderate mig welding skills then build it your self every time. Nothing quite beats the satisfaction
of seeing your own car grow from scratch and then being able to say (if I ever get there) that I built that from a pile of steel.
It only took me two weeks of evenings and weekends to turn my pile of steel into a tacked chassis.
If you are doing the rest of the build the Locost way and are experimenting with different engines, transmission and various other donor parts you
will need to modify your chassis from standard anyway (and at the very least need to fix brackets etc) so welding is a pretty useful skill even if you
buy one. I know I would be very reluctant to take an angle grinder and welder to a chassis I had paid £450 for!!
If (indeed when) I build another I will not consider doing anything else but building my own so that I can incorporate everything I learnt this
time.
A few points to note:
Use the McSorely plans - I did and they were spot on. (every one else who used them seems to agree).
Cut your steel as you need it - things will fit better this way and if there any errors it easier to accomodate them. I bought my steel in 6m lengths
which I cut into three to fit in the car and there was almost no wastage.
quote:
Most companies are selling for around £400-450 plus VAT (for steel) and £150 to £200 for powder coating, my friend say he could probably do these for £450 + VAT inc powder coating, would anyone be interested at that price?
I would agree with Phil. Firstly there are already some great and well respected makers of chassis' at good prices. Secondly I meet a few people who
siad to me (as shows) they would buy one next time. But I've built mine from scratch, used about £100 in steel including the sheet for floors, taught
myself to mig weld, and have thoroughly enjoyed the process.
I would definitely build another, and I love the feeling of power using a mig and angle grinder!! Also it has been vital to me to be able to adapt the
chassis to my own specs.
As for the plans in the book, they're pretty crap, use the McSorley plans, stop on, cutting the tube was also very easy once I'd 'discovered' (thanks
Jon) the joys of .8mm stainless steel cutting disks, knife thro butter....
It will probably cst me the same to buy a chassis as I've spent in steel, tools and gas, but a large part of have a car for me is building it, and now
I've got lots of new tools and skills, and if something breaks or I want to change things later on, then I can make all the changes myself.
A thoroughly satisfying experience....
i want to build my chassis, ive got some welding ability (enough) but ive been thinking that its better to buy a chassis thats been made from a jig. with those of you who have made theirs do you find theres a differece in the drivability and handling of a home build to a bought chassis, if youve ever tried one?
Well if I'd responded to this question any time in the last 6 months i would have said ..... BUY! cause building a chassis can be a real pain in the
arse especially when you loose motivation.
BUT .....
Last weekend i got the wheels finally on my car and took some pictures. Sad as it might seem it was worth it. *I* made that car. No one can take that
away from me and i'm so proud and glad i did it.
Next time i'll buy a chassis ;-) as some one else said, i've done it now.
i know you get the feeling of achievement, but does it drive as well??
I've been in both, with no disernable difference, both were excellent, though it totally depends on the quality of the build I would have thought.
I've had a ride in one of these cars, that of the Plastic Tank Mans and that is a home built chassis.
As I've said before If my car ends up half as good as Placky's I'll be a happy man (and I'm building an MK Indy).
If a chassis has been put together with a bit of care I doubt whether you could tell the difference in a blind taste test.
The decision to build or buy is a personal one. I already own a mig welder and my Dad is a coded welder with 40 years experience so I could have put a
chassis together with very little difficulty. In the end I decided to go for an Indy for a number of reasons. I wanted to use an IRS backend, I liked
the idea using a single donor that is readily available and very cheap and I'm impatient.
when it comes to weather its been made on a jig or not i think as long as ur careful and measure twice cut once etc etc and dont do any thing stupid or silly i cant see anything happening that will have any effect on the handleing