Hi all,

I bought Ron C's book late last year, and found this friendly, knowledgeable site soon after.

I'm going to start building in the second week of July (two week holiday, so hoping to make a lot of progress), and am currently going through the thinking / preparation stages.

I've already obtained and dismantled a Sierra 1.8 CVH. Req'd bits stored, and shell scrapped.

My budget is going to be very tight/strict (wife says so!!), so it goes without saying that any bits from donor I can use, I will.

I intend to use the Sierra IRS, but without the bent tubular subframe. Can anyone see any problems bolting the diff to brackets on the chassis and (bearing in mind the "book" chassis is to be widened by 4 or 5 inches), making brackets up on the chassis to bolt the Sierra trailing arms to. I appreciate my measuring will have to be quite accurate!!

Thanks for any help

Simon

If you are going to use the sierra I would recommend going the double wishbone or De Dion rear susension. Sierra trailing arms will only cause problems setting up the geometry correctly. If you do decide to use the trailing arms you would be best to keep the tubular subframe. This will keep the diff isolated from the main chassis otherwise you will need to have bushes between the chassis and diff to keep vibration down. The subframe is heavy but it will help keep your costs down. Check out the pics from last years stoneleigh show.

Simon
New book `due out later this month how to build a tiger avon. this is a double wishbone setup and designed to use all sierra running gear. Published by veloce www.veloce.co.uk hope this helps. by the way if you dont want to make the wishbones tiger will sell you them at£20.00 each which I did'nt think to bad

Dunc, reason I thought about not using subframe was a piccy I have of MK Indy IRS. Diff bolted (abeit with bushes)direct to frame. It will probably save quite a bit of time if I did use subframe. Just have to lose about three stone in the meantime.

Phil, New book might be work a look, just for some ideas.

Thanks for your suggestions anyway

Simon

Simon, I think the tiger and MK sierra IRS chassis both use fabricated uprights with double wishbones rather than the trailing arm of the original sierra, could anyone confirm.

Dunc,

You're absolutely right, they do use fab'd uprights and w/bones. I was hoping to compromise on cost and weight - bolting diff to chassis and Sierra trailing arms to home made brackets (these would include use of Sierra bushes already on/in trailing arms). Then I would just!! need to make diff hangers / bushes for vibration isolation.
Just trying to keep costs down.
Wishbones and uprights, likewise for front (plus Sierra front upright adaptors), plus bushes etc etc will make a big dent in my rather measly budget.

Could be worth a call to MK to see if they could supply diff-to-chassis bracketry and bushes.

Look forward to your comments

Regards

Simon