russ_16v
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 12:05 AM |
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Hi guys - new guy
Hey guys and gals
im Russ, i live it Wiltshire and im going to be shortly looking at starting my first kit car build.
I have stripped and rebuild/modified many cars over my 11 years of driving, and i also have 2 jobs, i work for VW during the day and buy and sell cars
at the weekends, so this will be a long term project.
The thing is, i was hoping you may be able to shed some light on a few things for me, im looking at purchasing a ready made chassis, then gathering
and building the rest on my own.
The problem i am facing is im not sure on what to do about the size of the chassis, the chap i have been chatting to ( im wanting to say Falcon?) says
he can add inches to the chassis if i require it as im 6 ft3 and most of that is leg, but im not sure how to know how much extra legnth is needed?
the chassis is build to the heynes build yourself a sports car book measurements, are these ok and correct?
I have ordered the book ,and hoping it will turn up before the weekend.
I am probably going to try to find a Sierra to use as a doner, (as most people) but if i choose to use something else that possibly uses a different
rar axle/suspension set up, will it be something i can fabricate to fit, as i believe the Heynes kit is designed around having a live rear axle?
many thanks
Russ
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NigeEss
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 12:22 AM |
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Hello and welcome.
Let me be the first to be boring and request you search first, ask later. Just about
anything has been asked before 
Just try searching for size issues ! 6'3" will fit a stock chassis even if you are stocky,
but if you are particularly (ahem) wide +2 may be for you.
Sierra is common now and Haynes chassis available pre built or pre cut tubes. I think
the Haynes is based on independent rear suspension using Sierra diff/hubs etc. The
book is based on the Escort (live) axle.
[Edited on 10/3/10 by NigeEss]
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blakep82
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 12:23 AM |
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awesomeness 
welcome along, i'm sure the extending of the chassis isn't too difficult. someone with knowledge of various manufacturers will be along in
a minute to give advice of what chassis will be comfortable for you. i've never even sat in a 7-a-like, so i'm not help on that
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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James
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 12:45 AM |
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Greetings,
Firstly, you will be fine in a normal Haynes Roadster (which is the same size as a Locost but 2" wider).
I'm 6' 2" and made my Locost a fair bit bigger and now regret this. I would have been fine in a standard one.
Secondly, The Roadster is designed around a Sierra donor. You can deviate from this if you want, but it makes it *much* more complex and time
consuming and your build will take much longer! I know this from personal experience!
Hope that helps,
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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russbost
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 08:11 AM |
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Well congratulations on having a good name anyway!
Welcome to the nuthouse - you will find the answers to all of your probs (& many more) on here!
Russ!
I no longer run Furore Products or Furore Cars Ltd, but would still highly recommend them for Acewell dashes, projector headlights, dominator
headlights, indicators, mirrors etc, best prices in the UK! Take a look at http://www.furoreproducts.co.uk/ or find more parts on Ebay, user names
furoreltd & furoreproducts, discounts available for LCB users.
Don't forget Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses, made to your exact requirements in any of around 16 colours.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/furoreproducts/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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t16turbotone
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 08:23 AM |
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Hi and welcome, ime 6ft 5 and i built the mcsorley chassis which is 4 inches wider and 4 inches longer, i found it suited me very well, however when
me little brother is driving her he looks lost in space!!!
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sucksqueezebangblow
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 09:22 AM |
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Hi and welcome! I can't help re the book chassis' but i'm 6'1" and have loads of leg room to spare in the MNR Vortx, and
it's a really nice round tube chassis. Although you would need to get the body from them the rest could be sourced from anwhere.
Better to Burnout than to Fade Away JET METAL ~ AndySparrow © 
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wilkingj
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 09:53 AM |
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Hi Welcome to the Madhouse!
You will find lots of help here, and helpful people as well. I agree about the search facility, and think laterally if you cant find what you want,
it is ALL in there somewhere. If not dont be afraid to ask, and expect some humourous answers... we are a fun loving bunch.
My advice would be to take time off and get to the Stoneleigh kit Car show that will be on in a couple of months time.
Then you can sit in LOTS of cars, and try for size.
Do this BEFORE buying any chassis. You will be able to see and talk to the manufacturers. If you come to a decision, then go outside and trawl the
Owners stand for that make / model. Talk to people who have built and driven that model. I am sure someone would take you for a quick spin if you
aksed them nicely.
Do this BEFORE parting with your money. The owners will tell the the true story about how good the company is to deal with, rather than getting the
Sales speil from the company itself.
This will help you make a better and more informed decision.
As for me... Well Check out a Luego Viento. Its what I have and you willeasily fint in with room to spare. Its the biggest of all the Se7en kits. The
Luego Owners will be on site to talk to and show you what can be done. You dont have to fit a stinking V8 to start with, that can come later on.. You
never finish a kit car, as its so modifyable!
Have fun and visit Stoneleigh before you spend your money.
Its on the 2nd and 3rd May
http://www.grosvenorshows.co.uk/KitCar/KitCar.html
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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russ_16v
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 10:15 AM |
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Wow,
All i can say is thank you for the warm welcome!
Its nice to find a forum which you get nice people who simply don't shun you!
Thank you for all your advise, i will be stickwing with a Sierra as a doner vehicle, it does seem to be the easiest way!
One question you may be able to help me with, i sat it a home built Caterham, and although length was ok, the steering wheel was sat on my knees, and
i felt very quashed, my left elbow was half was into the passenger space!
The measurements i have so far for the chassis i looked at is 18inches from tranny tunnel to the side, so im guessing thats 18 inches for me to wedge
into?
Sorry for sounding a little dumb, i am a complete beginner when it comes to these, so i really want to make sure im going to be not making any
'rookie' mistakes!
Cheers again
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ashg
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 10:15 AM |
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you will fit in a haynes chassis fine. my mate is 6.6 and he fits in it just.
the rear suspension is independent in the newer book written by chris gibbs.
the donor for it is 100% sierra other than the steering rack which is from a mk2 escort (very easy to get hold of)
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
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eddie99
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 10:24 AM |
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Welcome to the forum. Im sure you will find someone local to you that you can see and maybe test sitting in their car etc...
http://www.elitemotorsporteng.co.uk/
Twitter: @Elitemotoreng
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elite-Motorsport-Engineering/153409081394323
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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russ_16v
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 10:48 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ashg
you will fit in a haynes chassis fine. my mate is 6.6 and he fits in it just.
the rear suspension is independent in the newer book written by chris gibbs.
the donor for it is 100% sierra other than the steering rack which is from a mk2 escort (very easy to get hold of)
Thats brilliant mate, thank you!
And you think the width wil be ok? im not big by any means, about average, im just panicing about everything!
That is the book i have, the newer version
Thanks again everyone
[Edited on 10/3/10 by russ_16v]
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 11:21 AM |
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Could do with finding a few people around Wiltshire who will let you sit in a few different options. It really is the best way to come to a decision.
We all know that we are all a bit different in the way we are put together so the "I'm xx tall and xx wide and fit in a xx" are of
limited use. It'll be your car and you'll have to be comfortable.
Might be worth putting a bit of a plea on here to see who is local. If your preference is for the Haynes then I believe that there is a Haynes
Roadster specific forum on t'interweb. Might be worth a similar post on there to see if there is a local one that you can have a sit in.
Cheers
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MikeR
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 11:32 AM |
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My experience (i'm 6'3" is that the seat makes all the difference. I'm building a Ron Champion book original chassis and
think i've got an inch or two of room behind me. I'm making my own seat from foam (like race drivers do). This gives me more room. If i
bought a seat from one of the big companies i guess i'd lose 3+ inches of leg room.
When you sit in a car look at the seat and how much space it steals. Ask if someone who is building a car and hasn't added a seat will let you
sit in the chassis.
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russ_16v
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 11:33 AM |
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Thanks again for all the advise guys
im thinking the Heynes as a base (as its my first build) but i expect i will deviate from the design in places as we all do!
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iank
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 11:59 AM |
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What you fit in depends if you are long in the leg or long in the body.
Best to try a few out for size, as Mike says the seat also makes a big difference.
Welcome btw
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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StevenB
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| posted on 10/3/10 at 01:43 PM |
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hi and welcome.
A wee tip regarding searching the site...
If you are using multiple keywords insert % between the words.
ie gearbox manual speed ...finds nothing
gearbox%manual%speed ....finds lots
Cheers
Steve
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