pekwah1
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| posted on 16/11/08 at 11:24 PM |
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New builder advice
Hi Guys,
I know that this site is primarily for skilled persons making their own chassis, but i'm not that talented.
I'm thinking of buying a kit and i stumbled across this locost variant from Aries Motorsport.
I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of this company/kit and whether it's any good?
Seems a bargain for what's included, i know it'd be a lot cheaper making it all yourself, but i don't think i'd make a great
job of welding a chassis so would rather buy one.
Planning to use an mx5 as a donor...
Any opinions would be good!
Thanks,
Andy
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phoenix70
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| posted on 16/11/08 at 11:30 PM |
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There are probably more people on this site, that have bought there chassis, than made there own, so you've come to the right place.
Can't help you on the Aries, but welcome to the madhouse anyway..
Scott
[Edited on 16/11/08 by phoenix70]
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blakep82
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| posted on 16/11/08 at 11:43 PM |
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i think scotts right! i certain;y didn't build mine, so don't be worrying about all that 
there's plenty of people on here who aren't even building a 7! again, me included... there's a few bike engine mini's,
reliants. TVR restorations, so a cracking wealth of info on here. basically, if you have ANY technical question, someone knows the answer.
But, on this occasion, its not me, but i'm sure someone knows about Aries 
________________________
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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jimgiblett
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| posted on 16/11/08 at 11:50 PM |
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Aries motorsport bought the rights for the Stuart Taylor Motorsport Locost.
This is a very popular set up in the 750MC locost race series.
MX5 is a good choice with plenty of donors and tuning goodies.
I think Cyana Sportscars are also using MX5 drive trains and can supply pretty much anything you need if you dont want to dig around the breakers
yards.
- Jim
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mookaloid
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| posted on 16/11/08 at 11:53 PM |
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Welcome member number 18689!
Isn't Aires that do the Stuart Taylor cars?
If so they aren't a bad design - it's just whether or not Aires themselves give good customer service and if their engineering is ok.
I've heard nothing either way, but if they are located near to you then that makes it easier to pop in to see them if you have questions etc.
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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twybrow
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| posted on 17/11/08 at 12:17 AM |
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I'm building a Stuart Taylor, and all looks good so far with the chassis. I have a live axle version in build, with a Daytona engine up front.
Good luck with the build....! 
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 17/11/08 at 01:12 AM |
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I'm building the IRS version with a bike engine and it's going together ok. (It's been a slow build, but that's down to
me!).
If you are still pricing everything up bear in mind that you will need a lot more than just the chassis. I bought pretty much everything to get me to
a rolling chassis stage from Aries (inc wheels & tyres and bodywork) and the total was over £5k.
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BenB
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| posted on 17/11/08 at 10:32 AM |
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I built a STM (now Aries) car. The bloke that runs Aries used to work for STM and is generally considered a good bloke. I'm not sure what his
fabrication infrastructure is like- he might even use the same people that STM used....
As said, good car (proven track record)... I'd enquire about lead times on various bits....
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mr henderson
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| posted on 17/11/08 at 11:02 AM |
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Do Aries do a kit specifically for the MX5? If they don't, I know MNR do. Got to be better than altering bits or getting bits from other cars
John
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 17/11/08 at 12:14 PM |
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Im building my first locost from scratch.
Building a chassis is easy, so long as you have a bit of space, and a flat work surface to build it on.
If youre not that good at welding, you will be by the time you get the top rails on.
I bought a metal pack from Armoto, which was pre-cut and of excellent quality. Then bought a flat 8x4' 2/4" ply sheet and made a table in
the garage. The chassis is now nearly finished and built to within 0.5 degree tolerance.
If youre in need of information, PM me your email address, and ill send over all of the drawings and info that i have, and i might even have a .pdf
version of the "Book" somewhere...
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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procomp
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| posted on 17/11/08 at 01:58 PM |
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Hi.
Yep STM / Aries do do a MX5 based kit. They where the first to do so i believe. I think it's JAG forum member on here who has one up and
running.
Cheers Matt
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pekwah1
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| posted on 17/11/08 at 10:42 PM |
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Well i had an email back from steve who has informed that they are still developing the 'mx5 donor kit' which i'm assuming will be a
full kit that you will be able to simply buy an mx5 and have pretty much all the bits you'll need for the complete build.
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procomp
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| posted on 18/11/08 at 08:44 AM |
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Hi
Steve must have done away with the original MX5 kit. That was a conventional locost with irs and the MX5 running gear.
I take it he is now in the processes of doing a kit based around using more of the MX5's parts ?.
Cheers Matt
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pekwah1
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| posted on 18/11/08 at 10:26 PM |
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I'm not too sure tbh. On the website it clearly says that the locost chassis can be used with the crossflow or mx5 engine, and says that the
zetec is in development.
I'm not sure whether he meant that they're working on a kit specifically based towards being able to use an mx5 donor car and have a
complete setup?
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wilkingj
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| posted on 19/11/08 at 12:40 PM |
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Welcome to the Madhouse!..
There are people of all levels of experience on here. So dont worry about not being an expert!.
Stick around, you will get some excellent help on here.
Use the Search facility, as most things have been done to death before.
Dont be afraid to ask.
Dont worry about some of the cheeky replies... We all have a sense of humour.
Good luck with whatever build you choose.
Its all good fun, and you will always learn something from here.
Finally we all like plenty of pictures in your archive, and progress reports. A picture paints a 1000 words.
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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