mark_mcd
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 06:58 PM |
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The MK Indy
Hi,
I have been a serious car enthusiast for some time and read plenty mags/books/forums on the topic. I recently read an article on the MK Indy in a
magazine I had lying around and was even more pleased when it claimed you can build one of these things for under £4.5k. I am currently at University
studying engineering, have no practical experience on cars apart from a drivers licence (but would be VERY keen) and live at home. I have a few
questions if you don't all mind...
How much space do you generally need to make one of these things? It would be a CEC most likely with a Pinto engine.
Can anybody recommend any good books to look at?
How long to build - are we talking years and years? Could you do it in 2 if it was worked on a few times a week/evenings for instance?
Many thanks in advance! 
[Edited on 28/12/06 by mark_mcd]
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mookaloid
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:04 PM |
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Actually building the car is quite straightforward - you could build it in a couple of weeks if you did nothing else.
The tricky and time consuming bit is reconditioning all the running gear and sourcing all those 'extra' bits that you might want.
£4.5 K is about the lowest you cana build one for but if you are careful it should be possible.
Welcome by the way - and keep us posted on how you get on
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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nib1980
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:09 PM |
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I'm currently building in my single garage surrounded by the missus rubbish and I'm getting along ok, so long as you take time and care
it's fine.
just remember to plan plan plan, and you'll be fine.
oh and if in doubt ASK!
have fun!
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esn163
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:18 PM |
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Hi and welcome,
we managed to build our BEC Indy in about a year working weekends and occasional evenings in a single garage (but would have struggled to get an
engine crane in our garage for a CEC).
 
Description
May be worth taking a look at Build Your Own Sportscar - Ron Champion but not really required to build an Indy more use if building a locost.
HTH
Ed
Indy Build Photos
** Build pages **
Photo Bucket Pics
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ReMan
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:19 PM |
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Built mine in a carport, so dry but cold, timescalle as your's some evening, some weekends, took less than 2 years at a relaxed (beered) pace 
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:19 PM |
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thanks for the quick replys!
so you could build one in one side of a double garage fairly easily?
is there a lot of tools needed or can anybody recommend a 'kit' of tools that contain most of what is needed? any tips on this?
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whitestu
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:22 PM |
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Hi
I built mine for £5k OTR. If you want to do things on a budget a few good tips are:
1. Buy a donor that is in good shape - a few quid extra on a donor from which all the bits can be used without reconditioning is money well spent.
Mine cost £45 after I cashed the tax in and only needed a head gasket. It had done 65k and all the bits are in really good shape.
2. Try to buy the expensive bits [seats, exhausts etc.] secondhand. Lots of Westfield users are upgrading engines so Pinto / CVH bits can be picked
up at good prices.
3. Don't get carried away with cosmetic stuff like guages - the standard Sierra clocks work finr and give a lot less trouble at SVA time.
I built mine in 12 months - 1 evening per week and the odd weekend.
Again, keeping the build simple and as standard as poss speeds up the build time no end.
Good luck
Stu
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stevec
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:23 PM |
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I built mine in a single garage in under 12months,
Including SVA and registering.
So 2 years is definatley possible.
As for books this forum is possibly better than any book..
Good luck,
Steve.
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TimC
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:28 PM |
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In all seriousness... don't automatically rule out a bike engine - e.g. CBR1000F engine - I've seen them for £300!
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stevec
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:33 PM |
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For tools, A good set of basic mechanics tools and a good drill and drill bits, a rivet gun and a Rivnut gun would be useful.
Two strong trellis stands. Axle stands and a good jack.
Other suggestions will probably follow.
Steve.
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DIY Si
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:36 PM |
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Torque wrench,
Vice (big ish one ie 4-6" ),
Wiring crimper's and associated stuff.
A wide range of sockets and spanners always comes in handy, along with a 38mm socket, IIRC, for the hub nuts.
[Edited on 28/12/06 by DIY Si]
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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tom_loughlin
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:40 PM |
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I built mine while still at uni (I also did engineering...) and it took me the best part of 2 years to get it on the road. I went home each holiday,
and maybe for a weekend here and there.
Just make sure that the bits you need are waiting for you at home, that way, you shouldn't be waiting around for parts to arrive.
What uni, and what engineering do you do?
And about a good book - get ron champions book - buils a car for £250 (but forget the £250 bit) and also a manual called the car builders manual (both
published by haynes I think).
Good luck, and Enjoy 
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:54 PM |
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i would LOVE a bike engine but worry about insurance, running costs and their reliability. i'm currently 19 (20 this year). does anyone here
have a pinto-e-c? sorry about all the questions - i will browse the forum in much more detail!
how much is insurance on a car like this? would it be a no go?
will look about for a haynes sierra manual! i presume the other one people refer to is this -
http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=11021&langId=-1
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DIY Si
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 07:56 PM |
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About insurance, when I was 22 (in aug) it was £400 odd to insure my Indy Bird, which has in the region of 175 bhp. That was limited to 3,000 a year,
and you normally can't use NCB on these type of cars.
[Edited on 28/12/06 by DIY Si]
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 08:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by tom_loughlin
I built mine while still at uni (I also did engineering...) and it took me the best part of 2 years to get it on the road. I went home each holiday,
and maybe for a weekend here and there.
Just make sure that the bits you need are waiting for you at home, that way, you shouldn't be waiting around for parts to arrive.
What uni, and what engineering do you do?
And about a good book - get ron champions book - buils a car for £250 (but forget the £250 bit) and also a manual called the car builders manual (both
published by haynes I think).
Good luck, and Enjoy
At Aberdeen University doing an Meng. Course is general for the first two years (i.e. bits of everything) before you branch off for the last 3. I
hope to do mechanical and work in the automotive indusrty somewhere in the end. What engine did you use in your car? Did you have much previous
experience at such a thing or anyone to help?
Mark
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 08:20 PM |
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another question that has just popped into my head - will be location act against me i.e. how would i go about getting parts modified by the company?
i presume they would ship the kit to me or must i collect?
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Hellfire
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 08:27 PM |
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It really comes down to 'time v money'. If you take your time sourcing parts and are scrupulous, I reckon you could just about build a BEC
for the budget you have suggested and within the given time frame. If you would love a bike engine, then it really is worth exceeding your budget (if
need be) to obtain one If you didn't, you'd probably end up regretting it and spending more cash to convert to BEC at a later date.
Phil
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snoopy
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 08:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mark_mcd
another question that has just popped into my head - will be location act against me i.e. how would i go about getting parts modified by the company?
i presume they would ship the kit to me or must i collect?
front hubs are modified while you wait on collection day steering rack is exchange basis on collection day and steering shaft extension is modified
while you wait on collection day nothing else should be modded for a pinto build other than alternater bracket or smaller alternator and sump &
propshaft need shortining this also can be done for you before collection day if you arange this with them maybe exchange or you may have to post it
before hand or if you could always take the bits with you if you go up to order
[Edited on 28/12/06 by snoopy]
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tom_loughlin
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 09:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mark_mcd
At Aberdeen University doing an Meng. Course is general for the first two years (i.e. bits of everything) before you branch off for the last 3. I
hope to do mechanical and work in the automotive indusrty somewhere in the end. What engine did you use in your car? Did you have much previous
experience at such a thing or anyone to help?
Mark
I didn't have any help - my dad is a teacher, and not interested in cars, but my best mate helped a lot - we both didnt know mush about cars to
start with, but there is no better way of learning.
The best people to help are the people on here - There is no problem you will come across (no matter how stupid your problem is) that someone here
hasn't experienced.
I've just finished my M.Eng in engineering - was dsperate to get into automotive design, but the way the british industry is going at the moment
- there were simply no jobs.
Do you get the option of a placement sandwich year? I reckon you'd stand a lot better chance of getting an automotive job if you could land
yourself a placement - it took me 18months after graduating to get the job I have - and it's still not motorsport - but hopefully a good link
into the industry.
All the best
Tom
edit:
Oops forgot to say - my engine is a 2L zetec on bike Throttle bodies - The only corner I cut on the whole build was the engine - as and when I could
afford I Replaced the 1.8cvh lump from the sierra with the zetec.
Trust me - whatever engine you go for - however small and however much people discourage you, for a long time, you won't be able to wipe the
smile off your face while driving it - so i see it as a perfect upgrade when time/funds allow
[Edited on 28/12/06 by tom_loughlin]
[Edited on 28/12/06 by tom_loughlin]
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TimC
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 09:54 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
It really comes down to 'time v money'. If you take your time sourcing parts and are scrupulous, I reckon you could just about build a BEC
for the budget you have suggested and within the given time frame. If you would love a bike engine, then it really is worth exceeding your budget (if
need be) to obtain one If you didn't, you'd probably end up regretting it and spending more cash to convert to BEC at a later date.
Phil
I know of at least one MK Indyblade built for well below this. However, the guy's a genius when it comes to freebies/deals.
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cryoman1965
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| posted on 28/12/06 at 10:31 PM |
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Tools i found really useful.
1.A half Tap & Die set.
2.A small volt meter
3. Vernier Calipers
£4.5k is very achievable. Mine cost just over £5k and i spent over £1.1k on seats, alloys, tyres, dash. Looks nicer but not any better. Apart from the
Toyo tyres, they are great.
Che3rs Nige
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 29/12/06 at 12:07 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by tom_loughlin
quote:
Originally posted by mark_mcd
At Aberdeen University doing an Meng. Course is general for the first two years (i.e. bits of everything) before you branch off for the last 3. I
hope to do mechanical and work in the automotive indusrty somewhere in the end. What engine did you use in your car? Did you have much previous
experience at such a thing or anyone to help?
Mark
I didn't have any help - my dad is a teacher, and not interested in cars, but my best mate helped a lot - we both didnt know mush about cars to
start with, but there is no better way of learning.
The best people to help are the people on here - There is no problem you will come across (no matter how stupid your problem is) that someone here
hasn't experienced.
I've just finished my M.Eng in engineering - was dsperate to get into automotive design, but the way the british industry is going at the moment
- there were simply no jobs.
Do you get the option of a placement sandwich year? I reckon you'd stand a lot better chance of getting an automotive job if you could land
yourself a placement - it took me 18months after graduating to get the job I have - and it's still not motorsport - but hopefully a good link
into the industry.
All the best
Tom
edit:
Oops forgot to say - my engine is a 2L zetec on bike Throttle bodies - The only corner I cut on the whole build was the engine - as and when I could
afford I Replaced the 1.8cvh lump from the sierra with the zetec.
Trust me - whatever engine you go for - however small and however much people discourage you, for a long time, you won't be able to wipe the
smile off your face while driving it - so i see it as a perfect upgrade when time/funds allow
so i take it you needed to buy all the tools and stuff you needed yourself? how much was you build in total then? did your dad lend you his garage
? i was thinking of the same setup as your intital car i.e. 1.8/2.0 pinto car which sounds great!
can anyone tell me if the bike build is much harder than the ceb?
i presume the car can be made into a 'rolling shell' before anything is put into it (i.e. engine etc from the donor). my parents
wouldn't appreciate a broken up sierra sitting about for long 
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greggors84
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| posted on 29/12/06 at 12:56 AM |
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To get it rolling you will need a few bits from the Sierra, front hubs mainly.
As for tools, if you have nothing, get your self a decent quality socket and spanners set, Halfords do some good value ones. Then you will buy tools
as and when you need them as you go along.
There are a few things you might want to buy from the beginning as well, such as a vice, riveter, crimping tool for the loom, 41mm socket and a big
bar to get those hubnuts off!
Find out if there are any builders near you, I'm sure there are, try and get along to a meet, just because you don't have a car yet doesnt
mean you cant go along. When you get to know some people its great as you will find you will be able to borrow specialist tools and be able to get
some bargains. And of course you can return the favour when you start building.
Building the car won't help you with your degree, but it will make all your class mates envious, thats what I found anyway!
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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Hellfire
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| posted on 29/12/06 at 03:39 AM |
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Have a look at our build diary... best get a go in one of either (BEC vs CEC) then decide which type of engine you would like to opt for. Click on the
below image to go there...
Once you have completed your Degree you'll be moving abroad then. That's where most (read: all) Automotive is heading... Good Luck with
it.
Steve
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mark_mcd
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| posted on 29/12/06 at 12:17 PM |
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well i am in the aberdeen/grampian area. anybody about up here
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