Alez
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| posted on 27/8/03 at 05:06 PM |
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Clueless about kit contents.. help?
Greetings!
I'm considering building a MK Indy-Blade (bike engine) and I would like to do a first cost estimation to actually make a decision (I'm
quite tight on money).
Unfortunately, I'm completely clueless (and quite thick) as to kit cars or cars for that matter. To make things worse, I'm Spanish and
can't always find a suitable translation for some of the bits and pieces' names.
I've been looking at the price list at http://www.m-keenan.freeserve.co.uk/price.htm where I've seen a "starter kit", a
"deluxe kit", and a comprehensive list of "individual parts and accessories". The problem is I don't know exactly what I
need to buy.
My question is: Could anybody tell positively which bits would I need to buy from MK in order to build a car which is exactly the same as the turnkey
one they are selling, i.e., fully SVA compliant?
Also, I'm thinking in buying the bike engine second hand in Spain to save money (in transport, to start with!). Is it worth considering buying
any other "big" parts separately / 2nd hand apart from that? (Sierra bits?) Can I buy these 3rd party pieces from MK at all, either new or
refurbished, anyway?
Your help is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Alex
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alister667
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| posted on 27/8/03 at 09:06 PM |
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Hola! Well I'm hopefully gonna start building an Indy with a Fireblade engine soon, so I'll try to explain it as I understand it.
I'm gonna go with (for an easy build)
Deluxe Starter Kit.
This has your chassis, most of your suspension and the body panels (fibreglass bodywork and the aluminium bulk head and floor panel). MK will also
modify some of your Sierra parts as required.
Fireblade Engine.
Car needs this to move.
Sierra Donor Car.
This is going to supply your front uprights, steering rack and steering column, prop shaft, differential, drive shafts and rear brakes. Also will be
a useful source for small bits such as horn, handbrake, switches etc.
Other parts From MK I'm gonna buy, cause I'm useless with a welder!
Fireblade mounting cradle, this allows the engine to be easily bolted into the chassis.
Sprocket adapter. This connects the gearbox output from the bike engine to the propshaft from the sierra.
Stainless steel exhaust. I suspect you could try making your own, but I'm not that handy!
Bike Gear Change Kit. This is a linkage system that allows you to operate the bike sequential 'box from a gearstick.
Other Bits and pieces
Seats. You might be able to make your own up, or MK do a very light fibreglass shell, but I want a bit of comfort so I'm going for Cobra R7s.
Remember the seats have to be very narrow to fit into a 7 chassis. The sierra ones won't fit with out a session on a chainsaw!
Electrics.
I'm going to use the wiring loom and the clocks (speedometer, revs etc) from the motorbike, the lights/mirrors/tail lights I will buy from a kit
car specialist.
Brakes,
The deluxe kit has a brake pipe kit, and I'm gonna buy a couple of master cylinders new (so I can use a brake bias bar).
No doubt I've ommitted something major, my advice is to read this forum inside and out. Just about every question I could think of has been
answered at some point or another (Thanks to all the posters for the inspiration btw). I hope I can return the favour a little.
I guessing at 6000 sterling should see me close. If you are prepared to make things for yourself obviously you can greatly reduce this cost.
I'm not sure if MK will sell you the Sierra parts, with old sierras being cheap over here I imagine it's handy to have one to rob bits
from.
As for SVA complience, that will also depend on how you build it, it's hard (!) to guarantee a pass!
I should finish by saying I HAVEN'T STARTED MINE YET! So you should take all my 'advice' with a healthy pinch of salt!
Best of luck
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alister667
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| posted on 27/8/03 at 11:29 PM |
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Oh yes, you'll need wheels and tyres (obviously enough) and a fuel tank and possibly a fuel pump.
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MK7
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| posted on 28/8/03 at 07:46 AM |
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Hi, I'm building a pinto based Indy but I still had to buy the following additional bits that weren't in the kit.
Top front wishbone balljoints
Bottom front wishbone balljoints
Track rod ends (Not essential but probably very desirable).
Good luck
Russell
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Mark&Alice
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| posted on 28/8/03 at 09:24 AM |
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What you need...
Ok, so I am a particularly sad case, but I have got an excel spreadsheet showing everything that we have bought to build our pinto based MK Indy -
down to the last washer! It shows cost, supplier and in a lot of cases part numbers as well. If you are interested in having a copy drop me a u2u
with your email address
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Alez
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| posted on 28/8/03 at 02:01 PM |
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Guys,
Thanks a lot for spending some time in helping me. After reading your msgs, I don't think it is realistic to try to build the car myself. I
understand that I can not procure the whole thing in one go from one place, which means I need at least a bit of expertise to be able to identify any
missing pieces. I may go for a turnkey if I can afford it (which is not the case now..).
I will keep reading the forum though, it looks like an excellent learning resource thanks to you guys.
Cheers,
Alex
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 28/8/03 at 05:18 PM |
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half the fun is looking at other peoples cars and shopping round at shows etc,no two cars are the same,just go for it!
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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James
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| posted on 29/8/03 at 02:33 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Alez
Guys,
Thanks a lot for spending some time in helping me. After reading your msgs, I don't think it is realistic to try to build the car myself. I
understand that I can not procure the whole thing in one go from one place, which means I need at least a bit of expertise to be able to identify any
missing pieces. I may go for a turnkey if I can afford it (which is not the case now..).
I will keep reading the forum though, it looks like an excellent learning resource thanks to you guys.
Cheers,
Alex
Mate,
If I can do it then anyone can! I've built mine from scratch and a 'kit' Locost from the likes of MK or Luego is even easier.
All you've got to do is break it down into small jobs and be determined, ask advice where needed and do each little bit in the right order!
I'm remember someone on here once saying that if you're physically able to make a cup of tea then you can build a Locost.
I think the abbreviation is KISS: keep it simple stupid. If you arse around and change plans to IRS (like me) or make it bigger (like me) or fit a
non-standard engine (like me) then all you're doing is making life hard on yourself!
Go on, you can do it!
Chees,
James
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alister667
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| posted on 30/8/03 at 10:15 AM |
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I hope I didn't scare you off! James is right, it's all broken down into smaller jobs and it really isn't that bad! If you want
your mind made up, get someone to take you for a drive in a car similar to that you want to build, it certainly worked wonders for my motivation! Do
a bit of reading on the subject and ask lots of questions, it isn't too bad honest!
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Alez
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| posted on 1/9/03 at 11:02 AM |
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Hi Alister,
It was just too kind of you to post all that information for me, so please don't feel guilty if I decide not to go for it just now. I really
appreciate your help and I'll certainly have my own bike 7 sometime anyway: You haven't changed my mind after all, don't worry!
Cheers,
Alex
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