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Author: Subject: What are your top tips when doing a build?
JeffHs

posted on 29/11/12 at 07:37 PM Reply With Quote
Never give up, just walk away for a day or so, then come back refreshed. Don't forget it's supposed to be fun. You'll get there in the end and the big grin on your face will wipe away all of the misery getting there.
Keep it simple, keep it locost and remember if it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid.

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bodger

posted on 29/11/12 at 08:04 PM Reply With Quote
Don't get too precious about that shiny new powder coated chassis. At some point your going to have to start driling holes in it, filing it, maybe welding it & patching it up with paint. I spent a lot of wasted time at the beginning prevaricating over what to do when I probably should have just got stuck into it. You'll make mistakes, put things in the wrong place, it's all part of the learning process & most things are fixable. And if you can't figure something out, sleep on it, you wake up the next day, take another look & it seems obvious. Don't know how it happens but it's usually the case.
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jonabonospen

posted on 29/11/12 at 09:31 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Fix a large whiteboard to your garage wall. You'll find it invaluable.........

Phil


That idea I like. .......... searching for whiteboards on ebay now





MAC#1 ZX10R WORX BUILD BLOG: http://mac1-zx10r-worx-build-blog.tumblr.com/

MY PERSONAL BLOG: http://jonabonospen.tumblr.com/

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blakep82

posted on 29/11/12 at 09:38 PM Reply With Quote
it WILL take a while. i'm 9 years in now.... erm, yeah...
and it will cost more than expected, i had a budget of £3000 when i started. didn't ever think the axle alone would take up nearly half of that

certain milestones will make you very happy though, and thats what help keep you going





________________________

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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mcerd1

posted on 29/11/12 at 10:33 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jonabonospen
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Fix a large whiteboard to your garage wall. You'll find it invaluable.........

Phil


That idea I like. .......... searching for whiteboards on ebay now


the roof / bonnet off the donor car in a nice locost alternative (obviously helps if it not too dark a colour...)





-

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jonabonospen

posted on 29/11/12 at 10:51 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
quote:
Originally posted by jonabonospen
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Fix a large whiteboard to your garage wall. You'll find it invaluable.........

Phil


That idea I like. .......... searching for whiteboards on ebay now


the roof / bonnet off the donor car in a nice locost alternative (obviously helps if it not too dark a colour...)


Unfortunately for me, Kawasaki ZX10R's don't have a bonnet or a roof





MAC#1 ZX10R WORX BUILD BLOG: http://mac1-zx10r-worx-build-blog.tumblr.com/

MY PERSONAL BLOG: http://jonabonospen.tumblr.com/

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stevegough

posted on 30/11/12 at 08:09 AM Reply With Quote
And lastly, remember it will only cost you £250............

.......or so





Luego Locost C20XE.
Build start: October 6th 2008.
IVA passed Jan 28th 2011.
First drive Feb 10th 2011.
First show: Stoneleigh 1st/2nd May 2011.
'Used up' first engine may 3rd 2011!
Back on the road with 2nd engine may 24th
First PASA mad drive 26/7/11
Sold to Mike in Methyr Tydvil 19/03/14

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FuryRebuild

posted on 30/11/12 at 08:19 AM Reply With Quote
Get familiar with The Rules





When all you have is a hammer, everything around you is a nail.

www.furyrebuild.co.uk

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mcerd1

posted on 30/11/12 at 09:39 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jonabonospen
quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
quote:
Originally posted by jonabonospen
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Fix a large whiteboard to your garage wall. You'll find it invaluable.........

Phil


That idea I like. .......... searching for whiteboards on ebay now


the roof / bonnet off the donor car in a nice locost alternative (obviously helps if it not too dark a colour...)


Unfortunately for me, Kawasaki ZX10R's don't have a bonnet or a roof


ok second locost option for you - any old glass window and paint it white on the back





-

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GOJO

posted on 30/11/12 at 10:21 AM Reply With Quote
Buy shite buy twice.
Plan ahead for fixing bolts nuts rivets( nowt worse than ordering parts and having no bolts ) oh and stainless of course
Leave the body work till last
First job spin the chassis and rivet the floor
If you think it should be powder coated or anodized GET IT DONE!
If you wouldnt be happy with the outcome if you had paid
someone to do it , rethink because its a long time built

Ask marc or colin about ocd involved on my brown and creme mk gave me great satisfaction, getting customers coming up to me that were impressed with the detail and finish, mark and colin also said best mk build they'd ever seen.

Good luck! Oh and you will blow your budget

[Edited on 30/11/12 by GOJO]

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RichardK

posted on 30/11/12 at 12:33 PM Reply With Quote
Use normal nuts and switch to nylocs at the end.

Cheers

R





Gallery updated 11/01/2011

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whitestu

posted on 30/11/12 at 12:46 PM Reply With Quote
Write a realistic project plan and try to stick to it. This helped me with motivation and helps get the build finished quicker.

Write two budget plans. The first is to share with your wife / girlfriend and the second is what you actually spend!

Stu

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jonabonospen

posted on 30/11/12 at 02:13 PM Reply With Quote
After Hellfire's great suggestion of a whiteboard, I went and got one...... well it's actually a none working SmartBoard, from a IT recycling place in Leeds for the grand sum of £13.49, which I think for a 50" board is pretty good. And here it is installed in the garage:







MAC#1 ZX10R WORX BUILD BLOG: http://mac1-zx10r-worx-build-blog.tumblr.com/

MY PERSONAL BLOG: http://jonabonospen.tumblr.com/

NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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jonabonospen

posted on 30/11/12 at 02:15 PM Reply With Quote
Lots of 'top tips' so far on planning and budgeting, but what actual physical elements of the work? Things like; best tip for drilling bodywork (just what I was thinking before), or best tip for type of grease to use for certain element, best tip for fitting seats...... etc etc etc





MAC#1 ZX10R WORX BUILD BLOG: http://mac1-zx10r-worx-build-blog.tumblr.com/

MY PERSONAL BLOG: http://jonabonospen.tumblr.com/

NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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MikeR

posted on 30/11/12 at 02:40 PM Reply With Quote
You need room, light and warmth.

If things aren't going well and its freezing in the garage you're not going to go there.

Take your time. I'm in year [cough]. Friends stopped counting the years and counted the g/f as the number was lower.

Do things once. Don't upgrade till later (says the man on his second engine (3rd and 4th are behind the garage), second gearbox, third axle, second rear end design...... you get the idea. Now i've got two kids under 2 years old I dont get the chance to go in the garage and it frustrates me.

Make time for your misses, make sure she supports you and is happy for you to disappear (lost one g/f that way when i decided to do a push on the car).

Remember this is fun.

As for actual hints and tips. Get good tools like drill bits. cheap ones go blunt and make life very difficult. Get the car in the air so you're not bending over - but get a way to get it down (i bought an engine crane but it was still difficult).

remember, this is fun

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mcerd1

posted on 30/11/12 at 04:21 PM Reply With Quote
this tip is second-hand: use good cobalt drill bits for the rivet holes - they last ages before going blunt compared to HSS ones





-

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PeteS2k

posted on 30/11/12 at 06:23 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
this tip is second-hand: use good cobalt drill bits for the rivet holes - they last ages before going blunt compared to HSS ones


^^^^^ This! First lesson I learned!

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Hellfire

posted on 30/11/12 at 06:51 PM Reply With Quote
Loving the Smartboard and a great price too!

On the subject of drills, buy a small bench grinder and learn how to sharpen drill bits. (If you don't know already) It'll save you a small fortune on drill bits and will come in handy for other things too. An essential piece of equipment IMHO

Phil

[Edited on 30-11-12 by Hellfire]






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jossey

posted on 30/11/12 at 08:02 PM Reply With Quote
Ignore all the above and learn the hard way :-)

Just double your budget and don't ever ever ever visit the for sale section on here lol





Thanks



David Johnson

Building my tiger avon slowly but surely.

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stevegough

posted on 1/12/12 at 10:29 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jonabonospen
Lots of 'top tips' so far on planning and budgeting, but what actual physical elements of the work? Things like; best tip for drilling bodywork (just what I was thinking before), or best tip for type of grease to use for certain element, best tip for fitting seats...... etc etc etc


Ok, one technique I discovered for saving my aching arms (+ keeping swarf out my eyes)! when drilling all those holes for the rivets upwards (bodywork sides went on after the engine was trial - fitted) so I couldn't turn it upside down like most folk did.

See pics!

Rescued attachment SDC11703 (Large).JPG
Rescued attachment SDC11703 (Large).JPG


Rescued attachment SDC11702 (Large).JPG
Rescued attachment SDC11702 (Large).JPG






Luego Locost C20XE.
Build start: October 6th 2008.
IVA passed Jan 28th 2011.
First drive Feb 10th 2011.
First show: Stoneleigh 1st/2nd May 2011.
'Used up' first engine may 3rd 2011!
Back on the road with 2nd engine may 24th
First PASA mad drive 26/7/11
Sold to Mike in Methyr Tydvil 19/03/14

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Irony

posted on 1/12/12 at 11:59 PM Reply With Quote
Hard wire a extension cord into wall with an appropriately switched socket. If the extension cannot be removed it can't be lost.

Don't neglect the other half, they will be there for you when it goes wrong.

If you have a problem some one here has probably solved it.

Don't mention bec vs cec.

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stevegough

posted on 2/12/12 at 05:50 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Irony

Don't mention bec vs cec.









Luego Locost C20XE.
Build start: October 6th 2008.
IVA passed Jan 28th 2011.
First drive Feb 10th 2011.
First show: Stoneleigh 1st/2nd May 2011.
'Used up' first engine may 3rd 2011!
Back on the road with 2nd engine may 24th
First PASA mad drive 26/7/11
Sold to Mike in Methyr Tydvil 19/03/14

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T66

posted on 2/12/12 at 07:50 AM Reply With Quote
A4 hardback ringbinder books for notes/jottings - I have about 5 on the go, in the garage, next to the bed, workbag etc.
Full of measurements, ideas / thoughts, and countless lists of things to buy.



Budgets - I started with a spreadsheet , recording costs.... I got scared when it went over £12k and stopped counting about 2 years ago, also
everyone asks when you plan to finish it, I stopped worrying about that 2 years ago too, who cares ! leave deadlines at work.






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907

posted on 2/12/12 at 12:07 PM Reply With Quote
Buy your bodywork in flat pack form. Saves loads of storage space.

Mine was only 10.5 mm thick.



Paul G

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jonabonospen

posted on 6/12/12 at 08:16 PM Reply With Quote
Just a little spot of advice for anyone else wanting to put up a whiteboard in the garage; DONT buy a SmartBoard as the whiteboard pens are difficult to rub off and leave marks. Good news though was that I complained to the seller who told me that it could be used as a whiteboard, and got a partial refund of £8, which I then spent £8 on some self-adhesive whiteboard sheet and stuck that to the board. Made it easier than removing the board, buying another, then drilling more holes in the garage wall. Bit of blue tape over the joint down the middle and to split the board up and hey presto...... all that was left was for me to test the pens out



I'll never make it as a graffiti artist that's for sure





MAC#1 ZX10R WORX BUILD BLOG: http://mac1-zx10r-worx-build-blog.tumblr.com/

MY PERSONAL BLOG: http://jonabonospen.tumblr.com/

NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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