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What have i done!!!!!!!!!!
sting - 26/9/02 at 02:42 PM

Hi All
Finally after god knows how long i`ve taken the plunge and ordered a chassis and other bits.
It arrives in 2 weeks and i`ve still to sort the garage!
What i will need in the mean time is to source some donor parts ie cortina front hub/discs assembly and a sierra rear diff, shafts and rear discs, any suggestions on where to source?
Regards
Sting

Macca - 26/9/02 at 06:36 PM

WHich chassis have you ordered and how long has it been on order.Just trying to put a timescale together if I decide to buy and not make.
Cheers Col.

Jasper - 26/9/02 at 09:56 PM

I'd have thought the local scrappy is the best place.

sting - 27/9/02 at 09:56 AM

Hi Macca

Stuart taylor locosaki chassis 2 wks order time.£450 + £300 for irs plus drat.
I was expectating a lot longer wait than that, it has caught me slightly on the hop as i wasn`t expecting it til november!
Any way let battle commence.
Decided that it would cost about the same to make my own by the time i brought welding equipment etc.
i`ll probably get a load of flack now from the other groupies as this is the wimpey option?

regards
Sting

David Jenkins - 27/9/02 at 10:08 AM

quote:

Decided that it would cost about the same to make my own by the time i brought welding equipment etc.
i`ll probably get a load of flack now from the other groupies as this is the wimpey option?


You are right - if you need to buy welding kit for the sole reason of building your chassis than your home-made chassis may end up more expensive than a bought one.

However, if you already have a welder, or you wanted to buy one anyway, then you can exclude that cost from the total bill. In this case, the chassis will cost a lot less - < £100 for metal, £50 - £100 for gas and wire, a few £££ for sundries (grinding wheels, etc).

The biggest benefit of building your own chassis is when you have to modify the design for some reason. Otherwise a bought chassis is a valid option.

Time is also a factor: unless you have lots of spare time and are a reasonably skilled welder, you will finish your car a lot quicker with a bought chassis.

I have fallen into this trap - I decided to make my own petrol tank, but I've been playing around with it on and off for over 6 months and I only have a mis-shapen outer shell to show for my efforts. I am just about to put an order in to the Plastic Tank Man as this is now holding up progress!

Happy building!

David

Jasper - 27/9/02 at 06:23 PM

I will have spent about £300 including my mig, so it's certainly valid to buy a chassis, but then I've always fancid learning to weld anyway...

However it's not just the chassis then, as you've got to buy all the suspension/wishbones, probably pedal box etc etc, and I think it would become easy to just buy all the bits rather than having ago at making them....

I've really enjoyed making the chassis, and I've adapted it to suit my needs - longer footwell on the drivers side as I'm 6'2" and want to be comfortable, and brought the bike engine up into the passenger footwell by about 4" as well.

But some things just aren't worth making - suspension brackets and tank for starters, so you pays yer money and makes you life easier.

There's plenty of people on this list with a bought chassis, though you will be considered as second class citizens!!!! (only joking Bob!) mind you, you'll probably be on the road long b4 the rest of us...

mr minimal - 28/9/02 at 10:22 AM

you've just got to keep an eye out for a bargain. I did a Locoxflow earlier this year. I got uprights and engine from a mk5 cortina for £50 and a full sierra donor complete with rear discs (which is what you need for your uprights) for £120. Stuart Taylor should then shorten the drive shafts for you on exchange. For your prop use a sierra one and get an adaptor to fit to your bike engine sprocket shaft. Way cheaper than £180+vat stuart taylor want. Good luck

Jasper - 28/9/02 at 12:43 PM

And don't get your prop adapter from ST, MK sell the same thing £30 less.....(£50 rather than £80)

sting - 29/9/02 at 09:40 AM

Thanks guys.
Great knowledge from all of you.
Any other cost saving measures you can think of would be greatly appreciated........keep em coming.

Thanks again
Sting

mr minimal - 5/10/02 at 10:04 AM