with respect I doubt you'll
manage even half that!! In answer to your question the milage shouldn't be an issue as long as you find a good engine/car
Looking around for suitable donors (my missus has convinced me not to go for new parts first time because I don't want to make a cat's @rse
of something expensive and ruin it) and I'm lucky to find anything in the sierra/mx5 lot with less than 90k miles on it.
Is this really so important? I'm going to be putting at least 15k a year on it myself so is getting it reconditioned a good idea? I know a few
things (check for smoke, white stuff on the oil cap etc) but is there anything I can do to prolong life?
engine rebuild?
Have I misunderstood or are you saying you're expecting to drive over 15,000 miles in a year in a Locost with respect I doubt you'll
manage even half that!!
In answer to your question the milage shouldn't be an issue as long as you find a good engine/car
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
...I'm going to be putting at least 15k a year on it myself....
Milage has nothing to do with rot... my 'best' car was a Montego Turbo, mint engine, rotten to the core body... next up 287K Rover 214,
knackered engine and box, mint body.
Merc 190e taxi a few years ago in Portugal, 695K on the clock all going well.
Feature in Classicford I think, zetec rebuild at 170K still had honing marks on the bores.
Its all the luck of the draw....
id say save the money youd spend getting the parts ready for 15k miles a year strain, just tidy them up, and spend it on a car with a roof thats drivable in heavy traffic.
How about ussing the sierra as a donor and getting an older zetec for your engine.
I managed to get a sierra (minus engine) then got a jan 92 xr3i 1.8i off ebay for £100.
Sold lots of the car parts apart from the zetec engine. After selling parts off it, in all cost me about £60 which included practically new tyres.
That engine is pre 94 so has no cat. It also has the zetec pump and smaller sump than the mondeo ones.
Post sva if I want to upgrade to a new 2.0l zetec I already have pre cat sva and smaller sump and pump
quote:
Originally posted by tendoshingan
How about ussing the sierra as a donor and getting an older zetec for your engine.
I managed to get a sierra (minus engine) then got a jan 92 xr3i 1.8i off ebay for £100.
Sold lots of the car parts apart from the zetec engine. After selling parts off it, in all cost me about £60 which included practically new tyres.
That engine is pre 94 so has no cat. It also has the zetec pump and smaller sump than the mondeo ones.
Post sva if I want to upgrade to a new 2.0l zetec I already have pre cat sva and smaller sump and pump
youre building a locost to do motorway commutes in?
all year round?
It would account for about 75% of it's use yeah. Don't shout at me how many 4x4s have never done anything more than bump up a curb?
I'll be going to track days and the like, whatever else is round here, plus there's the 6am blast home down the country roads 
^^^ I don't think that any of us are saying that you should only use it for track days etc.......
..... I think most of us are just concerned because its not exactly the best suited car for bad weather and/or heavy traffic
(although there are a few people who use them every day)
out of interest have you ever had a shot in one ? (even as a passenger)
if not where abouts are you in the country ?
[Edited on 11/2/09 by mcerd1]
Never been in one, I was going to put a roof on it though.. I'm rarely in heavy traffic, it's at least moving.
I'm in Ellesmere Port, near Chester if anyone's offering a ride lol
Blimey - I have to say that driving a 7alike on a busy motorway in the dark when it's raining and the temperature is in single figures is
something I'd probably actually pay not to have to do 
At least 95% of hoods leak to a greater or lesser extent so everything gets soggy, you can't leave anything in it when you get to where
you're going because you can't lock it, you'll need a larger than average petrol tank (or you'll be stopping every hour or so for
petrol) so luggage space will be reduced anyway, forget a radio because you wont hear it etc etc........
In my opinion these things are only toys really and that's by far what they're best at - but you seem to have made your mind up so, although
imho you're slightly mad to consider it!, I do wish you all the best 
The thing about a seven-style car is - it's a harsh ride, noisy, tiring, lousy weather protection (for most home built 7s anyway), less reliable
than a production tin-top, and they usually give terrible mpg (but that's usually due to the driver's right foot). They also have a
tendency to reverse direction in slippery conditions.
And those are their good points!
Think of a 7 as a glorified go-kart and you'll get the idea - tons of fun, but a bit tiring after a while, and not very practical.
We don't want to pee on your matches, but it's best that you start with a realistic goal. If you must commute in your kit car, you'd
be better off with something with a hard top, like a GTM.
Ok, any pictures? Not built a single thing yet so I'm open to ideas.
As for a roof as long as it keeps the rain off and doesn't blast my ears out that's fine
[Edited on 11/2/09 by Ninehigh]
I recon you should try and meet up with some of the other builders in your area and see if you can get a shot in one as a passenger
or failing that, go and visit on of the kit manufactures (who ever is near you) and get them to take you out (most will if you seem interested in
buying)
and then there are the kit car shows later in the year
once you've been out in one you'll either be totally put off or totally hooked
[Edited on 11/2/09 by mcerd1]
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Ok, any pictures?
Looks sweet, is there a book on that one or is it a kit car?
It's a kit - send ferg a U2U and he can give more details.
(or Google GTM Libra)