Hi there thank you for reading this. last year for my 18th birthday i got the Ron Champion book and now nearly 19 i am deciding to start and TRY to build a locost. I have tried welding once and not found it to difficult and my willingness to learn and determination are very good. i am hoping to base the car on a sierra with a Vauxhall 2ltr XE or Zetec. im realling wondering where are the real points of difficulty and i know budget will play a strong role but is it possible with £1500. thank you for reading this again.

I doubt you'll manage £1500 with an XE.

Adam

i would say that it is possible to come in a t under £1500 and still have a really tidy car, others may dissagree. Personally my own project will definatley come in under that but i must say i have been really really lucky.

If i were you i would use the donor engine to start with and then change once its on the road.

if you want to save money you could dispatch with screen, which means no wipers or screen heater build you own seats (the book says do this but i think most people buy posh ones) you could use a cheapo trailer board for rear lights. just read through the forum there are loads of tips.

one thing its generally thought to be easier/ cheaper to buy your grp body work, to save a bit more money you could use thin steel instead of ali for the body panels

liam

[Edited on 16/8/04 by liam.mccaffrey]

im with liam, it cost very little to use the donor engine initially, just dont waste money buying an exhaust etc for it. Bodge your own!

as for the seats, is spent £200 on mine, which is a lot less than you could spend if you got carried away. Next time i will just use foam glued to the floor, maybe raised on wood if necessary.

you can cut many corners to save money, usually it just costs more time! so it depends if your time is worth more than your money!

Build as simple, fast and cheap as you possibly can. The result won't be the car you dream of but it will still outperform most production cars. When the first one is on the road you start a new, more “serious” build.

I bought the book mid July this year and had never picked up a welder. I will have a rolling chassis next week - the point is go for it! (I'm going for the quickest scratch build)

I decided to go for the Zetec engine and use a Sierra donor. Although my engine only cost £100 by the time it's running the drivetrain will have cost almost £1500 with manifolds, carbs, ecu, sump, clutch etc etc. If I was doing it again I would use a 2L Pinto - free with your donor! Probably put it on 40s but that would be optional unlike the Zetec.

I would think you could have a good car for about £2K using the Sierra engine.

Just my 2p.

Cheap Seats... and MOST comforatable ones!

Take 1 large strong plastic bag, and a few of tins of Polyuretheane Expanding Foam.

1. Place Bag in car.
2. Sit on bag
3. Get assistant to dispense foam into the bag... Not tooooo much...
4. Fill to personal satisfaction, ie enough under your Bum, and behind you.
5. Sit there for 20 mins or so whaile it goes off.

You now have a custom moulded seat that is specifically moulded to you body.

You will need to make it a bit more solid, perhaps some fibreglass over the finished seat to give it a durable skin..

Best Regards

GeoffW