hello, new to site. hope to build soon.
i have cracking competition talbot sunbeam bits. Talbot engine ,twin 45s, sunbeam axle and lsd, ap brakes, ford wheels, ford gearbox. talbot quick rack. For those who have built their cars ...im i wasting my time useing these parts? Can i use my old talbot axle? Or am i wise to build useing only ford stuff? Help me out guys.

There a re no rules to what you can use

If you are building from scratch ie from the "book", then you can build what ever you want around the parts you have

My car is a book built car with ford parts, and doing it this way was considabley easier than a lot of other poster's on this site do,

If you want a straight forward build without any hicups, then use ford items, and then when the car is finished do what ever you want

If you are to use the talbert items, I am pretty sure you will have a few headaches along the line

but anything is possible with the right tools, and expertise, and money

I can only think of a couple of areas that may need a good looking at, presuming that you will be building your own chassis:

Engine - will it fit in the hole? You will have to consider length, width AND especially height. Otherwise, no reason for not using it, if it's good.

Back axle - is the width between the brake backing plates wide enough to match the chassis? The minimum is the width of the Escort axle, with a maximum probably that of a Cortina axle (can't remember the sizes, before you ask!).

I can't think of anything else... and remember that one of the first Locosts used bits out of a Morris Minor, so anything's possible!

good luck,

David

Talbot Sunbeam, Hillman Avenger were built on the same floorpan and used the same pcd as Ford so the axle should be alright to use. For the rest it's just a matter of making them fit.

Robin,

Go for it.

Then if a Lotus lump turns up

Seriously, unless there's is anything really weird I can't see you having a problem. Visually comparing pics from the bookand the parts you have should give you an idea as to suitability.

ATB

Simon

Hi Robin,
welcome.


I'm intrigued.


Paul G

before the lotus sunbeam was created the sunbeam seemed to engineered to accept a shed load of ford parts.

wheels, brakes, and even both 3 ltr essex and 2 ltr pintos fitted straight in on the original mounts with very little modification.

Don't know if the type 9 gearbox will fit, but wouldn't be surprised if it does.

I also recall some sunbeams running capri 2.8 inj drive axles with the lsd.

it was surprising just how much it seemed to accept ford parts, and as most classic ford guys use princess/marina multi pot front calipers for better braking these too fit sunbeam hubs and the brake effort is much better.

and if the parts can go one way onto sunbeam then there should be little to create problems the other way and onto the road in a locost

hope i've helped

regards
Ewan