Hello there!

Well, here I am... knocking on the door of the proverbial 'madhouse'!!

I've been reading the forum for just over a year now - picking up tips and taking advice from previous threads. Anyway, I'm Graham and from the knowledge I gained from visiting the forum I've purchased myself an MK Indy kit last November (and a 1988 Sierra a bit before that)!

So I thought it was a about time to register and introduce myself - as I've been reading your posts and feel like I know some of you already!!

I'm building the Indy with a 2 litre Pinto engine (just to keep the inital costs down and to get it through the SVA to start with). I'm planning to run either twin webers or bike carbs (any thoughts/preferances from you guys)? If anybody has either for sale, I would be very interested if the price is right. And to please all you BEC owners - I'm planning to put a bike engine in during the first winter service/rebuild. So hopefully I've pleased both CEC owners and BEC owners (I have lost count the amount of times I have read debates over which is better)!!

So how far along am I... well I'm feeling quite adventurous for this first post - so I'm going to try and attach a photo! (Wish me luck). I'll also try to attach one of the Pinto that I seemed to spend forever rebuilding and cleaning up.

Right, I think I have rambled on enough now, and I finished mounting the radiator earlier - so that's enough from me for one night!

Hope to hear from some of you soon.

Graham.

[Edited on 23/4/08 by GH1985]
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Hopefully another photo...
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Last one...
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were are you based

Wow... that was quick!

I'm in Basingstoke, Hampshire...

Did my photos load ok?

have you joined the mk owners club ?

Tidy build
Looking good!!!!
The jump from Pinto to BEC will be interesting

Welcome. Car looks nice, very tidy.
Steve.

quote:

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Originally posted by GH1985
I'm in Basingstoke, Hampshire...

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And another welcome!

Looking very good so far!

Martyn

Welcome to the forum.

Whereabouts in Basingstoke are you?

Steve

I know it's 'only a Pinto' but the motor looks great!

Welcome.

Car looks great! I had a look through my build photo's last night and found a few shots where it looked that clean!

Basingstoke, so you like roundabouts then!

Cheers

Mike

Welcome to the madhouse

build looks very good
welcome

Welcome to the forum, looking nice. what colour grp are you going for?

stuart

quote:

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Originally posted by GH1985
I'm planning to put a bike engine in during the first winter service/rebuild. So hopefully I've pleased both CEC owners and BEC owners

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welcome to the mad house. i would definitely recommend bike carbs on the pinto. best upgrade you would ever do for an immediate increase in power. once fitted they are very reliable and do not need constant tuning. if you can do ythe manifold yourself it is by far cheaper than webbers. you can also transplant to a bec from the pinto at a later date (i know i have done it twice) now i think i will stick with my zetec.Its looking like a very smart build

Another Welcome to the Mad House!

Looks very good, i'm sure from the pics that have been posted already the car will be a very good example when its finished.

Are you making the trip to Stoneleigh?

All the Best!
Mike

Yep, welcome to the madhouse. Stick a bike engine in it to start with. Do it once, do it right and don't worry about upsetting the CEC boys (they'll see the light eventually )

Phil

Best advice i can give is to build it with the engine you ultimately want now and not with one that only suits budget.

I have pinto and bike carbs - its great.

Wish id fitted 16V though.

Hi all,

Wow, it's great to see so many replies, especially from usernames I recognise! Thanks for the advice and compliments - it's really appreciated.

So... to answer a few of your questions...

No, I'm afraid I'm not a member of the owners club just yet - something I will be doing in the future though.

Steve, I'm in Chineham... do you know of Basingstoke then? any more members from Basingstoke out there too?

Mike, ha ha... of course I like roundabouts - I have to living in Basingstoke!! Should test the handling nicely

Stuart, I went for the 'Cadbury blue' panels... they are currently gathering dust in my garage roof! I'm really looking forward to getting those out to play around with (apart from the rear panel experiences that seem to be quite common)

Tim, thanks for your advice on the carbs etc. What size Zetec are you running, is it standard?

I'm not going to be able to make the Stoneleigh trip unfortunately. Definately looking forward to the first kit car show visit in the Indy (although that could be some time off)!

Anyways... time to lose a few hours in the garage!

And another welcome from me
Jacko

running 2.0l zetec blacktop. bog standard. just using megasquirt and griffin inlet manifold. Having built and driven pinto and zetec cars i would say go for the zetec ther is not much difference in costs

Hello Graham

Plenty of builders in hants and surrounding areas, you will have to get over to one of the local meets or even guildford for the south west london breakfast.