Hi there - just been ploughing the net for info on what kit car to buy?!?!? I have bene thinking of one for sometime and it looks like it become a reality. I will be working 5 minutes from home in a few months and commuting on a bike so if there was ever an opportunity to build it kit it has to be then!!!

Have bought several copies of Kit Car magazine trying to get an understanding of who offers what and boy is it confusing!! Intially was looking at a Tiger B6 but then came across the MNR and was smitten.

Been reading the owners build diaries posted on the net and defintiely decided that the quality and contents of the starter kit make it the one i want.

I do have a few questions though -

I have been riding about bike engined cars, which ideally i would like (R1 or Blade) and understand that due to not having Lambda sensors on bike engines, getting it through an emissions test is really hard?? Is this correct and if so what things can you do to make this less of a risk??

Secondly with regard to installing a bike engine what sort of power would an R1/Blade engine produce in the Vortx?? Ans similarly what sorts of 0-60 times would it produce??

I will be wanting to do a few track days in it fairly frequent and a friend has a TVR Tamora which we use - i wondered how comparable it would be??

In relation to the wheels driven by the engine are they fwd or rwd??

Looking at the starter kit contents, compared to most it is very comprehensive save a donor car how much more on top do you need to complete the kit??

Sorry for the questions but as i have a few months on my side before i will be in a position to buy it i figured would put in as much groundwork as possible now!!

Prob be back again with more questions so thanks in advance!!

SiT

A few answers in no particular order.......


In answer to the TVR bit, on track a BEC will slaughter it.

MNR great choice.

0-60, 4 secs with good tyres and practice.

RWD

I'll let others come in and answer the rest.


Oh welcome.

In my opinion the best thing to do is go and visit mnr they will anser all your questions and more + maybe a ride
Jacko

Great choice.
Jon's answered most of your questions, I thought I'd just chip in as a very happy MNR customer.
R1 great choice of engine.

Go for a ride in one and you'll be putting a deposit down quicker than it's 0-60

Steve

Definately a smart move to go for the MNR over the Tiger B6 - and thats coming from someone building a Tiger B6 (picked up a part built one at a good price).

R1 definately a good choice - I am fitting an 05 version which i picked up for £650 without the ECU (bought one from the US though along with a loom to get around the immobiliser problem).

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Originally posted by Paul TigerB6
Definately a smart move to go for the MNR over the Tiger B6 - and thats coming from someone building a Tiger B6 (picked up a part built one at a good price).

R1 definately a good choice - I am fitting an 05 version which i picked up for £650 without the ECU (bought one from the US though along with a loom to get around the immobiliser problem).

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Originally posted by SiT
I have been riding about bike engined cars, which ideally i would like (R1 or Blade) and understand that due to not having Lambda sensors on bike engines, getting it through an emissions test is really hard?? Is this correct and if so what things can you do to make this less of a risk??

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Secondly with regard to installing a bike engine what sort of power would an R1/Blade engine produce in the Vortx?? Ans similarly what sorts of 0-60 times would it produce??

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I will be wanting to do a few track days in it fairly frequent and a friend has a TVR Tamora which we use - i wondered how comparable it would be??

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In relation to the wheels driven by the engine are they fwd or rwd??

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Looking at the starter kit contents, compared to most it is very comprehensive save a donor car how much more on top do you need to complete the kit??

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Sorry for the questions but as i have a few months on my side before i will be in a position to buy it i figured would put in as much groundwork as possible now!!

Prob be back again with more questions so thanks in advance!!

SiT

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Wow thats a heap load of info - thanks guys!!! The MNR kit does look a good one - very excited about the prospect!!!

Thats great about the TVR - i thought that was a fast car so god knows what the Vortx goes like!!!!

Something else i meant to ask was with a bike engine being sequential can you fit a paddle style shift change or is it horrendously expensive and very complicated??

I am pleased about the emissions bit - i was a bit gutted to think that it may have been a problem come SVA time.

I am defintiely going to take a run upto MNR a bit nearer the time - i live in Weston S Mare so its a bit of a run!

Are bike engines typically £500 - £800 as i seem to be seeing around the place?? Is there any such company that sells sort of reconditioned 'definiteyl working' engines as oppose to a bit of Russian roulette with Ebay?!?!?

Cheers

SiT

im sure i know a good engine supplier around here somewhere

You hit the nail on the head... Half the fun with a bike engine is the six speed sequential gearbox. If you're familiar with a riding a motorcycle then you'll know that in the majority of models it's simply a small pedal which you flick up or down with your foot. Therefore, a kit car builder can use any mechanism to produce the same effect as having your foot on the gear change lever...

I'll try to lay the options out for you : -

1. Gear change lever (which to your average Joe looks like a normal gearstick) sitting on the transmission tunnel. Just 'punch' it forward and backward. 99.9% of the time these are connected to the gearbox by push-rods and pivotting levers. You can buy kits or fabricate them yourself. The clutch remains on your left foot. If you're ever lucky enough to buy a Westfield or Caterham from the factory this is how they choose to do it.

2. As above but clutch controlled by your left hand on the gear-stick type lever. Many of the trackday bods swear by this method leaving your feet to do the throttle and braking only.

3. As per (1.) but with heavy guage cables to connect to the gearbox. Several obvious points against using cables.

4. Installation of a paddle shift mechanism behind the steering wheel. There are several competing kits on the market, some look really slick. A lot of the guys fabricate their own systems. Basically, the same as (1.) but the push rod goes through the dash and bulk head, usually pivots through 90 degrees, and a second push-rod connects to the gearbox. This is probably the most popular system.

5. Finally, the ultra 'Gucci' option... Electronic shift. This is where two buttons sit on or around your steering wheel (one for up, and one for down). They control an actuator which pushes or pulls according to which button you press. There are a few different kits on the market (the one I'm familiar with is called "Klicktronic". Kits are usually in the region of £350. Great when they work, a pain in the arse when they don't!

Only (5.) is the really expensive option.

Finally

What is a "TrickShifter"?...

This is a little module which you can fit to injected bike engines that senses your gearchange and cuts the power for a split second allowing you to perform the change without touching the clutch.

There's this eternal argument as to whether people need to use the clutch going up or down though the gears. As a general rule if you ease of the throttle slightly then you're not giving the gears so much abuse and the gear change occurs quickly and easily. This is why the trickshifter works (it acts as if you're taking your foot off throttle for a split second).

[Edited on 18/7/07 by The Great Fandango]

There is a bike engine supplier in the yorkshire area that seems to get ridiculously low mileage engines and has a huge reputation. Regularly recommended on here - now who could that be??????

i think your reffering to young Malc the perveyour of quality new and used motorcycle engines and install kits
Yorkshire engines give him a call

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I have been riding about bike engined cars, which ideally i would like (R1 or Blade) and understand that due to not having Lambda sensors on bike engines, getting it through an emissions test is really hard?? Is this correct and if so what things can you do to make this less of a risk??

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Originally posted by SiT
Something else i meant to ask was with a bike engine being sequential can you fit a paddle style shift change or is it horrendously expensive and very complicated??

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I am defintiely going to take a run upto MNR a bit nearer the time - i live in Weston S Mare so its a bit of a run!

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Are bike engines typically £500 - £800 as i seem to be seeing around the place?? Is there any such company that sells sort of reconditioned 'definiteyl working' engines as oppose to a bit of Russian roulette with Ebay?!?!?

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Hi SiT I live in the West Mids(so about an hour and half) from August Im the official build agent for MNR Racing your welcome to come and take a look at a Car and ill take you out in one.,

you can fit a mechanical paddle shift which is not that expensive the cars are extremely fast race cars for the road

capable of just under 60mph in first gear

there will be little that can compete

plus the noise of 12,500rpm is a bonus

u2u me for more info

thanks chris

S/T I'm even closer in Cardiff. You'd be welcome to come and have a look.

Drop me a U2U if you fancy it.

TC

WOW!!!! Huge amount if info there for me to be going on with so thanks guys!!

The great fandango - thats awesome that the paddle shifiting isn't an issue also loving the sound of the Gucci button shifting but concernsover electronics failing......

JoaoCaldeira - your comments noted about distance i will now stop moaning!!


Yorkshire engines - will u2u shortly get some more info, do you have a website at all?

zxrlocost - does that mean that once you become official build agent then when i order etc i could collect from you?? Or will it still have to be HQ?? Your offer of a ride out has been noted will u2u.

Timc - thats cracking mate and indeed very close will defintiely be in touch shortly via u2u.

Couple more things i wanted to ask - sorry!

I have bought this months copy of kit car which is cracking as it gives advice/overview on EVERYTHING which is good for me as a beginner. With a couple of months on my sidei want to use the time to prepare in the best way possible making the build as hassle free as poss. I am currently sorting my garage getting rubbish out and organising stuff i want to keep. Will shortly be sealing and painting the floor (possibly carpeting too if my contact comes up trumps!). Withe regard to any other can any of you guys advise on anything which you came across during build which i could implement before hand?? I am sorting out a workbench and some shelving to get everything organised.

With regard to tools is there any speciality stuff i need to hunt down?? The mag suggests a parts cleaner?? and a pillar drill - what are your thoughts on these?? Don't want to spend money on stuff i don't really need but would like to have a good qulaity set of everything i will DEFINITELY need.

SiT

decent socket set
dremmel type tool
Jack
axle stands

springs to mind J.

Most other things can be begged or borrowed in my mind

regards agriv8

[Edited on 20/7/07 by Agriv8]

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Originally posted by Agriv8

Most other things can be begged or borrowed in my mind
[Edited on 20/7/07 by Agriv8]

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Thankyou for that Aggriv8 will get on the case make sure i have those itmes - do people generally buy from machine mart or is there a secret supplier that kit building types use??

LOL at chockymonster - i have been known to do a bit of that in the past but hoping to do everything by the book and quality for the kit!!!

SiT

Read-up on Electrolysis and start working on your donor parts!

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Originally posted by SiT
Thankyou for that Aggriv8 will get on the case make sure i have those itmes - do people generally buy from machine mart or is there a secret supplier that kit building types use??

LOL at chockymonster - i have been known to do a bit of that in the past but hoping to do everything by the book and quality for the kit!!!

SiT

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Originally posted by SiT
Thankyou for that Aggriv8 will get on the case make sure i have those itmes - do people generally buy from machine mart or is there a secret supplier that kit building types use??

LOL at chockymonster - i have been known to do a bit of that in the past but hoping to do everything by the book and quality for the kit!!!

SiT

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Got some excellent quality old tools from car boot sales.
Tim, how should we read up on how you remove hair from your legs??
Did you spend all night on the build?

Is this the sort of rivet gun i will need??

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mr77-riveter-cw-rotating-head

Will prob buy one of machine parts complete tool kits - seems great value for a fresh set of everything.

Will hunt down some info on electrolysis thought i might need to know about that!!

SiT

looks like it would do the job.
I wouldn't like to do the 100+ rivets on the floorpan but thankfully marc does all that with an air riveter for you anyway.

a RivNUT/ nutsert tool is handy, but not essential. i used one a few times for fixing the bodywork. dead clever and tidy but usually cost quite a bit, try and borrow one

as for most used tools..
- bench vice
- hammers (metal and rubber)
- metal hacksaw
- various hand files
- various sized hole drills
- spanner set. (11, 13, 17, 19 most used)
- socket set (as above)
- drill and loads of bits.
- jigsaw (cutting ali)
- grinding wheel
- hand held grinder

hi SiT

yes you will be able to fetch your kit from me

thanks

chris

u2u me when your ready to pop over

[Edited on 20/7/07 by zxrlocost]

Chris - thats excellent defintiely saves a few miles!!!!

Will be in contact in the near future - off to loot some car boot sales this weekend for some tools!!!

Interested to hear about the differences between the R1 engine and ZX10 - just been chatting to Malc from Yorkshire engines, anyone driven both or damn lucky enough to have owned both??

SiT

The other thing i meant to ask was about registration - is it possible to get a 'normal' reg on an MNR or will it be a Q plate?? Not sure what dictates how this works but see some kits on normal reg's and others on a Q.

Would prefer a normal reg as have a cherished plate on retention.

SiT

Hi mate depending on what money you have to spend the ZX10 ie the most powerful one from 05 is a right good engine with a huge power output

however the newer r1 gsxr1000 etc all have very similar power outputs...

you can get an earlier fuel injected r1 engine a bit cheaper its down a little more on bhp only a few or earlier still ie 2000 you can get a 5jj R1 engine which is carbed! these can pump out 160bhp after dynojetting!

the carb'ed engine has minimal wires compared to an FI and IMHO its easier to do if its your fist build

its horse for course if youve got the money get the zx10r if not perhaps a few year old r1

all of the cars whether an earlier carb engine or fuel injected youd be lucky to notice much real time difference on the road



if your a member of the BEC Owners Club

www.becowners.co.uk

you get £100 off your MNR Kit and
Malc gives you 5% off an engine package

hope that helps
chris

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Originally posted by SiT
The other thing i meant to ask was about registration - is it possible to get a 'normal' reg on an MNR or will it be a Q plate?? Not sure what dictates how this works but see some kits on normal reg's and others on a Q.

Would prefer a normal reg as have a cherished plate on retention.

SiT

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Originally posted by Omni


£650!!! Was that on Fleabay by any chance?

O

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Good evening - well after a long absence i am finally getting things straight. I have been away from here as the impending work move was not happening as swiftly as i would have liked so tried to avoid teasing (torturing!) myself too much.

I will be working back at home in about 4 weeks so the car is up for sale which will be the intial cash to get the project rolling. My eyes are peeled for a suitable donor car - want to buy a whole one and sorn it so i can get an age related plate.

Has much changed in the last few months in the world of MNR??? Checked the website - all seems the same and most importantly the price has remained the same which is great.

I have found that i will have a bit more money to spend on the engine than intially thought so looking at various options that malc mentioned.

Need to speak to Marc about body colour choices - i have a specific colour in mind - does anyone know if they will do a non standard colour and what the extra £££ is???

Shall be on and off of here for the forseeable future - cheers guys.

Si

There's no such thing as a standard MNR colour as far as I'm aware. If it's on a Gelcoat ral chart then you're fine.

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Originally posted by SiT
Need to speak to Marc about body colour choices - i have a specific colour in mind - does anyone know if they will do a non standard colour and what the extra £££ is???

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Smart51 - thats interesting i will bear that in mind. The colour i want is a manufacturer pearl used on several models. It maybe that i would need to have the body panels in primer - is this possible??

Would be cracking if they could do the colour - will have to speak to Marc and find out if its do-able.

Si

Smart51 - thats interesting i will bear that in mind. The colour i want is a manufacturer pearl used on several models. It maybe that i would need to have the body panels in primer - is this possible??

Would be cracking if they could do the colour - will have to speak to Marc and find out if its do-able.

Si

Thats embarrasing................