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whats going to be the next donor?
zxrlocost - 15/11/06 at 01:46 PM

hi
as above surely all the fords are running out?


ta chris


mike smith1 - 15/11/06 at 01:47 PM

IIRC this was discussed a couple of weeks ago and i think the favourite was the MX-5, plenty of BMW's around yet though just not so locost!

Mike


3GEComponents - 15/11/06 at 01:48 PM

MX5


JackNco - 15/11/06 at 01:50 PM

tiger and Westfield already have mx-5 in the works. apparently in Oz lexus and toyots are the favorite.

I Personally dont think theres enough Mazda's out there.... i guess at some point the kit car companies are gonna have to get together n start having replica sierra parts made in bulk in china and sent over.

John


ch1ll1 - 15/11/06 at 01:51 PM

mx5 i think,

what about porsche gt3
and make it mid engined


[Edited on 15/11/06 by ch1ll1]


zxrlocost - 15/11/06 at 01:57 PM

are they rear wheel drived then(mx5) ive never really noted


iank - 15/11/06 at 02:02 PM

I doubt there are enough MX5's in this country for all the companies to switch sucessfully, certainly not in the long term.

I'd suspect it will be a Ford (for historical reasons) FWD moved to the back in a mid format.

So Mondeo, Focus or Fiesta.

BMWs are cheap for the donors but I suspect parts are expensive (never had one).


JackNco - 15/11/06 at 02:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by zxrlocost
are they rear wheel drived then(mx5) ive never really noted


They are indeed. plus tuning parts are everywhere for them


JackNco - 15/11/06 at 02:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by iank
I doubt there are enough MX5's in this country for all the companies to switch sucessfully, certainly not in the long term.




Its not just the quantity out there. they are still popular cars anyway. Westfield said they were paying about 1200 for each donor. as they run out the price will rocket. especially for one in good nick.

Guess thats a good tip if you want a car you can run for a year and not see it depreciate


JackNco - 15/11/06 at 02:10 PM

guess when it comes down to it we are just gonna see alot more mid/rear engined cars about


scottc - 15/11/06 at 03:51 PM

Porsche 924


akumabito - 15/11/06 at 03:52 PM

Or BMW / Mercedes powered monstrosities...


TimC - 15/11/06 at 03:53 PM

I personally think the days of the Dutton are numbered - I reckon people will start breaking old kits to make new.

My tongue is only partially in my cheek by the way.

Aside from that. I think bespoke parts (uprights in particular) will become much more popular. The drivetrain is less simple to sort.

I read in Kit Car (MNR article was the only reason that I bought it) that Hyundai (I think) bought the tooling for the Cortina uprights and therefore these can be used. Doubt there's millions around though!


Ivan - 15/11/06 at 05:24 PM

I dont know how popular Light Trucks are in the UK but here in South Africa every second vehicle is one and they generaly have independant front suspensions and a useable live rear axle so might be worth investigating as donors.

Of course I have no idea what the front upright geometery is like but can't be much worse than the Cortina's

[Edited on 15/11/06 by Ivan]


Rek - 15/11/06 at 05:57 PM

Omega's have the right layout and cost nothing. loads in the scrapyard near me.


donut - 15/11/06 at 06:24 PM

BMW 3 series o recon


Johnmor - 15/11/06 at 10:16 PM

It may be that kit manufacturers look at producing more Mid Engined Kit and use the front wheel drive set up in reverse, can produce very fine and fast results, also opens up the number of donors to an almost unlimted amout.


This would do for me!!


02GF74 - 16/11/06 at 10:55 AM

land rover (maybe freelander but with the fwd removed?)


ZEN - 16/11/06 at 05:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scottc
Porsche 924


The porker has a transaxel layout.


Mark Allanson - 16/11/06 at 08:28 PM

I am pretty sure the BMW E36 will be the donor of choice, but without the star trek electrics and fallen over engine.

The first person to come up with a cheap adaptor plate to link the BM box to a standard ford pattern will be a wealthy man


JoelP - 16/11/06 at 09:16 PM

i dont see donor shortage as a problem. Engines are ten a penny, and loads of previously fwd engines get used nowdays - just think xe, zetec and duratec to name 3. Front suspension can easily be made. Racks are more of a problem, what with PAS being the norm. Maybe move onto custom racks. Then all you need is the rear end.

So i guess the days of the single donor are running out (already gone in fact!), but theres no shortage of parts if you mix and match.


Volvorsport - 16/11/06 at 09:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
I am pretty sure the BMW E36 will be the donor of choice, but without the star trek electrics and fallen over engine.

The first person to come up with a cheap adaptor plate to link the BM box to a standard ford pattern will be a wealthy man


already been done !!.


NS Dev - 17/11/06 at 10:19 AM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
i dont see donor shortage as a problem. Engines are ten a penny, and loads of previously fwd engines get used nowdays - just think xe, zetec and duratec to name 3. Front suspension can easily be made. Racks are more of a problem, what with PAS being the norm. Maybe move onto custom racks. Then all you need is the rear end.

So i guess the days of the single donor are running out (already gone in fact!), but theres no shortage of parts if you mix and match.


I agree, the single donor is becoming largely irrelevant.

The more popular these cars become, the less the need for single donors


James - 17/11/06 at 10:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
i dont see donor shortage as a problem. Engines are ten a penny, and loads of previously fwd engines get used nowdays - just think xe, zetec and duratec to name 3. Front suspension can easily be made. Racks are more of a problem, what with PAS being the norm. Maybe move onto custom racks. Then all you need is the rear end.

So i guess the days of the single donor are running out (already gone in fact!), but theres no shortage of parts if you mix and match.


I agree, the single donor is becoming largely irrelevant.

The more popular these cars become, the less the need for single donors


I wonder if they will continue to be as popular *without* a single donor choice tho.

When I started this I knew nothing about cars...** if I'd been told I had to choose bits from all sorts of different cars the choices/decisions would have been mind boggling! It's ok for the petrol head geniuses out there who know about lots of cars but for your no nothing newbie I suspect it'll be too intimidating to get started.

Cheers,
James

** Many would say I still don't!


JackNco - 17/11/06 at 11:54 AM

quote:
Originally posted by James
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
i dont see donor shortage as a problem. Engines are ten a penny, and loads of previously fwd engines get used nowdays - just think xe, zetec and duratec to name 3. Front suspension can easily be made. Racks are more of a problem, what with PAS being the norm. Maybe move onto custom racks. Then all you need is the rear end.

So i guess the days of the single donor are running out (already gone in fact!), but theres no shortage of parts if you mix and match.


I agree, the single donor is becoming largely irrelevant.

The more popular these cars become, the less the need for single donors


I wonder if they will continue to be as popular *without* a single donor choice tho.

When I started this I knew nothing about cars...** if I'd been told I had to choose bits from all sorts of different cars the choices/decisions would have been mind boggling! It's ok for the petrol head geniuses out there who know about lots of cars but for your no nothing newbie I suspect it'll be too intimidating to get started.

Cheers,
James

** Many would say I still don't!

I think the smaller companies will start having to offer way more support. and MK will have to start answering there phone. but if your given a list of parts to find and a list of possible cars to find them in i think it would make it easier if anything

Now with forums like this for help and ebay for parts.


ZEN - 22/11/06 at 06:29 PM

WESTFIELD are going for MAZDA single donor http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=15484


JackNco - 22/11/06 at 06:32 PM

So far they only have a 1.6L model avalible and thats only 115Bhp standard. but of a step no where really


DIY Si - 22/11/06 at 06:34 PM

Unfortunately it's still cheaper to buy the Ford bits individually than it is to buy a usable MX5. That way you can get a more powerful engine, different diff ratio etc should you want it.


Keith Tanner - 14/12/06 at 09:27 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JackNco
So far they only have a 1.6L model avalible and thats only 115Bhp standard. but of a step no where really


There's a 1.8L model available as well. Up to 133 Bhp standard - and much more available. It's also a pretty affordable kit, the cheapest of the Westfield line. Take a look at a set of MX-5 front uprights, they're a really nice piece.

As for the MX-5s running out, there are more of them than there are MGBs - and they're still being produced.


JackNco - 15/12/06 at 12:13 AM

ah a while since i spoke 2 westy about it, wheni did only the 1.6 was done


JamJah - 16/12/06 at 02:27 PM

Silly question but why nothing based on the pile of rusty rovers out there. Seems to be lots about, surely something is RWD.

Rover made some stonking engines. Who owns the rights to the V8 that they bought from the yanks in a marine scrap yard?


ZEN - 17/12/06 at 04:01 PM

This guy is using an Alfa Romeo 75

http://illustrera.se/ovrigt/ovrigt_02.htm

Hear the AR v6 music http://illustrera.se/ovrigt/2006-04/060518%20alfa%20v6.wmv

Driving video 1http://illustrera.se/ovrigt/2005-10/provk%20051016%203cyl.wmv

Driving video 2 http://illustrera.se/ovrigt/2005-10/provk%20051026%204cyl.wmv


cymtriks - 22/12/06 at 06:06 PM

For uprights-
MX5/Miata
Metro/MGF
Elise (got to be a few in the scrap yards, they're nearly ten years old now)
S2000
RX8
Corvette C5/C6

Or any modified strut from a FWD car

Transmissions-
MX5
s2000 (if you can afford it or even find one..)
BMW
Merc

The last two provide a huge range of options including s4, s6, v6, v8, v10, v12 but are likely to be auto only and a bit expensive to fix.


nkosta - 22/12/06 at 11:11 PM

Single donor ? ... never more
never forget a PSA & VW groups
btw see Rorty's tread .. take seriously