lootaroota
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 02:07 PM |
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newby to all this building!
Hi all,
My best mate bought what i think is a onyx bobcat mini based kit car 2yrs ago running sva'd and on the road. he has since dismantled it to
renovate it. i have along the way helped out and caught the bug!! I am 30 next year and decided this ismy mid life crisis/project.
i love the idea of the locost build approach and wanted to know if it rrally works. can i buy a book follow step by step instructions and actyally
build a fun car? I understand you cant do it for £250 anymore. also struggling to locate a mk2escort worth buying. seen people with mx5 now. is yhis
a good cjoice? Any other donar car options? Would the book allow for these changes?
I know its alot for a first post, bear with me pleae.
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lootaroota
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 02:09 PM |
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Sorry about the spelling. just re-read the post!!
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 02:44 PM |
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welcome to the madhouse mate. It is possible and mx5 is probably you're best bet these days, or a 3 series bmw.
Get hold of the Chris Gibbs updated Build a sportcar book other will be along soon with more indepth adivce.
Also you might want to say where you are, there will be folk close who you could have a look at their car and have a chin wag with
linky
[Edited on 30/7/12 by liam.mccaffrey]
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lootaroota
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 02:50 PM |
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Thanks, when looking for mx5 or bmw 3 series are there any models which are best suited or better engine type?
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 03:01 PM |
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My choice would be to use an mx5, and look for one with a LSD. early ones were available in 1600 and 1800 if i remember correctly.
What sort of budget do you have for a donor? Have you considered building a kit, it will be a lot quicker.
I'm not a 7 man myself (building a middy) so I'm not boned up on the best donors at the moment. As said there will be a lot more folk on
tonight who will better advise you.
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maccmike
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 03:05 PM |
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Hello mate. Yes Id agree with the mx5 base. whatever your budget is double it and quadruple your time frame. best of luck and update plenty of build
photos. Mike.
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lootaroota
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 03:12 PM |
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No budget just what ever it takes, wanna get my 11yr old boy into with me to stop him becoming another yob that can only facebook or play xbox. thats
why i was swinging towards the locost so we get to build from nothing. just worried about my lack of welding expereince.
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tegwin
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 03:16 PM |
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You will quickly learn to weld provided you have a decent enough machine!
Put your location in your profile!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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maccmike
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 04:54 PM |
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you sound like a damned fine parent.
as said, you'll soon be a dab hand at welding.
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lootaroota
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 04:56 PM |
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Try to be. i think my 5yr old daughter will be more involved than he will though. you can only try!!
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snapper
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 05:02 PM |
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I built over 4 years, the longer it took the more money I had (or should I say spent)
You can budget and build cheap, use as much of the donor as you can
Upgrade later.
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 05:03 PM |
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Welcome to the nuthouse 
Good luck with the build whatever donor you choose, and don't forget LOTS of piccies 
John
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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Confused but excited.
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| posted on 30/7/12 at 09:59 PM |
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Chris's Haynes book is really good but if you plump for an MX5 donor then get 'How to Build a Cheap Sports Car', by Keith Tanner.
Published by Motorbooks, ISBN 0760322872
It's an American book but very well written by an English guy.
The 1.8 seems to be a better bet that the1.6 as a donor.
Either way, good luck and enjoy your build.
Tell them about the bent treacle edges!
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lootaroota
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| posted on 4/8/12 at 09:22 AM |
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Thanks all, still not settled on donar choice yet. whats the difference between the locost 7 and a robin hood?
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Talon Motorsport
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| posted on 4/8/12 at 02:18 PM |
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Save your self alot of agro and buy a GBS Zero kit.
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lootaroota
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| posted on 7/9/12 at 08:19 PM |
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Hi thanks whats a gsb kit?
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UncleFista
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| posted on 7/9/12 at 09:18 PM |
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"Great British Sportscars" used to be "Robin Hood Engineering".
They sell the "Zero" kit.
Tony Bond / UncleFista
Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra.
Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath.
At night the ice-weasels come...
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D Beddows
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| posted on 7/9/12 at 10:27 PM |
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Midlife crisis at 30!! - get a grip man ffs 
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mark chandler
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| posted on 7/9/12 at 10:54 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by D Beddows
Midlife crisis at 30!! - get a grip man ffs
Mine followed the well trodden path of a superbike at 40
And yes you can still make a good car for low financial outlay, kits are for girls and cost more they do however have a better resale value.
Just remember a worn out donor does not translate into excellent car unless you spend a lot of money refurbishing bits, so buy something with care, a
low mileage crashed donor is a good start.
If on a budget also look at selling on the bits you do not want, little bits door handles mirrors etc all add up
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skov
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| posted on 8/9/12 at 07:02 AM |
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I'm 33 and already on my 4th or 5th mid life crisis
MX5 makes a great donor - all the bits are designed to go in a sports car afterall (though some people seem to frown upon breaking a sportscar to
build another sportscar!)
Vodou Autokits, and the now defunct Saturn Sportscars have both released plans for an MX5 based Haynes Roadster.
The Saturn seems the most popular at the moment and there's a few of us building them over on the Haynes forum.
I'd be impressed if you managed to build one for £250! Around £5k would be a more realistic budget.
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