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minordelay - 8/10/05 at 06:57 PM

Hi Everyone

Hope some of you can give me some advice, I work as a F.E. lecturer here in the Black Country. We are currently running a two year BTEC National Certificate in Motorsport Engineering. As a year two project we hope to construct a race car to give the students an insight into some of the technology involved.

So far we have looked at complete kits from tiger and westfield using zetec engines, but they seem very expensive, reading these pages is starting to make me think very differently.

We do have certain time limitations restricting the build so a chassis build could be out of the question, are there other similar options available to me?

I would really welcome some advice from you people in the know.

Sorry for the long post

Nigel


907 - 8/10/05 at 07:20 PM

Hi,

I would have thought that building a chassis is the most educational part of the car.
Much better than just bolting bits on a kit. (Ducks to avoid shrapnel)

Just my humble opinion you understand.

Paul G


theconrodkid - 8/10/05 at 07:28 PM

agree with 907 here,you can buy a chassis kit for about £1000 or make one for £50 ish.
making your own chassis and then driving it gives you great satisfaction and a greater understanding on how things do or dont work.
its not that dificult either,try it


JoelP - 8/10/05 at 08:01 PM

an experienced builder could throw a chassis together in no time at all, even novices do it in days or weeks if pushing. However, teaching students and correcting mistakes would add a lot of time to that!

I too would agree the chassis building (and designing) is the most educational bit, but i suppose it comes down how many hours you have available, and what you can squeeze into them.

Browsing these pages will throw up several names of manufacturers that can supply projects at a better price than westham/caterfield.

Seeing as you are teaching motorsport engineering, i would definately get them to modify the 'book' plans and knock up a chassis or two, thats more important than actually finishing it. However, in two years, you could start from scratch and finish it ok.


Danozeman - 9/10/05 at 08:39 AM

The college near me (Ipswich) have scratch built several locosts for there projects etc. So it can be done. IIRC they did all the fibre glass etc too.

Being a college u will probably be able to get the metal etc a bit cheaper.


wilkingj - 9/10/05 at 08:53 AM

Even if you buy in a chassis... Get the Mc Sorley plans www.mcsorley.net and use them as a demo / lecture on the chassis you have bought.. it wont be a lot different. It might encourage a few home builds amongst the Students.


dave-69isit - 9/10/05 at 10:44 AM

hello why not attend show next week donnington should shed some lite on what you want to achieve where about in black country are you if you can not make it to show i will pick up some information for you drop off as well im local


minordelay - 9/10/05 at 06:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dave-69isit
hello why not attend show next week donnington should shed some lite on what you want to achieve where about in black country are you if you can not make it to show i will pick up some information for you drop off as well im local


Thanks for the good advice, due to the time limitations a chassis build may be out of the question initially. Who knows, if the course takes off we may build a fleet but at the end of the day it will all be down to funding.

The lads on the course are dead keen and up for anything, unfortunately the senior management are more interested in 14 -19 yr olds with no drive and determination what so ever £££££££££'s.

Dave 69isit i've u2u'd