jps
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 09:51 AM |
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Hello - and some noddy questions!
Hi all, i've just signed up for the forum as i'm interested in building a 7 type car, including building my own chassis. Mechanical
experience is fairly limited - essentially bits of fettling with modern cars - replacing the odd part here and there - but I am happy to learn and
reasonably mechanically minded...
Might sound daft but starting a build will be dependent on moving house - at the moment I don't have a garage or driveway. House hunting gets
underway in a month or so - a suitable garage for car building is a requirement of the new place!
However - as it might take months to find a suitable house and move - I do have access to some space where I can do a bit of welding and make some
bits - possibly including the chassis. Is there any sense in starting off with fabrication before the donor car has been identified and purchased?
Ideally i'd like to get a Sierra, avoid any fuel injection, and avoid a Q - but i'm also interested in using as small an engine as
possible - so not sure whether there are other donors I should be thinking about...
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designer
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 10:02 AM |
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quote:
avoid any fuel injection
Why, there is nothing wrong with the basic Sierra fuel injection.
What's wrong with a 'Q' plate? I have cars with both types of reg. number, just means you can't change it.
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 10:12 AM |
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Firstly welcome to the forum 
As far as what to go for i.e. self-build chassis etc. it really depends on what route you want to take.
Sierras are becoming more scarce now and a lot of builds are leaning toward the BMW as a donor for example. If you aren't already going, get
yourself over to Stoneleigh Nr Coventry this coming weekend (Sun or Mon). You will see more 7-types than you can shake a stick at, from Westfields,
Locosts, Luegos, Haynes etc. to name just a few. Plenty of guys willing to tell you their choices and reasons so loads of input there.
As far as starting on the chosen build, you will be suprised just how long it can take so I think it is never too early to start
As far as a 'Q' plate goes, there always seems to be a stigma attached to them, WHY? At the end of the day it's only a damn number,
the most important thing for me is the car and driving it, I don't give a monkeys what the reg is (within reason of course  )
Whatever you choose, you will enjoy it (mostly) and you will find oodles of info on here.
BTW, let people know your location and you may also get local help too 
Good luck.
John
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 10:29 AM |
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Definitely get yourself to Stoneleigh if at all possible, it will give you the best opportunity to see whats available.
Don't under-estimate the time and cost involved in a scratch build project, it isn't necessarily the cheapest option unless you happen to
already have the raw materials, or can get them very cheaply.
I really don't see what the problem with a Q plate is, but there does seem to be some kind of stigma attached to them by some.
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chrisxr2
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 10:45 AM |
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Q plates.
When i was looking, i was caught in the whole don't like q plate malarky, but i really like my Q plate, to me it shows its a kit car, an age
related plate makes it look more like a modern car in a different shell to someone who does not know their cars.
Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
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ditchlewis
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 10:58 AM |
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Welcome.
I have a Q plate and I can't see the reg number whilst driving it and what it says to other motorists is this man has built his own car
(something to be proud of).
As for donors as mentioned before the sierra is hard to find and the older 3 series and the MX5 are becoming popular.
I thought of making my own chassis but that is a big commitment in time and in the end I bought an MK Indy.
Have fun building the satisfaction is emence.
Ditch
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ditchlewis
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 11:00 AM |
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Welcome.
I have a Q plate and I can't see the reg number whilst driving it and what it says to other motorists is this man has built his own car
(something to be proud of).
As for donors as mentioned before the sierra is hard to find and the older 3 series and the MX5 are becoming popular.
I thought of making my own chassis but that is a big commitment in time and in the end I bought an MK Indy.
Have fun building the satisfaction is emence.
Ditch
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blakep82
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 11:09 AM |
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Q plate wanted for me too!
unless its a new reg, why would i want some random G or F reg? having said that, i don't want a new reg either!
Q adds a bit of mystery to he whole thing
I went for bike carbs, didn't fancy wiring up an injection system. could always change to throttle bodies later easily enough i guess. Starting
to think now, later on in the build, that injection with bike throttle bodies might have been a better idea, but i'm happy with the way its
going for now
you can't put a personal plate on a Q reg, but why would you really want to?!
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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jps
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 11:40 AM |
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Whoops! Didn't mean to ruffle feathers with my first post!
I like the idea of keeping things simple - so am initially thinking of avoiding fuel injection - but am happy to be swayed by the opinions of those
better informed than myself - and availability of parts.
On the q-plate, i know this is something that people have different opinions on - it's just personal preference that i'd like an age
related plate!
Thanks for the heads up on Stoneleigh!
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Hellfire
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 11:42 AM |
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Welcome to the forum and the best resource on the internet for anything kit car related. 
I grew up thinking that all cars with a 'Q' plate were stolen vehicles which had subsequently been damaged, thrashed and abused, before
being written off by the insurance company, which have then been recovered, repaired and re-registered. When I became interested in building a kit
car, some simple research soon dispelled that myth but the stigma (call it what you will) still remained.
For the reason above and to be able to change to a private plate (if so wished), it was decided to go down the age related plate route, which seemed
like more of a challenge, given that we were building a BEC.
Talking of BECs, I see that you want to fit a small engine. Is a 900cc motorbike engine small enough? It's certainly powerful enough!
Phil
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ditchlewis
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 12:11 PM |
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No ruffled feather here in the end its personal choice. An age related plate will require a donor with a V5 and a high level of proof where the
parts came from.
If you are using a more modern donor make sure you lable the under bonnet wiring loom and then the fuel injection will be easy.
Have a look around stoneleigh as there are 7 type kits with MX5 and BMW donors inc the M3. I will be there if it is not raining.
Have a great time building, I wish I could afford to do it all again perhaps a beach buggy or a porche speedster replica.
Ditch
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 12:33 PM |
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No ruffling here either!
You'll find we are a loveable bunch on here anyhow, good luck with whatever you choose, and be sure to keep us updated with loads of pictures
JB
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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jps
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 12:44 PM |
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Ditch - just clocked your profile box - you are just up the road from me - i drive past CSM every day on the way to work!
[Edited on 2/5/12 by jps]
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snapper
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 12:51 PM |
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If you get a donor vehicle your most likely to get an age related plate.
Building your own chassis will require you building a substantial build table first ir the chassis won't be square
Engine age defines emmissions, engine 1995 or younger requires a cat which needs fuel injection.
Personally I would start with a pre made chassis, saves money time and effort
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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ditchlewis
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 01:12 PM |
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Feel free to u2u me if you want to come over and have a look any time. I will be leaving CSM around 7am sunday for stoneleigh so if you are going look
out for two frozen blokes in a black seven on the A14.
Ditch
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 2/5/12 at 02:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Daddylonglegs
BTW, let people know your location and you may also get local help too
quote:
Originally posted by ditchlewis
Feel free to u2u me if you want to come over and have a look any time. I will be leaving CSM around 7am sunday for stoneleigh so if you are going look
out for two frozen blokes in a black seven on the A14.
Ditch
See!
Gotta love this place
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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Furyous
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| posted on 3/5/12 at 05:56 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by snapper
If you get a donor vehicle your most likely to get an age related plate.
Building your own chassis will require you building a substantial build table first ir the chassis won't be square
Engine age defines emmissions, engine 1995 or younger requires a cat which needs fuel injection.
Personally I would start with a pre made chassis, saves money time and effort
Regarding engine age, couldn't you IVA the car with an old Crossflow then swap to a modern engine right after the test and keep the emissions
requirements for the older engine?
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