LoCorun
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| posted on 17/12/05 at 10:47 PM |
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New guy, with questions :-)
Hi, I'm pretty new to the Locost scene but I've been reading lots of stuff from here, the rest of the net and the book.
I didn't really know where to start. So I started buy learning to weld. I'm now semi-competant (Guy who taught me says I'm good
enough to weld the chassis together) at MIG welding :-).
My main problem with the whole project is that I'm pretty tight for cash. So, bear that in mind :-).
I've recently been looking at a few things:
1) A cheap steel stockist who will do things like supply me with cheap offcuts. (I'm in Berkshire, near Reading)
- I contacted Rudgwick metals. Guy there was pretty friendly and said about £65 for the 25mm RHS Steel and £15 for delivery all that plus VAT. Is that
about how much I should expect to pay? Can I get any better than that?
2) A donor car.
I've looked for Sierras, Cortinas and Escorts for a couple of weeks. I've found a couple of good ones around the £100 mark. Generally
they've failed MOT and have no Tax. So, how do you guys recommend getting it home? Note: I don't have access to any car with a tow hitch.
Also, quite a few of them are estate cars. Do sierra estates have a wider track than the normal sierra?
On the subject of larger track. What does one do about the larger track of sierras? Is there an alternate front wishbone design so the track is the
same at the back and front?
Also, what should I go for (remembering that I'm on a budget!) de-dion or IRS? Or, alternatively to all that, should I buy an escort axle and
steering rack?
Also (The questions just keep coming, eh?), what do I have to do to the sierra front uprights to use them? Is there a plan set out somewhere? Or
should I buy cortina ones (From somewhere like donorspares.co.uk)? Or are there other, really common, front uprights that I could find down the
scrappy?
I also have some more...questions... Surprise, surprise.
1) I _think_ I remember seeing a mk2 escort down the scrappy a couple of weeks ago. How much can I expect to pay for the axle and rack from it? And,
how do those sorts of places work. Do I have to take my own tools and stuff? Will they take them off for me?
2) I'm a pretty tall guy (Nearly 6' 4" now) and still growing. I was planning on simply adding in 10 cm through the cockpit section.
Will that have any bad structural side effects?
I think that'll do for now. I'm sure I can think of some more questions for you later though :-P.
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 18/12/05 at 12:00 AM |
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I would love too help but been out on the pee, if you aint got no sensible answers in the morning i'll give it a go......
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stevebubs
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| posted on 18/12/05 at 02:06 AM |
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Do you know where Eurocar parts is down Cardiff Road in Reading? There's a metal merchants on the left just before....keep meaning to go down
when it's open but keep forgetting.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 18/12/05 at 02:07 AM |
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For the Sierra, go to ebay!
To get it home, find a mate with Tow bar....
[Edited on 18/12/05 by stevebubs]
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joolsmi16
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| posted on 18/12/05 at 10:50 AM |
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new guy
Keep away from anything from the cortina the prices on these thing are at a premium and as already said go for a sierra and you'll have all you
need.
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rayward
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| posted on 18/12/05 at 11:13 AM |
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Hi, and welcome.
firstly, if your after more space in the cockpit, rather than adapt the book plans, it would be an idea to look at the McSorley +442 plans(4"
longer/4"Wider/2" Higher i think).do a search on here for mcsorley should bring up some links.
I'm not sure if the plans include the stuff for rear IRS, which you will need if you go for a sierra donor.
what about buying parts as you need them, rather than a donor may be alittle more expensive in the end, but you won't have to get a donor
delivered, store it and get rid of whats left at the end.
as for prices, a mk2 escort axle will cost you anywere between £50 and £100 depending on the diff ratio(you will probably want a 3.89:1 if you build a
Car engined car)but you will probably need to replace the consumables(bearings, brake pads etc).
sierra uprights need mushroom adapters in the to, and the wishbones are different to the book ones. a set of cortina calipers will cost you £60
upwards, but again you will have to replace bearings,discs,calipers seals etc.
if you go for the mcsorley +442 plans, i think a cortina or capri axle will fit.
Rally design are selling new escort mk2 racks(2.9 turn) for about £50 at the moment.a sierra rack needs modding to fit.
HTH
Ray
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