Hi all

Ive been around cars for a while and Im going to attempt to build my own kit using the "Bible" Ron Champions book. The idea is to build as cheap and simple as possible. I can weld to a descent level and have decent mechanical knowledge. Juat could do with advise on regs etc nowadays as that book is pretty old and just want to check the chassis that im going to copy is still "legal" etc.

Thanks
Ry.

P.S. Im form Southport so if anyone lives nearby and wants to help It would be appreciated

Welcome to the mad house
Have you had a look at the haynes plans here is a link to there web forum
http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/index.php

The problem now is finding parts for the Ron champion plans
a lot of people are using mx5 running gear now
jacko

Have a look at the Haynes Roadster book, written by Chris, as well. Parts and Bodywork are a little easier to find too.

The Ron Champion book is a good read but Mark 2 Escort and Cortina parts are very thin on the ground now. Things move on. The Chris Gibbs book introduces IRS in place of a live rear axle- though even Sierras are getting more difficult to find as donors now hence many are now moving onto using MX5 donors.

You will find a wealth of info on this forus, so take some time to search through relevant posts as this will prove invaluable research. The chances are that at least 90% of the questions you want to ask at this point have been asked and answered before. The forum has been here for many years so check the dates of posts as inevitably some of the suppliers you may read about in older posts may no longer be going and other ones will have emerged, the same goes for techniques and technologies.

The Chris Gibbs book is published by Haynes isbn code is 978 1 84425 391 3 Please do try to buy a copy rather than borrow or download one from some site as Chris is not in very good health these days and the small amount of revenue he receives from book sales helps with his care.

I know of one roadster built with Mazda back end and have a few pics i could send over.
I know the builder of it you could contact him if you like, but he does not have the car any more.

Wow thanks for the reply's guys nice to see ppl are still interested in helping others, to be honest only reason i was goi,g for the Ron champ book is because ive got it hahah but in more tempted for the mx5 donor version now COs parts are just so much cheaper and the cars are widely available. Just after a cheap and easy design for now.

Haynes Roadster will be fine, either in Sierra format or MX5 format. You'd probably spend a whole lot more trying to build a locost now.

That whole £250 thing is balderdash as well.

Haha yer i know that's a bit out of date isn't it. IM going to get that newer Haynes manual so hopefully get cracking on it asap

The Aries, is based on the Ron Champion. You can still get all the parts. They also use mx,aswell as zetec,bike engines...... It could be worth a chat to Steve. Just look up Aries Motorsport. Sierra parts are starting to get thin on the ground. Good luck with your choice.

Yes I looked into the Aries kit and got to admit I do like it but really trying to save money by building the chassis myself etc, but think that will be my first stop for other parts and advice hopefully. (As well as this forum haha)

Well the good news is ive ordered my book from amazon so waiting till Friday to get it, just need to figure out how in going to build it in my 8x8 shed��

New book turned up and test fitted my 8 x 4 sheet to see how things measured up, Tight! basically but the good news is I'm knocking through to my smaller shed to make things a bit easier.

Mark out the board for the frame then cut it an inch wider than the frame footprint, you will make lots of room as they only get really big when you hang on the suspension.

You need more room than you think i have a double garage and I'm struggling for length


/Users/louiskemp/Desktop/kit car project 2/2014-03-13 17.47.02.jpg

Oh believe me i know, i was restoring an mgb roadster in my grandparents quad garage for two years and still struggled for room haha, but in only planning on making up the chassis here and then moving it to my brother inlaws if in really struggling, but in going to keep it here for as long as i can to save travelling around etc.

Well got my steel box section today from my good friend who lives across from me. Handy knowing a structural engineer



Excuse the kids toys but Im sure some of you know how it is.

Well i know ure all probably getting bored of seeing haynes manual builds but thought ide show you mine in my 8 x 8 shed