I've been looking for an xr4x4 for some time and nothing had revealed itself to me. Stuff on ebay seems to fetch a good price even without MOTs and I'd have to hire a trailer to collect such a car so need to factor that in. I've kept an eye out for wrecks locally but xr4x4s are a bit thin on the ground. Actually, all sierras are a bit thin on the ground because it would appear that local breakers now collect MOT failures for free so this stuff doesn't tend to lie about any more.

I've seen a car for 450 which is relatively local with an MOT and a months tax and am wondering whether or not it's worth that much to me.

I'm building an R1 powered car and would like a LSD, hence the choice of an xr4x4. The bits I anticipate using from the car are...

Diff + axles + rear hubs etc
Front hubs (using mushroom inserts)
All the brake components (apparently recently overhauled)
Steering column
Steering rack (suitably modified)

In addition to that lot I can use the following bits in the short term...

Steering wheel
Wheels

I figure I can sell some of the other major components to recoup some of the cost...

2.8 engine - £30?
Recon'd gearbox - £30?
4 recent shocks - £50?
Stainless exhaust - £100

...and later on I can flog the wheels (or keep them for drift days I guess).

If I bought all the bits from breakers (assuming I can find them) then they'll all probably add up to more than I'm paying I'm guessing.

Based on people's experiences, is it worth it given the fact that I don't seem to find a suitable car for less (been checking ebay, local papers, autotrader for a few months)?

Thanks,

Mark

4x4 front hubs are different to 2wd ones, and check that it doesn't have power steering as this can cause problems i understand..

Ned.

Are you sure you can use 4x4 front hubs?

Re your other question:
I was lucky and managed to get an XR4x4I for £100 and drove it home, only to find out later it wasn't MOT'd .
I've used, am using:
rear callipers (exchanged)
diff
driveshafts
rear hubs
steering colunm components
electrical components
hardware

I've sold, (easily):

wheels
shock absorbers
body kit

I also have a big pile of 'stuff' which may come in useful.

So on the whole I would say it's a good idea to buy a donor.

Mick

Also, don't over estimate what you can get for the parts you want to get rid of.

I paid £50.00 for my first V6 because it was out of the car, 200 yards away and a runner (and I couldn't be bothered to look any harder).

When I replaced it and sold it on I could find no-one locally who wanted it and finally sold it on e-bay for £10.00!

You can get reasonable prices if someone wants one but the bits become a pain in the a*** sat round your workshop for years waiting to find that someone.

Phil

Of course... 4x4 front hubs are different as they are driven... d'oh.

Ok, but I should be able to get a pair of sierra front hubs from a breakers for not much money shouldn't I and then use the 4x4s front brakes... or not?

In addition I can use the handbrake system too, can't I?

It does have PAS... ok, I can't use that either... I'll use an escort quickrack.

450 seems ok(ish) considering what breakers are selling LSDs on by themselves but it doesn't quite square with the "donor car for 50 quid that my neighbour wanted rid of" ideal but then I am being picky I guess in terms of wanting a specific sierra type. It also appears it's not just locosters looking for xr4x4 considering the price they seem to go for. I understand they are pretty popular as budget track day cars too as well as being a good donor for all sorts of stuff.

Basically, my impatience is getting the better of me

Cheers,

Mark

[Edited on 20/1/05 by dern]

would you not be better getting a normal 2 wheel drive car and then buying an LSD.

I sold the LSD i had for £100.

You should be able to get car for £50

i actually paid 270 quid for my donor.

It had a years mot, 2 owners, fully doc service history, 70k miles and was 12 years old.

I figured that I would be better off buying summat decent and not having to mess with the engine.

Just my view, but if you buy a crap old car, you just might get a crap old car in a seven body unless you spend more $$$$$$$


atb

steve

[Edited on 20/1/05 by stephen_gusterson]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Trev Borg
would you not be better getting a normal 2 wheel drive car and then buying an LSD.

I sold the LSD i had for £100.

You should be able to get car for £50

---

I've watched nearly every 4x4 sierra on ebay for a while now, some only just pass £200. I would love to start buying them all, infact i would if i had a transporter...

im gonna stick an ad in local press about free collection of unwanted sierras, maybe start breaking them.

Ok, cheers for all the input

Regards,

Mark

Not all bargains are bargains!

Hmm my £50 V8 engine off Ebay, has turned into a Money PIT.

Should have bought a short engine in the first place

What it all grinds down to is if you intend rebuilding all your mechanicals - buy the cheapest you can "afford" - if you want to just bung it in and drive - buy best you can afford

Dern.What Joel and Mark says is about right.Buying and breaking/biddie(?) your time.Its a case of falling lucky.Build round a normal one and uprate at a later date.If you need just the few bits try Marc at MNR(Marc N on here).Reasonable for someone that I know.That said I have obtained a 2Ltr Zetec for nupence.£100 2Ltr Mondeo.Cashed in Tax.Sold panels on ebay.Free engine.Sorted.Advertised local for a Sierra.Removed for free etc.Pure luck. Bear with it.It'll pay.

[Edited on 20/1/05 by TPG]

I saw Marc N's stuff at exeter, I was very impressed, and very little impresses me these days.

I've just priced up all the bits I need from MNR and it comes to less than the price of this car so it doesn't make any sense to buy it.

Thanks for all the pointers.

Regards,

Mark