Working as near as possible with the origonal chassis design what is the best current donor vehicle. I ask because there is a dire lack of mk1 mk2 escorts but loads of capris and sierras.
Would a donor Capri be easy to use instead of an escort? And if so what changes would have to be made from the origonal design?

It would seem that the escort is a bit over rated as a donor - its the rear axle thats most important.

The feeling seems to be that a cortina is a better donor - but they are not too common either.

A capri is often used, and may get you close to a 'book build' but is about 4 - 6 ins wider. Perhaps you can make wider rear arches, or make the car wider.

There is no 'ideal' donor - for instance, you cant use capri front hubs, you cant use escort hubs, you cant use the back axle from a seirra cos it dont have one!


HOWEVER there are lots of little 'knock ons' if you make the car wider. GRP bits like nosecones and rear wings might be hard to find for the bigger dimensions, and the front suspension geometry / bone lengths will alter. Then there's getting the right rear tyre to body clearances with the different axle width.

If you deviate from the book it adds TIME.

You may be better off looking for an escort axle and using another donor for the rest.

A key problem is using non cortina front hubs. You will have to make up your own front syspension geometry which is a big can of worms. If you can keep to the following it will help :

1. use std width.
2. get an escort axle.
3. get cortina hubs.

A bit of time spent on hunting these down will save ten of hrs time.

A sierra is a common donor, but you dont get any of the above. In this case you are fairly diffeent from the book car, and might be better buying a MK chassis, and other bits, which are all made for the sierra. Kit providers like MK have done a lot of the problem solving for you...

If you want a fast build, get an MK.

If you want to do a lot of problem solving, and be able to say 'i did it all' and dont mind an extra 100 - 200 hrs on the build, use a non book donor to build a book car.

atb

steve



[Edited on 8/7/03 by stephen_gusterson]

I can sort out number 2! http://forum.locostbuilders.co.uk/xmb/viewthread.php?tid=6045

Chris

I'm using a sierra, doing it with irs and bodging the front hubs having removed the majority of the strut. Its fairly fun designing it as you go, but it definitely does take lots of time... ive been at it 8 months and only tested the back wheels in place today. fun though...

Thats what i made for the fitting sierra hubs on, instead of escort hubs. Works a treat

damn it thats what i need....!

Looks good, is it pur-chased or turned on a lathe?

how high does it leave the hub from one wishbone to the other? i was hoping to leave it around 8 inch to better suit my chassis (custom bodge...)

ps did u know that if you cut the shocker off and leave a bit, then a cut off sierra ball joint fits quite well in the hole? still have to make a tapered hole on the wishbone though...

[Edited on 31/7/03 by JoelP]

you can buy a similar item from luego or mk have an insert too, they sell with the kit, sure they'd sell you one (or two!) if you asked nicely....

Ned.

They were turned on a lathe..... then a tapered hole was cut to match the ball joint.... much nicer and safer way of doing it.

It's also adjustable height wise... so you can put it to whatever height difference you want 8inch's is definately achievable.

I know about the shocker cutting... but i didn't have the shocker, cos I got the hubs from a breakers.. and the shocker would of been extra