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which is the best donor car?
stonie110 - 9/5/08 at 09:56 AM

can you use a sierra estate? is a sierra 4x4 any good? how about a 4x4 estate? any answers would be greatfully appreciated

graememk - 9/5/08 at 09:58 AM

4x4 is only really good for the diff and prop

xr4 is the one you want or any cheap sierra that can be had, look for 1.6 for a manula rack, it depends on what you want from your 7 when its built

[Edited on 9/5/08 by graememk]

Guinness - 9/5/08 at 10:00 AM

You can use an estate. The 4x4 isn't so great, you do get rear discs and an LSD for the back, but you also usually get (and don't want):

power steering rack
front hubs with holes in them
abs
an MT75 4x4 gearbox

I found a late model '92 plate Sierra Chassuer or something. It came with manual steering, no abs, a 1.6 pinto engine and a type 9 gear box, half a tank of gas and some tax for £75. That to my mind is a perfect donor! Go poverty spec

Mike

speedyxjs - 9/5/08 at 10:04 AM

[cough] jag [cough]

Hammerhead - 9/5/08 at 10:06 AM

maybe and aston martin vanquish or dbs

Davey D - 9/5/08 at 10:36 AM

Has anyone on here built a 7 with 4x4 running gear from a cosworth, or XR4x4 ?

eznfrank - 9/5/08 at 10:36 AM

If you're looking at Sierra I reckon it's sometimes best to buy a donor package from a scrapper rather than mess around stripping down so you can get the best of the different models. For example on mine i have xr4x4 rear end so have disc brakes and the 3.62 limited slip diff. And then on the front I have xr4i front hubs, brakes steering rack and column etc.

Mr Whippy - 9/5/08 at 10:38 AM

It think the sump on the 4x4 is totally different and would need to be changed, there's drive shafts I think going through it.

meany - 9/5/08 at 10:49 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Davey D
Has anyone on here built a 7 with 4x4 running gear from a cosworth, or XR4x4 ?


the only one i know of is " Liam"
check his photo archive.

aerosam - 9/5/08 at 02:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
It think the sump on the 4x4 is totally different and would need to be changed, there's drive shafts I think going through it.


Correct mr whippy, one of the front driveshafts goes through the sump.

I think chris gibbs is lookiong out for someone to build one out of an E36 BMW (3 series) for an updated version of his book, chance to get involved there.

Personally I'm using an E34 BMW 530, but it will be a huge amount of work.

Mole - 9/5/08 at 03:56 PM

Surprised that this thread has been open this long without someone suggesting an R1.

[Edited on 9/5/08 by Mole]