just got myself the the roadster book and spoke to the guys at 3gp at exeter show last weekend and im glad to say soon i will be moving house and have a garage.
as i have always wanted to make up my own 7 rep im quiet intersted in a build from the ground up and i love the idea of eveything precut it saves on mistakes.

i just have a few niggles that i would like to get a bit of advice (i have worked in garages for quiet a few years before having a change of job by the way)

1.seirra bitts how hard is it to find a good car to brake down thease days (all the right bits you need) i see old 4x4 ones and thats about it. granada's any good?

2. there are bits in the book that refer to mx5 alternitives anyone done any or used a complete mx5?

3. dont get me wrong but why are bmw 3 series not being used as doners thease days? there are loads about compared to the old fords
all beemers are rwd

4.is there much of a cost advantage to bilding off plan or is kit style a better option?

5.is the haynes plan correct or is there any mistakes in the drawings?

i know there is a few questions but i guss its best to ask people in the know

I can see from number of postat that you are new. My advice would be to consider changing your avatar to something more appropriate.

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Originally posted by 02GF74
I can see from number of postat that you are new. My advice would be to consider changing your avatar to something more appropriate.

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Originally posted by 02GF74
My advice would be to consider changing your avatar to something more appropriate.

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Originally posted by baz-R
just got myself the the roadster book and spoke to the guys at 3gp at exeter show last weekend and im glad to say soon i will be moving house and have a garage.
as i have always wanted to make up my own 7 rep im quiet intersted in a build from the ground up and i love the idea of eveything precut it saves on mistakes.

i just have a few niggles that i would like to get a bit of advice (i have worked in garages for quiet a few years before having a change of job by the way)

1.seirra bitts how hard is it to find a good car to brake down thease days (all the right bits you need) i see old 4x4 ones and thats about it. granada's any good?

2. there are bits in the book that refer to mx5 alternitives anyone done any or used a complete mx5?

3. dont get me wrong but why are bmw 3 series not being used as doners thease days? there are loads about compared to the old fords
all beemers are rwd

4.is there much of a cost advantage to bilding off plan or is kit style a better option?

5.is the haynes plan correct or is there any mistakes in the drawings?

i know there is a few questions but i guss its best to ask people in the know

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If using the MX5 then consider this book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Cheap-Sports-Motorbooks-Workshop/dp/0760322872/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259313116&sr=8-1

There is a website here
http://www.cheapsportscar.net/

The author has posted here in the past, so look for posts by "Keith Tanner"

Some kit manufactures (Westfield, Aries and MNR iirc) are doing mx5 kits these days.

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Originally posted by iank
If using the MX5 then consider this book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Cheap-Sports-Motorbooks-Workshop/dp/0760322872/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259313116&sr=8-1

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Originally posted by Breaker
....says the guy with a pussy in his avatar....
[Edited on 27/11/09 by Breaker]

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One of the westfield kits is mx5 based.
A couple of peolpe on here have used mx5 front uprights and I am also using them. I'm sure I heard that the Chris Gibbs book upright dimensions are actually the same as a mx5 rear upruight.

regards
Hugh

Focusing on your kit questions as apposed to self build. There is a kit that works with bmws speciically as donors. Can't remember the name...

Also as has been said, do not underestimate the commitment of a self build, check eBay, lots are sold part built as they swallow so much of your time. With a kit at least some of the time, and ease o sourcing parts is there.

Locosts can be booming frustrating hobby at times, so go in with your eyes open. It is very rewarding too.

As said in previous replies locosts take an awful lot of time.
To be able to build one you need patience (lots of it), motivation (lots of it), time (lots of it), the ability to adapt situations to suit your needs/donor parts. If you're married/girlfriend etc you will need a very undertanding one. Most jobs on a locost can probably be done using fairly basic tools, but the more basic your tools are the more time you will need to complete. You will also need to plan jobs well in advance so that you have the tools and parts available when you need them as waiting on parts to arrive before you move onto the next stage can really knock your motivation. Know what you want before you start the build and stick to it as much as possible to prevent moving components etc. Do not set yourself a budget as again this can knock your motivation.

Plenty of beer. (maybe)

Building from a kit will be much easier but you might find that after building a kit you want to try a locost but i'm sure most people will agree that there is enough work in a kit car to satisfy most people.

hope this helps

Jonny

Maybe also let us know where you are in the world/country so that you can ask/get face to face help and advice from a friendly forum community.

you have U2U

Andy

cheers lads for all your advice

as a few of you asked i live in the exeter area (devon)
i worked in the garage trade for 7 years after 2 years at collage (auto eng+elec) doing eveything pritty much evean 4 wheel alignment at the last place as we had a fancy 4wheel set up. also worked on a few kits on the side for customers doing ajusable camtiming jobs and other tricky bits.
after getting ichey feet i went to work in a large engineering factory repairing cnc equipment and toolmaking for 6.5 years as well as a few sh1t jobs
started doing alot of tig welding in the later years and when i got made redundent my local welding supplyier asked me to be a tec rep for them demo'ing welding equipment and sorting peoples applications (bit to tie and salesy for me)
i work now on trains as a maintence eng/elec
and enjoy it plus i work 5 on 5off so i have a bit of spare time now and then.
i have bilt up about 3 complete tool sets over the years have a welder and have wanted to build a 7 or maybe a trike with two wheels up front (yet to see a good one)

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Originally posted by Dangle_kt
Focusing on your kit questions as apposed to self build. There is a kit that works with bmws speciically as donors. Can't remember the name...

Also as has been said, do not underestimate the commitment of a self build, check eBay, lots are sold part built as they swallow so much of your time. With a kit at least some of the time, and ease o sourcing parts is there.

Locosts can be booming frustrating hobby at times, so go in with your eyes open. It is very rewarding too.

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Originally posted by baz-R
cheers lads for all your advice

as a few of you asked i live in the exeter area (devon)

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Originally posted by Daddylonglegs

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Originally posted by Breaker
....says the guy with a pussy in his avatar....
[Edited on 27/11/09 by Breaker]

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Yes, but it is a sweet looking pussy

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Originally posted by 02GF74
I can see from number of postat that you are new. My advice would be to consider changing your avatar to something more appropriate.

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look at it this way if we didnt have any smutt/porn in the world there wouldnt be any internet

In answer to your questions, the Haynes can be adapted to take any components. The "problem" if you can call it that is moving away from book parts requires the parts to be modified to fit correctly and mess up things like suspension geometry etc. Not impossible, just requires a bit of time.

Kind regards

John

Yet to see a good trike with 2 wheels up front and one at the rear...!!!! Take it you aint seen the Black Jack Zero then

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Originally posted by Triton
Yet to see a good trike with 2 wheels up front and one at the rear...!!!! Take it you aint seen the Black Jack Zero then

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Originally posted by Triton
Yet to see a good trike with 2 wheels up front and one at the rear...!!!! Take it you aint seen the Black Jack Zero then

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Do whatever is the most common thing, and you will have less frustration. You'll have some anyways, but the more you stray from the norm, the more you wish you hadn't. Sometimes, you're really on your own with this.