first timer
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posted on 18/1/06 at 10:57 PM |
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HELLLPPPP!!!
Just bought Ron Champion's book "How to build a sports car and race it........." and Im inspired, I want me one of them!!!!
As a result I've jumped in with both feet and sorted all the tubular steel. (I'm currently in the process of cutting this to length and
dressing it ready for welding)...
The book suggests using a Mk 1 / 2 Escort as a donor but searching for these has thus far resulted in little joy, unless Im willing to shell out big
coin for a potential bag of sh*te...
Id be eternally grateful for any advice offered on donor cars! Im looking for a rear wheel drive (simple to work with set up) that wont require too
much arsing about as I have some (limited) knowledge of this kind of stuff but at the end of the day Id sooner be punching the garage wall in
frustration than stuck watching East-bloody-Enders with the missus!
Any advice at all regardless of the topic would be fantastic!
Cheers...
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flak monkey
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posted on 18/1/06 at 10:59 PM |
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Welcome to the nut house
Have a look through the old posts in this section. Or have a look on my website *plug plug*
Most people go for a sierra donor these days.
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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JoelP
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:00 PM |
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simplest solution in the UK is a ford sierra and (in your case) a 'book width de dion axle'. Your ideal sierra will not have abs or
power steering, and will have a usable engine and manual gearbox.
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Ketchup
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:00 PM |
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i could do you a cheap 2 litre pinto with a type 9 gearbox if you are interested
good evening and welcome also
[Edited on 18/1/06 by Ketchup]
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RazMan
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:04 PM |
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quote: Originally posted by first timer
Any advice at all regardless of the topic would be fantastic!
Go into the garden and dig a big hole. Then throw in all of your credit cards, cheque books, in fact anything that helps you spend money and BURY THEM
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Ketchup
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:07 PM |
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true.. but im sure my car will give me something back when i can finally drive it
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steve m
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:08 PM |
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"As a result I've jumped in with both feet and sorted all the tubular steel. (I'm currently in the process of cutting this to length
and dressing it ready for welding)."
errrr
tubular steel ??
dont think so
.
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iceman26
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:09 PM |
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you have u2u
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muzchap
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:18 PM |
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OK FIRST STOP
Get on EBAY and BUY this DONOR!
It has the Limited Slip Diff you require
It's the 7" one too - with Lobro's and Rear Discs...
!!!CLICK ME IM A DONOR CAR IN
DISGUISE!!!
And the rest is history - or should I say bed debt history
Ron Champion sold an even bigger lie than the London Bridge to the Yanks!
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jonno
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posted on 18/1/06 at 11:54 PM |
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Also helps if you fill your location in, there could be people living close to you with helpful advice, etc.
And welcome
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Jon Ison
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posted on 19/1/06 at 12:01 AM |
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1st tip i would give stop cutting, there are a few mistakes in the book I found it best too measure and cut as required rather than use book as a
cutting list, that's once you've got your basic chassis built, ie top n btm rails plus up-stands......
2nd tip, enjoy and welcome.
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caber
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posted on 19/1/06 at 12:14 AM |
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Stop Cutting the Steel!
Unfortunately there are a few errors in the book it is far better to start building to the overall dimensions adusting any pieces that need it. Get
the McSorely plans they are a PDF download from the internet, print them to A3 and you will find they are much easier to work with.
Before you go any further decide what you are going to build and source the essentials i.e.engine gearbox back axle and front uprights and hubs, all
these will affect dimensons of parts of the build.
I spent about 6 months planning and sourcing and as I wanted to stay close to book I ended up with a rag bag collection of parts, many bought from
people on the site or local scrappies as I couldn't find a decent donor, BTW the 4X4 sierra is not a decent donor too many bits won't be
used including the engine and front uprights!
I am using a 1600 pinto that will have sidedraught webber 40s a sierra type 9 gearbox, a sierra steering column, a rally designs escort quick rack,
cortina uprights and an early Cortina pedal box with sierra brake master cylinder and a modified crank or cable clutch. I am trying to fit a genuine
Lotus Elan handbrake and fuel cap!
This lot cost more than a donor but i will have a live axle car for simplicity and speed of build. many other parts will be off book from info learned
on this forum.
Spend a bit of research time now to save yourself a lot of grief later, personaly i hate re-doing things so I am working in a careful forward
direction so I don't get frustrated and, like so many others , abandon the project.
Good luck and have fun with your project
Caber
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rayward
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posted on 19/1/06 at 01:05 AM |
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Hi,
if your going for a book chassis, you maybe don't need a mk2 escort donor, but you could buy the bits you want seperately i.e
escort axle £50 - £100
Cortina uprights £50 - £100
Escort Steering Rack £50 new
Sierra Column £25
then you can pick whick engine/Box you want to fit rather than being stuck with whatever engine your donor car had.
Ray
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mak
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posted on 19/1/06 at 01:55 AM |
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Nothing useful to say, but welcome.
Mark
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Kissy
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posted on 19/1/06 at 06:49 AM |
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And should you go with a book chassis/Sierra donor I have a GTS deDion beam for the back end - fits the book chassis and the Sierra hubs etc bolt
straight in. Brand new/unused. It's not going anywhere so once you've decided on the format let me know if that's the route you
decide.
BTW - Welcome, there are a lot of helpful people on here who are generous with their knowledge (and opinions)
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DaveFJ
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posted on 19/1/06 at 09:06 AM |
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quote: Originally posted by muzchap
OK FIRST STOP
Get on EBAY and BUY this DONOR!
It has the Limited Slip Diff you require
It's the 7" one too - with Lobro's and Rear Discs...
!!!CLICK ME IM A DONOR CAR IN
DISGUISE!!!
And the rest is history - or should I say bed debt history
Ron Champion sold an even bigger lie than the London Bridge to the Yanks!
How do you know it's 7" ?? some estates have a 7.5" diff.................
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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rusty nuts
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posted on 19/1/06 at 11:12 AM |
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Possible donor package on ebay at the moment item no 4606094829 no bids yet NTDWM
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muzchap
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posted on 19/1/06 at 11:26 AM |
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Dave,
I was told all Sierra 4x4 estates were 7"...
The two me and my friend have purchases have been... guess we've just been extremely lucky
Cheers,
Murray
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DaveFJ
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posted on 19/1/06 at 11:31 AM |
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some are 7" and some are 7.5". I have no idea how you can tell from model/year or whatever other than to crawl underneath with a
ruler......
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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splitrivet
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posted on 19/1/06 at 11:42 AM |
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quote: Originally posted by RazMan
quote: Originally posted by first timer
Any advice at all regardless of the topic would be fantastic!
Go into the garden and dig a big hole. Then throw in all of your credit cards, cheque books, in fact anything that helps you spend money and BURY THEM
While your chucking things into t'hole chuck the book in there as well and get the Mcsorley plans.
Cheers,
Bob
[Edited on 19/1/06 by splitrivet]
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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ayoungman
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posted on 19/1/06 at 11:44 AM |
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Welcome aboard shipmate !
Yes, some are 7.5 inch. Guess which one I got lumbered with the first time.
"just like that !"
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Gav
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posted on 19/1/06 at 12:21 PM |
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The mcsorley are located at
http://mcsorley.net/locost/default.htm
It is also worth cheking the links section from the top menu on this forum, theirs quite a few good sites to ponder over
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caber
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posted on 19/1/06 at 02:23 PM |
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Here's a donor pack with proper registration on ebay
item no. 4606094829
Caber
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NS Dev
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posted on 19/1/06 at 03:14 PM |
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quote: Originally posted by ayoungman
Welcome aboard shipmate !
Yes, some are 7.5 inch. Guess which one I got lumbered with the first time.
Had all this before!
Not according to Ford, all should be 7". 7.5" is cossie, XR4Ti and granada only.
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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DaveFJ
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posted on 19/1/06 at 03:39 PM |
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Just coz ford say that............... practical experience shows otherwise !
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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