Rick James
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 posted on 10/5/07 at 05:49 PM |
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Need Help!!
Hello. I'm in urgent need of some advice.
I'm in the process of saving up to build my first kit car in a few years time, which will hopefully be a bike engined Vortx. The problem is
I've got no basic mechanical experience or knowledge whatsover, the only thing I know how to do is check my oil and water, and that's
about it!
Can anyone tell me if there's any decent books I can get hold of in order to learn the basic skills as it's something I desperatley want
to do in the future. My local College only offer courses in the day which is no good to me as I'm at work. Any help or advice would be much
appreciated, thanks everyone.
Marc
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joneh
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 05:54 PM |
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Practice and the relevant haynes manual for your donor would be best I reckon. I'm currently looking for an evening class on welding - but I
suspect, if you're like me, having a go at stuff is the best way to learn. If you get stuck post on here 
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AdamR
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 05:59 PM |
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You could read about how engines work or how suspension works, for example, but the only way to learn the basic skills is to get practical experience.
Just learn as you go along. I'm sure most builders, myself certainly included, didn't know very much about building a sports car to begin
with, but the learning is what it's all about. Sure, you'll scratch your head and make a few mistakes along the way but that's how
you get experience.
[Edited on 10/5/07 by AdamR]
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twybrow
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 06:02 PM |
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Buy yourself a car you can service and maintain. Ensure you have a Haynes handy. Next time you need any work done, do it yourself. The basics (oil
change, spark plugs, brake renewal etc) can all be done with little to no knowledge as long as you are methodical. The best way will always be to have
a go. I must warn you though, if you do attempt brakes and you have a small insignificant piece left over, don't do what I did and assume
it's not needed!
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Pezza
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 06:06 PM |
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Never realy did much myself before I bought my kit, still done sod all on it in the mean time lol.
But have swapped the engine on a rover and a head gasket on another.
Just go about things methodically
You couldn't pwn your way out of a wet paper bag, with "PWN ME!!" written on it, from the "pwned take-away" which originally contained one
portion of chicken tikka pwnsala and the obligatory free pwnpadom.
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Rick James
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 posted on 10/5/07 at 06:43 PM |
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Thanks for the help everyone, much appreciated. I wish I had some spare land where I could put a car there and work on it, that would be quite handy
actually.
Like everyone said I guess it's just a case of going through things methodically and taking the time to do it properly. I'm a while a way
from being able to do anything at the present time anyway but if and when it does happen I'll have plenty of time to build one.
Once again thanks for the advice.
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StevieB
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 07:00 PM |
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I had little experience when I started my build (changed some oil and air filters on my old nova when I was seventeed, that's about it!)
A kit build will take you from novice to expert through the build. Just take each stage at a time and research it bit by bit - don't get bogged
down in the details until they become relevent.
Get to some kit car shows and talk to people too - owners and manufacturers.
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Rick James
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 07:40 PM |
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Where and when is the next Kit Car show on, does anyone know? I'll be going down to MNR to speak to Marc and Chris about a car once I get some
money saved up.
I've fallen in love with Bike engined cars after being out in my mate's MK Indy Fireblade. I want one real bad!
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StevieB
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 08:26 PM |
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Newark is the next one, I think, but not sure when it's on.
Have you looked around some of the other manufacturers or have you just gone for the MNR?
MNR are great, but it's worth having a look around to see what else is on offer (after all, it's a lot of money you'll be spending
and if it was a normal tin top, you'd look around all the options first).
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ayoungman
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 08:43 PM |
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You've already made a good decision by joining this forum. I spent 2 years building before I discovered this site. I recom I could have saved
many hundreds of pounds and a helluva lot of time if I had found it ealier.
"just like that !"
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Hellfire
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| posted on 10/5/07 at 09:44 PM |
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Have a read of the build and rebuild diaries on our website. OK, it's not an MNR but they all go together similarly.
Then ask yourself whether you could do that or not. If not (which I highly doubt) then you can always pay someone to do any difficult bits you feel
incapable of doing.
Depends 'how much you are willing to learn' vs 'how deep your pockets are'
It's not rocket science.
(Incidentally, what similar phrase do rocket scientists use? )
Phil
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