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Author: Subject: how to build my own mid engine chassis
kenworth

posted on 3/11/16 at 04:48 PM Reply With Quote
how to build my own mid engine chassis

Hello everyone I'm new here.
I want to build a mid engine kit car based one my own design. My question is how do I go about designing the chassis, what are the steps and requirements?
If this helps I plan to use a v6 engine bolted up to a vw bug gearbox. Thanks in advance.

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owelly

posted on 3/11/16 at 05:25 PM Reply With Quote
Welcome aboard!
You say you want to build a chassis based on your own design. That's where you get the design from.....
Once you've designed it, you build it to meet the IVA regulations. Then you take it for IVA and once you have the pass, you send the paperwork off to DVLA and they send you a V5 and reg number.....simples.





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kenworth

posted on 3/11/16 at 05:55 PM Reply With Quote
I'm not familiar with most of those terms. I should have stated that I am from Jamaica. Thank for your help owelly.
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avagolen

posted on 3/11/16 at 06:17 PM Reply With Quote
Is that 'from Jamaica' but in the UK, or still in Jamaica?

If in Jamaica, no idea what you have to do.

If in the UK, get a copy of the IVA manual - search threads on here.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/iva-manual-for-vehicle-category-m1

It has all of the rules and regulations you have to meet.

Once you have built your car, you have to get it tested - the dreaded IVA test.

If you get past that hurdle, you then apply for registration - Q plate for your pride and joy
or an age related plate depending on the donor vehicle you have used. You must use a
certain number of parts from that vehicle to meet that criteria. The last potential is a new
plate if you used all new parts and I think 1 refurbished part.

Hope this helps - best of luck.





The Answer for everything, but never the last word....

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kenworth

posted on 3/11/16 at 06:20 PM Reply With Quote
I'm not familiar with most of those terms. I should have stated that I am from Jamaica. Thank for your help owelly.
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kenworth

posted on 3/11/16 at 06:34 PM Reply With Quote
Avagolen your suggestions helped but I live in Jamaica. What I plan on building is a ordinary kit car with parts taken from a doner car it nothing suffisticated. But I am not sure how to go about building and designing the chassis. for eg the dimensions for the passenger compartment, engine compartment and the front compartment where I plan to put the radiator. however I do have and idea of how long I want the car to be.
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mark chandler

posted on 3/11/16 at 06:34 PM Reply With Quote
Decide what chassis you want to build, ladder think landrover or space frame.

Space frame is more complex however look at the locost chassis, devide it into four sections, front suspension, rear suspension engine bay and seated area and re-arrange.

The key to success is maintain triangles looking at the parts in any direction.

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kenworth

posted on 3/11/16 at 06:42 PM Reply With Quote
Thank you for your help mark I do have a copy of the locost chassis plans. Can I remodel or modify the locost chassis plan to accommodate a rear mounted longitudinal engine and transaxel like that of a ultima gtr chassis? as I want to build something like that.
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ReMan

posted on 3/11/16 at 06:49 PM Reply With Quote
It's your design, you can do whatever you like and make it look like what you want it too,
As long as you maintain some strength do what you want.





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kenworth

posted on 3/11/16 at 06:52 PM Reply With Quote
That's a good advice. Are there any books that I might need to help me with my build?
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JC

posted on 3/11/16 at 07:36 PM Reply With Quote
https://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Own-Sports-Car/dp/1844253910

This is the book that you need, which has dimensioned plans in it. I took cockpit dimensions from the original version of this book, grafted the front suspension onto the footwells taking out the space for the front engine. I then added the engine compartment on the back to fit my donor.

I modelled the chassis in wood and twisted it with my hands. I added triangulation until I was happy, then made it out of metal. If you want to read how I did it, look at my blog (the www link below)

Good luck

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gremlin1234

posted on 3/11/16 at 07:42 PM Reply With Quote
welcome,
I thought the beetle/bug gearbox had the engine behind it (ie rear engine not mid) but can be used as mid, if its turned 'upsidedown'
most UK beetle based kit cars used the entire floor pan, which while restrictive, is a lot easier.
I suspect a 'bug' gearbox would not take the power of a v6

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Ugg10

posted on 3/11/16 at 08:17 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by kenworth
Thank you for your help mark I do have a copy of the locost chassis plans. Can I remodel or modify the locost chassis plan to accommodate a rear mounted longitudinal engine and transaxel like that of a ultima gtr chassis? as I want to build something like that.


Just buy the midlana book! http://midlana.com

Plans and info on how to build a mid engined seven type car. Plans apparently let you know how to lengthen bits to accommodate different engines etc. For inspiration look at the Sylva r1ot as well.

[Edited on 3/11/16 by Ugg10]





---------------------------------------------------------------
1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com

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coozer

posted on 3/11/16 at 08:20 PM Reply With Quote
+1 for the Midlana...





1972 V8 Jago

1980 Z750

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liam.mccaffrey

posted on 3/11/16 at 08:32 PM Reply With Quote
+1 buy the midlana book its very expensive but is worth it twice over!!





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ettore bugatti

posted on 3/11/16 at 10:07 PM Reply With Quote
What kind of v6 are you planning to use?

What you could consider is to build the Locost frame, but switch the seating around.
So the engine sits still in the engine bay, but the orginal front suspension becomes the rear suspension and the locost rear suspension becomes the front suspension.

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kenworth

posted on 4/11/16 at 12:20 AM Reply With Quote
A big thanks to you guys for your help.

Jc I will buy that book and get some idea of the steps I should take and some build idea.

Gremlin thanks for the heads up about the engine and gearbox combo. Do you have any suggestions about a suitable engine and gearbox set up for a mid engine set up?

@ Ettore Bugatti I was thinking about using a Chevy v6 engine mounted to a vw transaxle but I was advised that the bug tranny can't handle that much power.

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mark chandler

posted on 4/11/16 at 12:28 AM Reply With Quote
Can you get hold of a scrap v6 VW Passat or Audi depending on the model you get a transaxle feeding the front wheels and engine in longways so all the hard work is done for you.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=v6+passat+engine&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi mgNyL7I3QAhWCqxoKHcUhAgUQ_AUICCgC&biw=1024&bih=681#imgrc=Fr7_3WxUwh1GKM%3A

Have a look at GT40's for ideas, American web site.

[Edited on 4/11/16 by mark chandler]

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Slimy38

posted on 4/11/16 at 08:17 AM Reply With Quote
Not to discourage you in any way, but I remember reading an article about self build cars where many people start with any random engine and gearbox, and try (and fail) to build a car around it. There's a lot more to consider, and starting off big won't help you either.

If I was going for a mid engine set up, I'd get hold of an unroadworthy Ford Focus and use it's front wheel drive set up in the back of a custom chassis. It's been done elsewhere so you have some guidance on potential problems. Once that's on the road then you can consider other set ups that are closer to your main idea.

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Ugg10

posted on 4/11/16 at 08:39 AM Reply With Quote
Also have a look at the MeV rocket For a Ford Focus mid engine design. The super lite nemesis uses an Audi 1.8t engine and transaxle in an exo style body (nice design for both single and tandem seater). http://www.superlitecars.com/nemesis/

As others have said Audi / vw Passat is the obvious choice for a longitudinal mid engine, available in 4,5,6,8 and 10 cylinder variants. The Porsche Boxster is the other option and there are kits about to convert the scooby flat 4 turbo 4wd to 2wd. Don't think I can recall any other longitudinal transaxle cars, otherwise it is tranverse front wheel drive put in the rear, if you want v6 then there are ford mondeo, jag x type, Alfa, many gym cars have them aswell and I think Chevy did a version of the ls series in transverse lay out but can't remember which car.





---------------------------------------------------------------
1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com

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Sam_68

posted on 4/11/16 at 09:04 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ugg10
Don't think I can recall any other longitudinal transaxle cars...


There have been lots, of course... the Nobles (23, Ultima, P4, Midtec) for a start, but plenty of others as well

Most of the Lotus 23 replicas use the bug gearbox and basic chassis drawings are readily available for the 23 on the internet, which the OP may find a useful starting point.

It's a bit obscure, so you can be forgiven for not knowing it, but there's the Avatar currently available in the UK too, which uses an Audi gearbox hooked up to a Ford Ecoboost engine (though the racing version used an Audi V6).

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Ugg10

posted on 4/11/16 at 09:13 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Sam_68
quote:
Originally posted by Ugg10
Don't think I can recall any other longitudinal transaxle cars...


There have been lots, of course... the Nobles (23, Ultima, P4, Midtec) for a start, but plenty of others as well

Most of the Lotus 23 replicas use the bug gearbox and basic chassis drawings are readily available for the 23 on the internet, which the OP may find a useful starting point.

It's a bit obscure, so you can be forgiven for not knowing it, but there's the Avatar currently available in the UK too, which uses an Audi gearbox hooked up to a Ford Ecoboost engine (though the racing version used an Audi V6).


Sorry, should have said production/donor cars i.e. ones where you can transplant then engine and gearbox as a unit. Alfa also did flat fours with transaxle but a bit rare now to pick up. The renault 21 UN1 box is also a favourite but again difficult to find one and they do go for a premium at the moment.

Agreed, lots of kit cars also use the porsche 911 box upside down if you have deep pockets (gt40's, ultima, foreman p4 etc..)

[Edited on 4/11/16 by Ugg10]





---------------------------------------------------------------
1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com

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coyoteboy

posted on 4/11/16 at 02:03 PM Reply With Quote
Designing your own chassis and suspension is not for the faint of heart. Anyone can make a mistake, most car folk could make hack job that goes OK, it takes good understanding to make a good job of it.

As someone above said, starting from a complete blank is a good way to do nothing. I know, 4 years later I've got a new CNC machine, some wheels, an engine and box and not enough time to do the chassis and suspension lol






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kenworth

posted on 4/11/16 at 02:14 PM Reply With Quote
I was thinking of using a traverse v6 set up like a Toyota Camry/ engine or Honda variant. lets say for example I want to use a vw vanagon gearbox what engines would be suitable in the case of reliability?

A Porsche gearbox would be nice but those things aren't cheap. 😀

I will look into the audi and vw passat to see if there's any salvage ones.

Also I may add that cost is a concern as I would like to do it on a reasonable budget without breaking the bank. 😀

As a plus have welding and mechanical skills so that's not a problem however some of the parts I am going to need will have to be imported so I want to keep that to a minimum.

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kenworth

posted on 4/11/16 at 02:34 PM Reply With Quote
@ coyoteboy that's well said is never easy to start something from scratch that you have no idea about. But starting from blank is a good idea. I have been lookinh at the Lamborghini miura chassis and its engine configuration and it gave me some ideas.
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