burger_boy
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| posted on 16/4/06 at 10:05 PM |
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A few newbie questions!
Hi
Seeing as this forum seems to be a no BS sound advice forum with people who actually know what theyre on about ! i thought id ask for some advice!!
I'm soon to be buying a Tiger Avon chassis for me and my dad to get to work on and was wondering a few things about BEC's that i hope some
people will have the patience to answer! 
1) If using the original wiring loom from the bike, would it need to be completely extended or modified to any extent to make it actually fit and SVA
compliant?
2) How reliable are the quaife reverse boxes?
3) Considering i plan to use this as an everday car almost in some places, (although there is a very twisty route into town i would be using alot!) is
a BEC really suitable for this application?
and:
4) How easy is a Bike engine to install compared to a car engine?
Thanks alot for answering any of my questions!!
Chris
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zxrlocost
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| posted on 16/4/06 at 10:17 PM |
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hi
use the original bike loom and just extend the wires only the wiring loom part for the lights needs extending and hazards and brake warning lights
putting in
which youll soon figure out how to do
very simple stuff
dont know much about the reverse though mate it adds weight
chris
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richardR1
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| posted on 16/4/06 at 10:45 PM |
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Any particular reason for choosing the Avon? For a bike engined installation you would find MK, MNR or Mac1 easier as they would supply the chassis
with the bike mounts in place. I was originally looking at the Avon but did a lot of reading on here and went with the MK Indy and very pleased I
did. MNR and Mac1 come on the scene since then and are pretty similar. If you are seriously thinking of it as an everyday car I would give some
thought to using a car engine as it would be easier to live with day to day. Maybe a Toyota 16v or similar. Try and get a ride in a CEC and a BEC to
get an idea of how they compare.
MK Owners Club Member 1015
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JoelP
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| posted on 16/4/06 at 11:37 PM |
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bike engines are probably easier to install than car engines, because they are so much lighter you can fit them by hand (with a friend to help).
Wiring is quite simple, i removed all spare bike circuits and just used it to run the engine. Reverse boxes cost a few % of power normally, and can be
unreliable, however, some must work. Not worth it for the money IMHO, but your needs may differ.
Bec isnt ideal for everyday road use, but it is possible. Certainly not as relaxing as having a car engine, mainly due to having to think about the
sequential box. Good for track though.
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kb58
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 12:08 AM |
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You should really try to get a ride in one to see if it's your cup of tea.
Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book -
http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html
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James
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 12:29 AM |
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Chris,
My best advice to you would be to have a good long read of the Tiger section on here before you jump in and buy an Avon.
There have been a lot of negative comments posted about the quality of the kit (particularly the GRP) so I advise you to read very carefully....
Good luck in you choice, remember it's well worth checking out MK, GTS, Luego, MNR as well!
Cheers,
James
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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burger_boy
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 12:33 AM |
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Ok,
It seems so far like it'd be harder to live with but easier to install, I think i should take the advice and visit a few factories where i can
get a look at some of the BEC's and CEC's,
The reason i looked at the tiger is because it is one of the first companies i found and because it is just down the road from me! I'll take a
look at the MK and MAc1 websites then,
Thanks alot for the help guys!
Chris
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burger_boy
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 12:35 AM |
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Oh and i also saw that i could buy the avon from the chassis up enabling me to spread the cost over a veeeery long period of time, but ill see if the
other companies can do that!
Ive heard the odd thing about tiger, but i got the general consensus from the tiger forum as being ok? I shall do some more research!
Thanks again!
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wilkingj
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 06:14 AM |
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If you are just up the road from Tiger, then Luego are in Peterborough, on the Oundle road (in a small Ind estate). Their quality is good, I am
building a Luego Viento, cos I am a Bat F'Stard
There is another Kit car manufactuter in P'borough, but cat remember the name, I think it starts with "A". but not totally sure.
I would seriously consider the MK / Mac 1 route. MK's are nice and I am considering one for my next build, and are well suited for a BEC.
You can but you kit from any manufacturer almost piece by piece, However there is usually a cost advantage in buying a basic / enhanced package.
Luego are about to so their "summer special" / "budget Blaster" deal, worth considering. Luego are on Holiday till tuesday.
I dare say that all the other manufacturers do simmilar deals, it just depends when they do it.
Get the chassis and suspension arms as a minimum, then you will be able to do a rolling chassis and fit the engine etc.. that gives you a lot to do to
be getting on with whilst you save your pennies.
I would budget for about £4-5k, but as you say, you can spread it over a long period.
Also get firendly with your local scrappy, loads of stuff in those yards, saving you a smalll fortune.
Bike Engine for out and out FUN, Car engine, for daily use, a BEC goes like a "BAT OUT OF HELL", whereas a CEC goes like a "Bat out
of Hell". But still bloody quick.
When I was deciding which kit to buy I visited Tiger, and was not taken by the reception I got, they didnt seem that interested in me as a potential
customer. I am 53, and didnt turn up at Tiger looking and talking like a 16 years old with no money... if you know what I mean.
"Here's a Brochure, thats the car, have a look mate!" and then left me alone to look. No sales pitch, or anything. I left with the
impression they didnt care if I bought one or not. Consequently I didnt buy from there.
I am sure there are plenty of satisfied customers, and their product looked good, it was all down to their attitude.
Have fun with the build.. and this is a top site for knowlege and info.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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Hellfire
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 09:08 AM |
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Have a look at the build and rebuild diaries on our website. Should give you some idea of how an MK goes together.
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JoelP
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 09:53 AM |
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theres also stuart taylor motorsport, who are quite competent too.
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burger_boy
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| posted on 17/4/06 at 03:23 PM |
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ok, i get it! stay away from tiger! lol,
Ive just emailed MK and so far they seem to be cheaper, will possibly take a little trip down there sometime then,
thanks for all the helpful advice
Chris
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burger_boy
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| posted on 18/4/06 at 11:30 AM |
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"When I was deciding which kit to buy I visited Tiger, and was not taken by the reception I got, they didnt seem that interested in me as a
potential customer. I am 53, and didnt turn up at Tiger looking and talking like a 16 years old with no money... if you know what I mean. "
So far their customer service has been impeccable, offered to open for 1/2 hour on good friday for me to take a look had i been able to make it,
and " looking and talking like a 16 years old with no money... if you know what I mean. "
haha
Been bouncing a few emails back and forth with MK, they seem to actually be ever so slightly cheaper, and am i right in thinking that the MK is
slightly larger than the Avon? (im roughly 6ft 1 ish so am starting to worry slightly about the avons size!)
And ive just realised this is the completely wrong forum section to be asking this!!
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JoaoCaldeira
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| posted on 19/4/06 at 07:27 AM |
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If you need a slightly larger cockpit try MNR as for BEC models they have a smaller tunnel transmission - as there will not exist an
"external" gearbox - and larger driver and passenger space.
Joao Caldeira
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