As the title states what should I be looking for as the ideal sierra donor? I have a rough idea of what is needed but have a few questions...

I take it bodystyle dosen't matter i.e. 3/5 door or estate?

Obviously power steering is no use in the locost but is it ok for the donor to have it?

Say I wasn't going to use the engine - could the donor be petrol or diesel - are their any to avoid?

I recon I may as well go for rear disc brakes since the cost of using these over drums should be small if any. What models had rear discs as standard? I presume just the 2.0 ghia's? did any 1.8 cars have them?

What about the diff's? I hear they come in different ratios? Or is that only really relevant for BEC's?

Anything else to consider?

Cheers in advance,
Mark

One's with solid front discs & girling brakes (which I think are the early 1.3's & 1.6's pre '89) but then I think these are all drum brakes at the rear. So really I don't think there is an ideal donor, it's all a bit of a compromise. Also 3.62 LSD is the ideal diff for a cec but for a bec it depends on the engine your using, maybe a 3.38 diff is better.
Personally If I started again I might not even bother with the hassle of a donor car & just get the exact bits I need off ebay.

same here i wouldnt bother with a donor

don't know if this is any help but my donor was an 89 2.0 Ghia and that had drum brakes at the rear and vented discs at the front.

bits out scrappy and e-bay

I got a '92 plate J reg Sierra. Which should have been one of the last ones made.

However as Henry Ford was using up parts, I got a 1.6 pinto engine, rather than a CVH, a Type 9 Gearbox, rather than a MT75, vented discs etc etc.

As discussed there probably isn't an ideal single donor. Try to avoid cars with power steering as you will have to get a new rack, but as these are easy to get it's not mega important.

Best donor is a free one!

HTH

Mike

i want to keep the build as cheap as i can so if that means a donor then it is something i am willing to consider. plus it will give me some skills before i start the build. i am hoping to use quite a lot from it to begin with i.e. clocks etc.


i read to stay away from estates as the front uprights are wrong?

[Edited on 14/3/2007 by mark_mcd]

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i read to stay away from estates as the front uprights are wrong?

[Edited on 14/3/2007 by mark_mcd]

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What engine are you planning to use ??

Which gearbox are you going to use with it ??

and what kind of driving will you be doing ??
(as you'll want different gears if your sitting on the motorway all day compared to a tight twisty track)

*These are important questions - as these will help you choose the diff ratio that's best for you - or at least help people on here to give you better advice and suggestions - but also I'm nosy
(wheel and tyre size might come into it too but that's possibly stretching it a bit at this stage)



*If you want an LSD:
the 7" ones are found in all the 4x4's (and very occasionally in other cars like XR4's as this was not a cheep option on the sierra so most don't have them) - these will almost all be 3.62 (V6 and cossie 4x4) ratio with only a few 3.92's and other ones

and the larger 7.5" ones are in cosworth 2wd's and Granada 24v cosworths - most of these are 3.64's



*If you want rear discs then all the cars with ABS have them as well as all the larger engined models (V6 and cossie's) and 4x4's
all of the Granada's and Scorpio's have them from ~85 onwards have them (beware the Granada's have 5 stud hubs although you can get round this)
but don't write off the drum braked cars - they are easily converted to discs (not too expencive) and the driveshafts are lighter



*None of the 4x4's, cosworths or Granada's (don't know about Scorpios) will have the right front uprights for you - you'll have to get normal sierra 2wd ones


I'm using most of a 89 Granada (2.0 SOHC) but I got the front hubs from a 2wd sierra (converted to 5 stud - but I could have made them all 4 stud) but I'm also going to add in an LSD from a 4x4
there arn' t so many Granada's about but they use mostly the same parts and can be cheeper - also they all have rear discs

-Robert

[Edited on 14/3/07 by mcerd1]

Best donor you will find will be a late (j-k) 1.8L sierra.

Base models will give you a type 9 gearbox, engine with a carb and all round running gear.

Only down side is the cvh engine. BUT dont discount this, as it is a great engine if on a budget.

imho

quote:

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Originally posted by mcerd1
What engine are you planning to use ??

Which gearbox are you going to use with it ??

and what kind of driving will you be doing ??
(as you'll want different gears if your sitting on the motorway all day compared to a tight twisty track)

*These are important questions - as these will help you choose the diff ratio that's best for you - or at least help people on here to give you better advice and suggestions - but also I'm nosy
(wheel and tyre size might come into it too but that's possibly stretching it a bit at this stage)



*If you want an LSD:
the 7" ones are found in all the 4x4's (and very occasionally in other cars like XR4's as this was not a cheep option on the sierra so most don't have them) - these will almost all be 3.62 (V6 and cossie 4x4) ratio with only a few 3.92's and other ones

and the larger 7.5" ones are in cosworth 2wd's and Granada 24v cosworths - most of these are 3.64's



*If you want rear discs then all the cars with ABS have them as well as all the larger engined models (V6 and cossie's) and 4x4's
all of the Granada's and Scorpio's have them from ~85 onwards have them (beware the Granada's have 5 stud hubs although you can get round this)
but don't write off the drum braked cars - they are easily converted to discs (not too expencive) and the driveshafts are lighter



*None of the 4x4's, cosworths or Granada's (don't know about Scorpios) will have the right front uprights for you - you'll have to get normal sierra 2wd ones


I'm using most of a 89 Granada (2.0 SOHC) but I got the front hubs from a 2wd sierra (converted to 5 stud - but I could have made them all 4 stud) but I'm also going to add in an LSD from a 4x4
there arn' t so many Granada's about but they use mostly the same parts and can be cheeper - also they all have rear discs

-Robert

[Edited on 14/3/07 by mcerd1]

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Get a gearbox/ speed calculator form the Quafie or Gerboxman websites

plug in the ratios for a standard Type 9, the tyre size and the usable rev limit for your engine - then try the different diff ratios
(remember these dosen't take any acounnt of the engine power - so it will let you gear the car for 200mph top speed if you want, but you'll never get the power to ever get close - so be realistic)

quote:

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Originally posted by mark_mcd
should i be avoiding cars with abs?

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What about a 1989. Sierra LX 2.0 estate.?Found one cheap (350eur). What diff and gearbox has it? Is the engine usable for a locost?

p.s. it turns out to be a 1.8 estate

[Edited on 17/3/07 by ZEN]

I picked up a 1993 K reg 1.6 pinto engined Azure for £46 T&T. Vented discs, drums, type 9. 3.62 open diff. It has an adjustable steering column as well.

No problems to me, I'm using all the donor parts including wiring harness, Just the engine substituted for a 1.8 Zetec.

quote:

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Originally posted by coozer
I picked up a 1993 K reg 1.6 pinto engined Azure for £46 T&T. Vented discs, drums, type 9. 3.62 open diff. It has an adjustable steering column as well.

No problems to me, I'm using all the donor parts including wiring harness, Just the engine substituted for a 1.8 Zetec.

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