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Author: Subject: Just got the bug!
Gav

posted on 16/7/05 at 09:57 PM Reply With Quote
Just got the bug!

Hi,

I was walking through halfords the other day and *the*book popped out at me, never seen it before and after flicking through the first few schematics i was hooked

Im planning on buliding the locost fom the book, this seems like a interesting challenge. I dont see much problem building the chasis as i do have an engineering background and my welding has been ultra sounded tested before so im confident my welding is up to the job, my only concern is the engine and electrics, but ive alwasy been one for learning by doing
being a bike fan im really keen on building a BEC, so my first set of questions are:
other than modding the engine mounts is it more difficult fitting a bike engine? yes ive seen the spline adapters and appreciate ill have to fabricate the gear shifter
what rear axle should i look for? propshaft?
what about other running gear? all from a sierra?
what other mods will i have to make to the chasis?

ill be ordering the tubes next week so wil be looking forward to start this project

[Edited on 16/7/05 by Gav]

[Edited on 16/7/05 by Gav]

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Hellfire

posted on 16/7/05 at 10:12 PM Reply With Quote
Let me be the first to welcome you to our family community. We are a friendly bunch but most of us aren't chassis builder's, there are a few who have chosen to go that route, and some of those would not chose this way again as the price of a complete chassis is not too expensive when compared to fabricating your own - or so I'm lead to believe.

Regarding most of the other points:

Most important bits from a (easier to get) base model Sierra (no PAS, no ABS) you need the prop, front calipers/disc's, rear drums (disc's were reserved for hi-power models) steering rack/column and related parts. Wiring loom - if your doing this yourself. Best bet is to buy a scrappy and dismantle it as you go along - if you at all can!

From bike you need:
Engine, (ECU, Reg/Rect, Coil Packs, all running gear basically) Clocks, Fuel Pump/Level Sender as much as you can get your hands on!

Good look - have a look at our website there is loads of information about how to do it in chronological order. We did one again - but not through choice...

Any questions - just AAsk

[Edited on 16-7-05 by Hellfire]






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tks

posted on 17/7/05 at 02:25 AM Reply With Quote
Welcome to the family..

well you are taking the hardest way from the many you can take...

build all your self. (proberly the most statisfasion one??)

Well the first wrong news is that 'the book' has errors.. offcourse all of them are filtered en listed over here on the forum arround....

anyway enjoy your build but maybe you could think in choosing an factory supoorted one...

it will take most of the hassle and an good backup thing....

also there will be enough work left..
don't think thats easy its the bird of an child you could say..
you also will need to be an person who has the pacients and the temp. money to do it.

if i was you i just bought the chasis and the bodywork.. from an supplier..the rest you can do in steps...

i took the velocity and adapted it to fit my bike engine in it.....

but offcourse you can also buy an already one prepared....


well regards and goodluck..

and just ask arround..

Tks





The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.

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donut

posted on 17/7/05 at 09:41 AM Reply With Quote
Welcome to the Mad House!!

Just to point out that one Locostbuilders member had a fireblade engine in his locost and it apparently did 0-60 in 3.2 seconds.

So is that going to be quick enough for you





Andy

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/

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Gav

posted on 17/7/05 at 07:44 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks for the warm welcome

So Bike engine it is then
more than cuts in half the 0-60 of my leon cupra then!

managed to find a the cutting list for the tubes, ill be ordering the steel and some welding supplies tomorrow

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James

posted on 18/7/05 at 12:12 AM Reply With Quote
Welcome to the site (and the end of your social life for a couple of years!)!

http://www.mcsorley.net

is a fantastic site that will give you a (unlike the book) correct chassis plan.

Hope that helps,
James





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"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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ayoungman

posted on 18/7/05 at 12:17 PM Reply With Quote
new build

welcome. You have already made progress on your build. Planning the donor parts and using this site as a resource will save you unlimited time and effort. I was building my Avon for a year before finding this site. There were many things I would now do differently !

[Edited on 18/7/05 by ayoungman]





"just like that !"

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James

posted on 18/7/05 at 01:43 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ayoungman
I was building my Avon for a year before finding this site.
[Edited on 18/7/05 by ayoungman]


Well... the internet hasn't been around long and we only come up top in a Google Locost search so who would have expected you to find this site so soon!

Cheers,
James





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"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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Jasper

posted on 18/7/05 at 03:06 PM Reply With Quote
If your building from the book - which is what I did, then you won't need anything from a Sierra, it will be cortina/escort. Don't listen to all the woosies who bought a chassis, building one is REALLY satisfying and simple as well, especially for a bike engine build.

Spend time getting the right engine if you want to go the bike route - I would choose an R1 if doing it again. Then you will need to use one of the gear calc spreadsheets to work out which diff ratio you need. The chaps on the BEC link will tell you.

But BEFORE you decide to go bike engine - make sure it's what you want - go for a ride in one. I built one - lovely it for a while, did a few track days, then realised it wasn't what I really wanted because I only had limited use out of it and I wanted a car for longer distance and regular use.

Anyway - have fun - all you'll find you'll hardly use the book once you get on here - just use it as a rough guide, and as James says, use the McSorley plans, they're excellent and accurate - unlike the book.

Oh yes, and budget - you won't build a BEC for much less than £5k, and probably more like £7k.

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Gav

posted on 18/7/05 at 07:49 PM Reply With Quote
ok this is where my knowedge goes screwy but i figure you guys no your suff.
How do you change the diff ratio? is it a matter of fitting a new one or just buying different gears?

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ADD

posted on 18/7/05 at 09:03 PM Reply With Quote
Welcome, welcome.

My only suggestions would be to vistit a few manufacturers, most seem quite happy to let you poke around and ask all the stupid questions. I would get the tiger build book as well, even if its just for a read.
Most of the manufacturers seem to have roughly followed the 'book' design so its a good place to start.
I would just decide on what you want and do it. You are bound to make some mistakes all the way but that is what it is all about. If it was easy everyone would do it, build one from scratch that is.

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