Building Kit Car (Locost)

[Wicksta]

I've been wanting to do this for a while, but finally I'm going to! I've always wanted a Caterham style kit car and to be able to build it myself, since we moved last year I've got a double garage at the end of the garden to play with and I started to look around for a kit to build.

After looking at the Tiger Avon I noticed a partly built kit extremely nearby to me. After investigation of the kit (http://www.ariesmotorsport.co.uk) I decided I'd have a go at bidding on the auction, and I won with my maximum bid!

So now in the garage I have a chassis with the steering installed, some wiring done and the aluminium panelling done (Not a job I would relish):

I also have a load of bits:

I'm probably going to go for a 1.8 Ford Zetec engine (silver top), mainly due to ease of availability, price and it is a common conversion so there are many parts available as well as advice.

Hopefully I'll end up with something looking a bit like this:

I'll post updates in here as and when I get stuff completed.

 

[Wicksta]

Thanks for everyone's comments!

If you don't mind me asking how much did you get it for? and is it going to be a track day car or just something for a sunday afternoon?

Aero

All the bits cost me just over a grand, I priced up all the bits I've got and I'd say there are at least £2500's worth. I got a load of Sierra bits needed with it as well, including the wiring, steering column, switches, horn, diff, prop etc. I'm going to make it road legal by getting the SVA test done, I may well take it on track a few times as well but to be honest I'd rather do a race series than a trackday so I may look into that. That all depends on funds though as a few years of racing some years back was VERY expensive.

 

[Wicksta]

he said modern

This looks like it's interesting... important question now, what colour are you going to paint it? or is it staying yellow?

It will be painted for sure! I might do that sooner rather than later and then mothball the panels in the garage loft. I'll also be painting the aluminium on the side so I need to looking into acid etching primer etc.

 

[Wicksta]

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk - do it

Looking forward to seeing your progress

Signed up, think I'll pay the fiver! Such a lot of info on there to read!

Not sure whether to go for bike carbs or twin 40's or something yet (I know nothing about bike carbs, but I guess I could learn!).

 

[Wicksta]

Without wishing to be negative you might want to do some research on the fiberglass mouldings and rear suspension geometry on the Avon. The rear tub has the left and right wheel arches in different positions on a lot of them, people have had to chop them around considerably to make them fit. They may (hopefully!) have fixed this in later mouldings (ask on Locostbuilders).

When the Avon came out the IRS geometry was widely regarded as an example of "how not to do it", again this may have been fixed so ask about it.

It's not an Avon, that's what I was going to go for before seeing this one! This is a Stuart Taylor chassis, which is distributed by this place: http://www.ariesmotorsport.co.uk

The bodywork seems to fit well but I'll certainly have a closer look before painting!

I was thinking of the Vauxhall lump you mentioned as well, I found a place called Yukspeed who sell all the kit for converting it (including bellhousing) but it did seem to jack the price of the engine costs quite considerably.

There is also a guy selling brand new black top 1.8 Zetecs for 650 delivered, this would guarantee a good engine and much much less cleaning but adds about £500 to the budget! Also from what I've been reading there is far less support for the black top engines than the silver top ones, but you may be able to advise on that.

I just want to go home and get cleaning bits now.

 

[Wicksta]

Well thanks to a timewaster on eBay winning my Ford Escort my plans were put back a bit, but someone else won it (for 300 more!!) when I relisted it and picked the car up today. I've done a couple of bits in the meantime:

Started to clean diff to get it ready for painting:

Working out what wires do what and marking them:

And last night I picked up a 60k mile 1.8 Ford Zetec, from an Escort GTI and with all ancillaries (including alternator) for the measly sum of £80!

I've also started a blog now, but I'll still post here as well:
http://wicksta-seven.blogspot.com/

Off in a bit to paint the garage floor.