djstanley
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 12:35 PM |
|
|
New Member !
Just wanted to say Hi and ask if a locost really is achievable by anyone...? 
I'm a 27 year old IT worker with a passion for just about anything petrol engined... I have done some minor welding before (owned a 71 beetle
for a couple of years) and I am familar with cars that demand love and attention (owned various Fiats, Lancia's and currently an Alfa !!) I can
do my own servicing and bits (brakes etc) but I have never really delved much further than that....... primarily because the car in question has
always been my only vehicle and needed for day to day travel (not in bits in the garage )...
I have always fancied building a 7 replica of some sort then a couple of weeks ago whilst surfing Amazon for Alfa literature I stumbled across across
"the book" ... and couldn't resist ordering a copy.... now I'm all inspired and reasonably confident that I could succeed at
building a locost...Question is with only a single garage and a limited mechanically skill (I'm sure practice could improve) I'm not sure
whether I'd be biting off more than I could chew !!....
Any advice greatly appreciated !
DJ
|
|
|
|
|
DaveFJ
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 12:59 PM |
|
|
I would say - deffinately yes - go for it...
Invest some time having a good look back through the archives on here - you will find a few posts similair to your own! and also a lot of your
questions will be answered.
Don't know where in the country you are but you will probably find that there are other builders near you and most people on here are very
helpful, together there is not much that can't be solved on here!
The main issue to be aware of is cost... forget the £250! from what I have seen the true cost seem to average 2-3 grand - but it all depends on you of
course...
Anyway welcome!
HTH
Dave
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
|
|
|
locoboy
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 02:13 PM |
|
|
I too would say yes go for it but be prepared for it to take you a year + and to have good days and bad days where you love the project or want to
bang it on the for sale board as a going concern.
The best advice i could give is to buy a part completed project, they sometimes go for silly money (have a look through the for sale archives on here)
it will still give you the freedom to personalise it to your own tastes and cut out the first 4-5 months work (if its rolling) maybe more depending
upon if the engine, brake and fuel lines, intrernal and external panneling is fitted/included.
but yes it is definately achievable, as you will see mentioned her many times deviate from the book as little as possibe and you will encounter far
less problems than if you try to make it wider - longer - deeper or chage the suspension design etc.
Good luck reasoning with your conscience/bank manager/wife!
ATB
Locoboy
|
|
|
RoadkillUK
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 05:40 PM |
|
|
I'd most definately say GO FOR IT, start from scratch and get it done 
It's possible to get it built within 3 months (Rob Lane) although me and my brother have been building ours for
3 years The main reason is time and lack of a permanent home for it. It's had 5 homes in the last 3 years 
Take a look at my website and you can see what can be done with basic tools, a single garage and no welding experience.
Best of luck.
Roadkill - Lee
www.bradford7.co.uk
Latest Picture (14 Sept 2014)
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 05:53 PM |
|
|
roll on geeza, i say! a year or two ago i was in your shoes, except i had no welding experience and very limited mechanics, now its nearly finished!
gonna be driving it within a few days!
|
|
|
pbura
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 06:21 PM |
|
|
I wouldn't suggest taking a year like me, but do recommend using a little time to see what others are doing, check out suppliers, and see if you
get hit with a lightning bolt of your very own (Alfa drivetrain? Hmmm).
The cars may look about the same, but they're about as different as snowflakes, it seems. It's a great hobby.
BoL,
Pete
Pete
|
|
|
djstanley
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 07:38 PM |
|
|
Thanks Guys... I'm gonna keep reading and I plan to surf a lot more of your websites........... then a couple of weekends sorting/clearing the
garage......and by the start of summer I'm going to have started a Locost build.....
I think It'll probably end up taking me about year of mainly evenings and weekends at it... but I aim to truly keep it as lo-cost as
possible....
Pete.... Rear-drive 3.0 V6 Alfa 75 drivetrain had crossed my mind !!!!......... but then Alfa lot would kill me if I stated chopping up an aged
Alfa !! ..... probably end up with a nice ol' Sierra !
Thanks again and I'll be back !
|
|
|
Mark Allanson
|
| posted on 28/4/04 at 09:42 PM |
|
|
If you fit this, there would be no room for your bum!
 
Rescued attachment trans.jpg
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
|
|
|
Jasper
|
| posted on 1/5/04 at 03:25 PM |
|
|
I wouldn't get a part built as you need to know how good the previous persons work is. Worth doing for spares and parts though, but not the
chassis.
By the sounds of you're expecience you'll find it relatively easy, and a year should be no problem (anybody who takes longer is just
faffing about!!), as for budget, anything from £2k - £8k!
Go for it, best thin I ever did (apart from marry the wife)
|
|
|
