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Previous Build Diaries
October 2003
Handy
Links
MK Engineering
These guys make high quality chassis and bodys.
Locost Builders
This forum is fantastic for anyone building a kit car, someone,
somewhere has already answered all your questions!
MK Owners Club
One day I hope I will be eligible for membership....
Which Kit Car
Good kit car reading, they even have an MK Build ongoing at the
moment.
NISe7ens
Northern Ireland Sevens car club (Caterhams, Westfields, Locosts etc)
The picture in the logo was taken by Richard Crowe on a wet day at Nutts Corner on the 24th of Febuary 2004.
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F A Q
Q You're
doing what???
I'm going to build a car. I'm going to buy in the chassis, body
panels and most of the suspension from MK Engineering (an MK Deluxe
Kit). Other parts will come from the Sierra - the front uprights,
the steering column and rack, the prop shaft, the diff, the drive shafts
and the rear hubs, and the engine and gearbox will be coming from a
Honda Fireblade. I know it raises more questions that it
answers....
Q What's
this 'deluxe kit' then?
Taken from the MK web site
it consists of:-
Chassis with Front wishbones, Rear wishbones, Rear uprights,
Polyurethane bush set, nuts and bolts pack, one rivnut tool with rivnuts
mushroom inserts, modified front hubs and steering rack (exchange)
standard roll bar, alloy floor, full interior panel set,Pedal Set,
brake pipe kit, Pinto Engine mounts, Wing Brackets, Set of Shock
Absorbers, Eleven Piece Fibreglass Set
£2174.13 including VAT
Q You can't
drive this thing on the road can you?
Well yes! The car (once
complete) has to go through a Single Vehicle Approval test (SVA), once
it passes this, it can be given a registration number and then requires
an MOT, and it's road legal. Obviously you need to tax and insure
it as well.
Q Isn't the
insurance crazy?
Well it can be steep, but generally these cars are only registered for
a limited number of miles, say 3000, per year, this keeps the costs
down. Also Insurance companies are realising that the last person
who is going to drive recklessly is someone who has just put in 400
hours or so building the car in question.
Q Hang on,
isn't a Honda Fireblade a motorbike?
Indeed it is, it uses a 918cc engine (the '99 version anyway) that
pushes out 128Bhp. Respectable enough for a less than 1 litre
engine. However once you factor in the weight of the engine and
gearbox (really, really light - about the same as a ford pinto
gearbox alone), the six speed sequential gearbox, the fact that it revs
up to close on 12,000rpm and it's excellent reliability it's a serious
piece of gear.
Q So what
sort of speed does it do?
These wee cars aren't particularly aerodynamic, you really don't want
to be doing too much over 100 mph anyway. Top speed will always
depend on the gearing, and in a bike engined car this is largely
governed by the final drive ratio of the differential. Assuming I
get a hold of the right diff it should be able to get around 120, but
more importantly it should be able to cruise at 60, without sounding too
strained.
Q That
doesn't sound too quick.
What's impressive about these cars is how it gets there. 0-60mph
has been clocked at fractionally under 4 seconds. Obviously this
will depend on the weight of the car, the tyres and the gearing, but
these things accelerate like supercars. Round a track it will
outperform most supercars - basically because it us so light and nimble.
Q How much
will it cost?
I'm aiming for £5500 - £6000, although I know there are
lots of things I can't take into account.
Q Why
doesn't it have a windscreen?
For the SVA test, if a car has a windscreen it has to have a de-mister
and windscreen wipers. This adds to the weight and the complexity
of the build. I think I'll wear a helmet like the motorbike
boys. I wouldn't mind just wearing a pair of sunglasses, but
we've all had chipped windscreens and if a stone comes off the
back of a lorry and connects with your head.......
Q What
needs to be used from the donor car?
The donor car supplies the following.
Front uprights, (inc front brakes).
Steering rack and track rod ends - these will be modified by MK
Engineering.
Steering column. I'll use the indicator stalk. I'll replace
the steering wheel.
Prop shaft. Also to be modified by MK (shortened)
Differential.
Drive shafts.
Rear hubs and brake drums.
Handbrake.
Horn.
I might nick some switches off it as well.
All the brakes will be totally refurbished, new pads, shoes etc.
I'll be using a new master cylinder as well. All the other parts
will be cleaned, greased/oiled as necessary and painted with some
hammerite.
If you have any questions you'd like to see me answer, then
pop over to the contacts page and drop me a
line....
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