I'm getting confused

[Happy Jim]

Lee,

Chassis! still regret having to cover it with a body , removeable body option for ease of major work (done once so far), ability to source everything from 1 place (saves time, costs more), factory back up for those blonde moments :} , knowledge that the car can handle everything I throw at it and then some.

Cheers

Jim

PS GD do the covered cocpit surround, but I've never seen one with it.

[maxGD059]

>I would also like to finish
>the interior like a DAX, ie. walnut dash with leather trim
>around the car including the leather trim at the top of the
>doors, dash and around the back of the seat area.

Lee

Andy will supply glassfibre formers for the dash/doors/scuttle etc & I think I'm right in saying the the ones I fitted to my GD were the first. I fitted them as it saved the hassle of sorting the flashlines on these surfaces. However, I wouldn't do them again over the doors. It makes it more difficult to sort out sidescreens, (unless your a wizzkid with stainless like the owner of a certain pink GD). Also if you drive around with your sweaty forearm hanging out on the door, it tends to muck up the leather.

There now thats another permutation for you to think over!

Cheers

Richard
(Hillclimb convert):tu

[SimonP]

Lee,
I was originally going to build a low budget replica, but the kit I was considering didn't even exist, other than in adverts in WK mag.
I didn't really like how the other budget kits went together.
I then looked at the upper mid range Jag-based kits - mainly Dax and GD, but somehow overlooked AK. Then I saw GD's Euro chassis at Donington last year.

I chose the GD because:

1. The engineering philosophy behind the car.
2. Ease and speed of build. (Except maybe the roll bars, but then they DO serve a purpose and aren't just for show.
3. The ability to work on the body and chassis independently both during the build and later for annual major service, inspection and cleaning.
4. I wanted to drive the car, hopefully all year round - not just polish and show it.

Options:

I chose Gelcoat over paint because: (Gel £250, paint £2000ish)
Metallic and pearlescent paint finishes may look very nice, but tend to suffer very easily from direct and indirect stonechip damage. They can be costly to repair properly too.
Gelcoat is much easier to scuff or scratch, but damage can be filled as necessary, then flatted and polished out.
Out of the mould, GD's gelcoat finishes are excellent. I haven't even polished mine properly yet (apart from the flashlines!)

I chose Euro over Jag chassis because:
1. It is a purpose designed suspension system for that car, so it will be capable of much higher levels of ride quality and handling.
2. I wanted a new car! As it uses all new components, a Euro-chassis kit can be registered as a brand new car, on a current (eg 03, 53, etc) registration.

Having the benefit of some hindsight, I would have done the following differently:
Install a modern efficient LS1 engine, rather than a rebuilt small-block. Even with the cost of the cats, it seems that the LS1 would still work out cheaper. Same power, reduced fuel costs...

If you were to go the GD route, you could get the body first, then work on it and assemble most of the interior while you were making your mind up which chassis to get.
Depending on how you would source and/or recondition your Jag components, the cost of the Euro over the Jag chassis isn't as large as it seems from an initial glance at the figures, because of the number of suspension and braking components that are included (and assembled) with the Euro. I'd say it adds 10%, maybe 15% tops to the overall build cost, but it's well worth it for the performance, let alone all the new components and the option of registering as a new car.

Just my opinion....
Simon.

[rocket]

You mention the cost of the cats in your last post.

Any Idea how much they are?


Rgds

Roger

[SimonP]

Roger,
I believe they cost something around the £500 mark but may be wrong.
At anything under a grand the LS1 route still looks to be cheaper on initial outlay.

I know a few people have done proper research on this, so they will be in a better position to comment and advise.
Simon.

[rocket]

Sick of people getting ripped off for cats.

Thought as much.

Should anyone require cats for there car let me know.

I can supply steel and ceramic units that will flow enough gas for 300-400bhp EACH!

[Robin427]

>I can supply steel and ceramic units that will flow enough gas
>for 300-400bhp EACH!

Can you post a website address or something so I can bookmark you for future reference... I'm not quite at the engine stage yet, but look like I'm going the LS-1 way...


Robin

Drive it like you stole it...
http://www.creffield.com/cobra/index.html

[SimonP]

Go on then, give us a price for a pair suitable for a LS-1 chevy!

Simon.

[rocket]

£150 + vat each.

Rgds

Roger

[SimonP]

£352.50 a pair. Much better than the £500 I was thinking of.

Shame I've just finished mine.

Simon.