Buy or Avoid?

[Se7enS1ns]

I think you're right. A clean new chassis from a current production line, designed for use with more readily available donor vehicles would be a much better option, and make for an overall better finished car.

[dgosumo]

On reading this thread it would seam that you have been told,

1. the chassis is not strong enough as it is for an American V8 ,
2. the parts for the donor are getting very hard to get hold off,
3. there was a good reason why Pilgrim developed the MK3 chassis,
4. the chassis won’t take anything other than the suspension it is designed for and based on what I have seen of the Sumo it is a big job to try and make something else fit.
5. it will cost you if you are not a good welder to upgrade the chassis to handle a V8’s power,
6. after any welding you will have to do something to seal the chassis again against rust as the galvanizing will have to be removed for any welding,
7. if you take short cuts you will never be able to sell it for any thing like what you have spent on it.

On the plus side you can get it through an IVA if it’s built right, is that really the only thing you are bothered about?


You asked for advice but don’t seam to be listening. Most of us have built cars and speak with some experience.
If you just ask questions and ignore the answers just because they are not what you want to hear eventually you won’t get answers.

If you really want to go ahead then please take account of what others have said. Sumos are still being built and according to my manual the Granada chassis was designed for v6/Rv8 power, you need to speak to Den to see if the current body fits the old chassis (and I suggest for his advice) and as with most kit cars nothing is usually impossible if you have access to the money, tools, ingenuity and some appropriate help when necessary.

I'd be worried about:
1. Parts - what's missing from the rolling chassis i.e. the hard to get point
2. Body - if one fits
3. IVA - whether the elements that seem a bit more judgmental are OK on the older chassis, for example like the mounting points for the seatbelts, seats etc (though of course with the right tools/help those can usually be fixed)
4. Running gear - Evidence around the age and ownership of the running gear
5. Suspension - I suspect that chassis has the older Cortina front/Granada rear Sumo suspension. If so it's not usually ride-height adjustable which might give you some challenges on the IVA

[britbits]

Dan,

Have a good read on here and gain from the wealth of knowledge available. If that chassis was given to you for free you would be making quite a small saving on the total cost of your project.

Wasn't asking for your savings account number, just trying to see where you were with the reality of the costs involved when building one of these cars.

Have a look at this project found on ebay and posted on here today and see what you think!

Dax cobra kit car project with 5.7ltr small block chevy and 5 speed tremec gbox | eBay

thats got to be worth a punt at the price,Dave B

[KevinW]

i agree - that looks like good value to me. you might even get it on the road for the price of a sumo.

[britbits]

i agree - that looks like good value to me. you might even get it on the road for the price of a sumo.

don't tempt me , i have a garage full of projects as it is Dave

[Chimeara]

Have a look at this. It would be far better than the pilgrim and I believe it comes with the chassis although not pictured.

Has nothing to do with me but probably worth a punt. Engine and gearbox mounts may need changing to your needs but that's a lot less welding than the pilgrim would require.
Dax Ac Cobra Shell And Chassis | eBay

[Se7enS1ns]

Have a look at this. It would be far better than the pilgrim and I believe it comes with the chassis although not pictured.

Has nothing to do with me but probably worth a punt. Engine and gearbox mounts may need changing to your needs but that's a lot less welding than the pilgrim would require.
Dax Ac Cobra Shell And Chassis | eBay

Good spot!

Thanks for all replies on the other chassis - I decided to give it a miss

[dgosumo]

This is the one that was on Ebay isn't it? If so says it's sold - did someone here buy it?

[Se7enS1ns]

Yeah it was on ebay but the seller started emailing people who had messaged him, asking for their best offer. I declined to offer after the advice above - he emailed me back to say "last chance, I've had an offer of £600".

[kdavies3]

That's an old Dax chassis as it has no back bone brace.
Probably would need the steering geometry mods that were on later cars too.
Dax can supply the parts to do both i think.