Buy or Avoid?

[Se7enS1ns]

Hi All,
I've been lurking round here for a year or so now, but I'm in need of some advise, so peeking out to say hi.

Basically, a rolling Sumo II chassis has come up for sale quite cheaply. It's been stored for quite a long time, but looks ok at first glance. There appear to be a couple of additional brace bars welded in, running from the tops of the frame, to the bulkhead / firewall.

Would this be a good buy, or should I avoid? Are there any issues with the Sumo II chassis that I should be aware of, SVA compliance etc?? What would be a max price to offer on this? Pics below...

Cobra1.jpgCobra2.jpg

Any advise much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

[KevinW]

best left, imho, unless you want to spend years crying over this one.

[Purple AK]

Good and Cheap as it might be, Mk2 Granada spares are getting rarer by the day! More importantly you will also need source a lot more from Pilgrim (see earlier posts on customer service)

[Se7enS1ns]

best left, imho, unless you want to spend years crying over this one.

How do you mean? Could the chassis be stripped back to bare and start again with donor parts more readily available, say Jag or Sierra? Or is the chassis just no good "to man nor beast" as my dad would always say??

[britbits]

If you are parting with hard earned readys why??? go get a new chassis from prefered company, and start your build from there ,as and when you afford the parts, (my opinion) your choice. by the way welcome to the club. Regards Dave B

[kdavies3]

It would need to be V cheap I reckon.
Its galvanised by the looks of it so should have held up over the years.
Does a mk3 body fit a mk2 chassis?
How complete is the running gear? as Purple said Granny spares are getting hard to find.
A Granny sumo chassis can only use Granny parts as far as I know.

[Se7enS1ns]

If you are parting with hard earned readys why??? go get a new chassis from prefered company, and start your build from there ,as and when you afford the parts, (my opinion) your choice. by the way welcome to the club. Regards Dave B

Completely agree - I mean, that's the whole point of kit cars isn't it - build as you can afford? The reason for my post really is that this chassis has come up quite cheap, earlier than I intended to start, so if I can save some money at no real detriment, then that money that can be spent elsewhere.

That said, I obviously don't want to waste my money buying something that's no good - so kinda need advise as to any definite reasons to avoid this sale. Would this chassis pose any problems with the current SVA regs, for example? Or are parts for the older chassis particularly difficult / nigh on impossible to source? Sorry for the blatant newb questions by the way, patience much appreciated.

The plan would be, IF I was to buy this chassis, would be to strip it back to bare - and then source a more suitable donor vehicle with the view of going for age related plates and more readily available spares.

Thanks again,
Dan

[dgosumo]

Most important question what are you aiming to build (i.e. engine) and what rear axle is it fitted with (could be Cortina, Granada or Sierra)?

[Se7enS1ns]

A Granny sumo chassis can only use Granny parts as far as I know.

Oh is that so?? I didn't know that - I figured all the mk2 sumo chassis were the same, and suspension components were dependant on the various wishbones available... or along those lines.

I have no idea how complete the running gear currently is, I was viewing for the chassis only really. What would you consider to be "V cheap"?

[Se7enS1ns]

Most important question what are you aiming to build (i.e. engine) and what rear axle is it fitted with (could be Cortina, Granada or Sierra)?

Hi - I'm not sure what rear axle is fitted, but I believe it's a mk2 Granada - not certain though. I suppose ideally, I'd really like to run a Rover SD1 engine, but not sure if this chassis is capable of taking that (?). The chassis comes with an unistalled V6 Ford 2.3 engine, but I dont hold too much hope of that having any life left in it, after been stood for so long.