Sequence and Timeline for a GD build

Hello All
Just a quick question, I'm interested in building a GD Cobra, but before taking the plunge I thought that I'd try and put together a sequential list of things to do/buy (along with when), so that I'd have a better idea of what to do and what I should be thinking of doing next.
That is say, what should I first purchase (Euro chassis)? What should be next (engine, 3 months later)? Followed by (body? 2 months later) get the idea...
Cheers for any help
Adam

[Grease Monkey]

I can only speak from the Jag perspective:

1) I Ordered the chassis / body in October 03

2) Bought a Jag in November 03

3) Finished stripping / cleaning rebuilding Jag bits by Feb 04

4) 3 month wait for the chassis, (lots of thumb twiddling)

5) Chassis Ready in May 04

6) Finished most of the chassis work in 2 weeks, sell Lotus to raise some funds and make some space.

7) Order engine from the states with aforementioned funds at start of June 04

Order gearbox clutch etc from Repower, arrive 2 days later.

8a) (lots of thumb twiddling during june & july)

9) Engine arrives 8 weeks later (early August 04)

9a) (lots of thumb twiddling august & september)

10) Bodyshell ready mid August 04

11) Finally start engine in October having waited 6 weeks for dials, flywheel starter fiasco etc

12) interior ordered late Oct

13) Where i am now, chassis finished, bodyshell almost ready to drop on..


predicted


14) interior to be delivered mid Dec.

15) drivable by late Jan 05

16) Road legal by end of march 05

phew...

Most of


10)

[Steve]

If you are gonna buy a euro, then the engine, gearbox and chassis goes together in a day and ties up lots of cash, which you might not need at the start of the build. You the have to store it while you work around the body.

If you fit the body to the chassis too early , then there are parts of the body (around the engine bay) which you need to access to make a good job of the finishing that are obstructed by the chassis

The body is where most of the time is spent, (and in the early stages, jobs like gel coat polishing, flash line removal etc are time consuming yet relatively cheap), so id look to get those jobs done first, and wait till you are ready for the chassis.

Given the GD (and other manufacturers) delivery schedules.......

I'd get the chassis and body on order now, (you can decide on euro vs jag nearer its build slot)

decide on engine and gearbox If you are gonna buy an off the shelf engine, delay its delivery till you are close to having the chassis, if you are gonna build the engine yourself, get that sooner

dont bother getting wheels and tyres till you have the car almost ready, (you can work more easily with smaller Donor wheels fitted and less chance of getting them damaged)

[maxGD059]

I agree with Steve. The power unit is the single biggest cost that is not needed until right at the end. It's easily fitted with the body on so leave it to the end. The chassis is the easy less time consuming bit & the body the most labour intensive. One way to build a GD is to get the body first, put it up on stands (which make it easier to work on anyway) then get the chassis which can be slid underneath if there are space problems. I think there are a few pics on the forum to this effect. Best of luck

[oglyoodoo]

I agree with Steve's comments.

I bought the body first as there is a lot of time consuming work to do. If you go the Euro route you can pretty well complete the entire car without a chassis. Three years on I now have both Body and Chassis and the last item will be getting the engine sorted. There really is little point in getting a Euro chassis too early unless you have space to put it and don't mind and expensive item sitting around with nothing to do other than look pretty..... IMHO

Denis