Discussion
i want to start a mini project and have for years. i have huge plans for a complete self taught / done home build and restore. however my funds are very limited at anyone time.
i could afford a shell if i got a good price and can afford a couple of hundred pound a month on mods and work.
my problem is i cannot save for large one of spends and need to locate a good shell , rolling if possible for circa £500. i will then built it from the ground up, to almost original specs.
so my questions are.
1. what are the major issues with shells? i know about subframe alignments etc. i need the rust prone areas and specifics
2. where is the best place to source panels etc? i.e doors, wings, bonnets etc.
3. i will strengthen the frame using the old man excellent welding skills and access to an endless supply of tubes and pipes, so what engine could i go for to get some good (excellent) b road fun?. will be looking for a mega-squirt management system or similar.
i would love your feedback as you guys will be my mentors when i have problems.
waiting for the local authority to give me a storage unit for this project but i have ben waiting 12 months and my feet are getting itchy!
thanks in advance
F
i could afford a shell if i got a good price and can afford a couple of hundred pound a month on mods and work.
my problem is i cannot save for large one of spends and need to locate a good shell , rolling if possible for circa £500. i will then built it from the ground up, to almost original specs.
so my questions are.
1. what are the major issues with shells? i know about subframe alignments etc. i need the rust prone areas and specifics
2. where is the best place to source panels etc? i.e doors, wings, bonnets etc.
3. i will strengthen the frame using the old man excellent welding skills and access to an endless supply of tubes and pipes, so what engine could i go for to get some good (excellent) b road fun?. will be looking for a mega-squirt management system or similar.
i would love your feedback as you guys will be my mentors when i have problems.
waiting for the local authority to give me a storage unit for this project but i have ben waiting 12 months and my feet are getting itchy!
thanks in advance
F
Obviously you need a rolling shell complete with V5 as a basic minimum to get started.
It would seem unlikely that you would get a good shell, c/w subframes and suspension (i.e. 'rolling') for as little as £500 unless the shell was in a pretty bad way. There are exceptions. 3 years ago I bought what looked like a really scruffy 1986 Mayfair for £150 which turned out to be virtually rust-free. It only needed a small patch weld in each door step, but all the critical areas were in perfect condition. It had been badly hand-painted in dullish black. But those sort of project cars are very rare. It was fully restored inluding a completely rebuilt and improved engine, all new suspension bushes, everything else renewed or reconditioned and it sold recently for £3000. It was worth every penny as it is a super car now with 1061 cc and 66 bhp.
As always, the problem is the rust, rust and more rust. My grandson bought a 1997 MPI late last year and the guy said it just had very minor rust in the usual places, but nothing serious. It is now in my workshop with the entire front end removed and £500 worth on new Heritage panels waiting to be fitted before it is repainted. We had anticipated this and only paid £1600 for the omplete car with tax & MoT.
You may be best off saving for a reasonably good complete car as a start point for around the £1000 to £1500 mark and then go from there.
Come back on here for more advice,
Peter
It would seem unlikely that you would get a good shell, c/w subframes and suspension (i.e. 'rolling') for as little as £500 unless the shell was in a pretty bad way. There are exceptions. 3 years ago I bought what looked like a really scruffy 1986 Mayfair for £150 which turned out to be virtually rust-free. It only needed a small patch weld in each door step, but all the critical areas were in perfect condition. It had been badly hand-painted in dullish black. But those sort of project cars are very rare. It was fully restored inluding a completely rebuilt and improved engine, all new suspension bushes, everything else renewed or reconditioned and it sold recently for £3000. It was worth every penny as it is a super car now with 1061 cc and 66 bhp.
As always, the problem is the rust, rust and more rust. My grandson bought a 1997 MPI late last year and the guy said it just had very minor rust in the usual places, but nothing serious. It is now in my workshop with the entire front end removed and £500 worth on new Heritage panels waiting to be fitted before it is repainted. We had anticipated this and only paid £1600 for the omplete car with tax & MoT.
You may be best off saving for a reasonably good complete car as a start point for around the £1000 to £1500 mark and then go from there.
Come back on here for more advice,
Peter
thanks peter,
I appreciate the honesty. maybe i was being a bit ambitious with the £500 start. thought i would throw it our there.
i have considered budgeting a lot higher for a start point and will most likely have to take this route. i just have a horrible issue with burning pockets and savings being nun to easy to build on.(read last line as there are none)
i need to sort premises before really getting to involved in this, but hopefully this month overtime will help with sorting a car.
I appreciate the honesty. maybe i was being a bit ambitious with the £500 start. thought i would throw it our there.
i have considered budgeting a lot higher for a start point and will most likely have to take this route. i just have a horrible issue with burning pockets and savings being nun to easy to build on.(read last line as there are none)
i need to sort premises before really getting to involved in this, but hopefully this month overtime will help with sorting a car.
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