Space/Tools Required

[tooke29]

I have looked through many of the posts and treads on here and I am very excited about the cars on display that everyone has built.

I'm looking at starting my own project but have a few queries about the build process:

• Is a single garage with space outside big enough for a build? I have a few areas near me that offer single garages for a reasonable price, but not sure if they will be too small.
• During the strip and rebuild process are power tools needed? some of the garages I have been looking at don't have power so only hand tools will be available, I do have some battery tools (a drill for rivets etc, but not a full arsenal)
• What donors typically offer the best value and ease of build? I have seen a few cheap mk 1 MOT failures with over 100k on the clock but are they going to cost more to get rebuilt and replace worn parts than a decent 40-60k mk2, I know the price difference would be around 1500£ but as I'm new to kit cars I would rather a simpler build for my first time.

I'm hoping this post is in the right section, its an exocet I will be looking to do, but have little garage experience so it all seems a bit daunting!

Cheers All!!

[miket]

Hi & welcome.
Sounds like you're in the UK somewhere so I'll assume that's the case in my responses - perhaps stick yourself on the owner locations map if you're going to be around a while.

I'm sure several/many Exocets will have been built in single garages. I vaguely recall a thread where someone had the chassis supported on robust trestle over the ppf so they could work on both. Key will be discipline and ideally somewhere else to store stuff. Also complete the stripdown, get rid of body and complete ppf prep before collecting kit. If you're planning to sell donor parts then you end up with a load of stuff lying around in the interim. Need somewhere to store grp bodywork bits out of harms way - up in the roof might work.

I think power's pretty essential - in my novice build I've done some drilling through some thickish steel, grinding, reciprocating saw, bench drilling, jigsawing, dremeling ... you get the idea. Could a generator be an option?

On donors; I think it depends partly on your strategy - if you're on a budget and going to do rust prep yourself then yes perhaps go newer. I suspect the chassis was designed around a Mk1 1.8 'cos I think the extra lugs at the rear are for Mk2 donors, and the mudguard stays were designed around a 1.8's "big" brakes. I don't think any of this should put you off any good donor. Donors whose sale includes valuable components: good soft top, hardtop, leather seats or parts from donors that are special editions can be sold for reasonable money to offset your donor costs.

I guess this thread could have potentially gone in "interested and want to know more" - but the friendly/helpful Mods'll move it if appropriate.

Yes it can seem a bit daunting - as a complete novice I couldn't have done a build without this forum (and the wider internet). So far every problem has been surmounted with some help and guidance.

[zeitgeist]

Depending on the rustiness of your donor power tools are optional but nice to have. I have torn my donor down completely and am almost ready to do full assembly once I can paint my kit chassis. I didn't use power tools and during the first 75% of the teardown and rebuild process had no workbench,heat,vise or specialty tools and was working by myself with a 60 watt single lightbulb for lighting. It wasn't always fun and had to stop at dusk but I only broke 3 bolts that won't be reused. AIr and battery powered tools make things go faster and easier. They can help reduce work on some long heavy duty fasteners as well as break loose some hard ones but aren't a necessity.

As for the garage size I have 23X23 feet so plenty of room but some of the UK builds look to be done in a shoebox.

[tooke29]

Great response guys, settled my mind a bit!
and been moved to the correct place so cheers!!

Miket - yeah I'm the uk, up on Teesside!
One of the locations I have my eye on has the option of a 8x8 container for extra storage, so that would solve one problem, and id leave the GRP panels at home out of the way until needed.
I think a decent mk2 sounds the better option then, not as much work needed to get decent results. and I would get a small generator for some power, but the noise would probably annoy the nearby houses so I wouldn't solely rely upon one.

zeitgeist - you sound like you achieved quite a lot with minimum equipment - well done on that! - and from this I know it can be done without fancy tools so cheers!!!

[miket]

Another thought where relevant - the MX5 as opp Eunos, as this makes the wiring of fog lamps nice and straightforward. The MX5 works for UK IVA as-is, but I believe Eunos needs work to stop rear fogs working with sidelights or staying on after restart. Eunos not too tricky - just needs linking up to what was the lamp retractor wiring I think. Might be something similar re Hazard lights, but this is just stuff I've read on here in passing.

Write-offs at auction can be a good source of more recent donors of course - as long you examine them carefully of course.

You might have picked up on it already, but the US exo has diverged from the UK kit o some extent - tho' I'm not sure to what extent that reduces the need for power tools!

I'm not far down the A19 if you wanted a shufti at a part complete build - I could point out where the issues arise.

Good luck.

[pleurotus]

I bought a Mk2.5 donor as the parts prices seemed to be considerably higher than the Mk2.