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BareClawz
14th December 2009, 11:19 AM
Hi all,
I joined the forum quite recently having made 'To build a Haynes Roadster' my new years resolution.
A couple of years ago I considered building a Locost and actually managed to find a source of 25x25 tubing, but I wasn't altogether happy with a solid axle as I really wanted a IRS rear, also Escorts were beginning to get scarce and expensive so I hoped to use a Sierra donor but a house move solved the problem anyway.
Back in the early 90's I bought and built a Caterham & HPC with a 2.0lt Astra engine, Sierra Estate dif but that of course came as a complete chassis already panelled and fitted out with carpets. I had two friends help and we assembled it in a week. I was serving in the Forces at the time and had permission to build it in the REME workshop. Somewhere I still have a pic of her complete with army number plates we did whilst she was still at the camp before registration. I tell people it was an experimental Army high speed patrol vehicle lol.
Being a former REME mechanic the mechanicals shouldn't be a problem and will also help with the chassis build as I have considerable experience with both stick and MIG welders. I promise not to do any panel beating the same way we used to panel beat the landys, i.e. use two sledge hammers!
I intend to collect as many of the parts as possible and make the sub assemblies and extremeties before really starting in earnest to speed up the actual construction. I'll keep people informed when that happens.

Steve

HandyAndy
14th December 2009, 11:23 AM
welcome to the forum Steve,

with your background you,ll have a Roadster built in no time at all :cool:

just don,t use a sledge hammer:eek:

all the best for your build.

cheers
andy

BareClawz
14th December 2009, 11:48 AM
just don,t use a sledge hammer

Not at all? :(
Bet I do at some point :rolleyes:
certainly for the dismantling of the donor lol
Incidentally I have already found a source for 25x25 tubing as well as various thicknesses of plate from a local engineering skip and will be trying another later this week. I have a friend who has a small garage business and he's looking out for a suitable MOT failure and has said he has some Maxi balljoints somewhere in the back store that will come my way.
Another hobby I have involves considerable amounts of fibreglass work so I might well make my own nosecone and wings even a scuttle and bonnet. If I do I might get all fancy and use carbon fibre as I have access to some :)

Steve

gingea1pom
14th December 2009, 12:24 PM
Morning Steve,

Where are you located, get yourself to the end of
this (http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=3248) thread and get Tately to add you to the
map (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103048862376965186442.00047a897e12905ce83e3&ll=54.94371,-1.895399&spn=0.012867,0.042014&t=h&z=15)

cheers Ginge

Bonzo
14th December 2009, 12:48 PM
A very warm welcome to the forum Steve :)

Now't wrong with a sledge hammer if you have the energy to swing it :o :D

Best wishes for the build when you make a start :)

Ryan
14th December 2009, 12:54 PM
You have found a great forum here. If you ever get stuck just ask and someone will be along with an answer pretty soon. Good luck with your build.

Cheers

Ryan.

graeme.webb1@ntlworld.com
14th December 2009, 10:35 PM
A very warm welcome to the forum Steve :)

Now't wrong with a sledge hammer if you have the energy to swing it :o :D

Best wishes for the build when you make a start :)

Now you tell me not use a slege hammer!!

BareClawz
15th December 2009, 10:31 AM
Large hammers are wonderful and sometimes needed. Once upon a time I was changing the engine in a Marina and wanted to get the spigot bearing out of the flywheel. Having failed to get it out with a screwdriver the next step was to pack the hole with grease, find a drift the right size and belt it, which usually works. Not this time. Many hard hits later it was still there. In frustration I picked up a 2lb lump hammer, hit the drift and out the bearing popped just like it should have. Big hammers teach manners lol
I went to the 2nd engineering place yesterday and they only use 25x25x3 so no joy there, But they use lots of 1,3,5 and 10 plate and will let me rumage and they'll even cut to size and apply bends for me :D

Steve

John.W
10th January 2010, 07:07 PM
Hi steve

I bought a Passat off a REME Crafty in the late eighties in Minden, he only sold it because he couldn't get the front discs off. A good dink with a smallish hammer from a 432 track bashing kit did the trick first time

All the best with your build

John

twinturbo
10th January 2010, 07:13 PM
..... Large hammers .....


I just refere to these as an Engineers Fettle. :D

TT

Davey
10th January 2010, 08:01 PM
An ex REME sergeant once told me that R E M E stands for Rough Engineering Made Easy, is this correct? Welcome to the forum mate:D , I look forward to following your build.

D.

les g
10th January 2010, 09:04 PM
Ruin Everything Mechanical Eventually
cheers les g

gingea1pom
11th January 2010, 06:18 PM
The REME are wonderful people if they would only fix MY kit first that would be good and why have they got rid of their welders. I wondered down to the LAD today to get an of cut of some 5mm plate and was told all the welding is now done down at battalion wks. Threders, going down on Thursday