What Sierra Parts?

[Doogle]

Hi,
New on the forum and looking to build a Locost/Haynes kit car using a kit from Saturnsportscars.

Looking on the website of my local scrappy Iv noticed they have 2 Sierras in at the moment, one model unsure, the other is a 4x4i
Im going to try and go up there in the week but what parts would be well worth getting? Im assuming the brakes off of the 4x4 but what else is worth grabbing? A friend of mine has a V6 I can have but not sure if I want to use that or still look for a donor car with a pinto. Just trying to get as many possably usefull parts before they get recycled.

Cheers,
Doug.

[nicholas garn]

Hi Doug and welcome, the 4x4 has the desirable LSD (limited slip diff) and bolt on drive shafts.

The 4x4 front hubs can't be used because they have a drive shaft which will be removed, the enging is large and heavy and for its size dosen't offer much power. I had a 4x4 and after alot of work didn't use any of it because mine was rusted to hell and the half shafts bolts would not come off, I came across a standard RWD sierra and used most of it. Sold the 4x4 for scrap and made £30 more than I paid though :D

This forum is great for advice and help and you can always rely on an answer to most questions by searching old posts.

Hope that helps, hopefully someone will jump in and recommend using the V6 as there are a couple of builders who have used it.

[Doogle]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the LSD would definatly be worth getting then?
Im undecided on engine, I'm pretty sure I can pick up a 2WD donor car locally. I did have a look at a thread about someone wanting to use a 4x4. A friend of mine has 2 spare engines sat in his garage, got them as spares for his TVR and has said I can have one for a pint though I think a 4 pot would be my preffered engine.
I did think the 4x4s had some better running gear though so was curious to know if it was worth going up there and getting what I can. LSD has got to be worth it at least!
Do they have better brakes?

[nicholas garn]

The rear end running gear, Diff, Shafts, Disks and Brakes are worth getting. I didn't use mine because I had to cut the drive shafts off and couldn't find new ones within my price range :( , be aware that the 4x4 and 2WD components are not compatable, that is to say the 4x4 rear hubs will not fit the 2WD drive shafts and so on. I think the 4x4 brakes are bigger but can't be to sure. Have a look an eBay at the price of LSDs and bolt on drive shafts, worth getting even if you just sell them.

[Doogle]

Thanks, Think the brakes are cosworth spec? Vented discs all round?? Something Iv just found on net so may be right may be wrong.

Can the 2WD gearbox/prop be mated to the 4WD diff? If I was to get and use the LSD, rear drive shafts and brakes/hubs, but use a 4 pot engine with 2WD gearbox and prop? would that work? or are the props different lengths etc?

[twinturbo]

4x4 hubs are identical to 2wd hubs,

read disks are all the same with the exception of 4x4 Cosworth which has vented rears

Front brakes ( forgettig 2wd cosworth 4pots) come in either 240 vented or 260MM vented , or very rare unvented!!!

Front hubs can have the outer CV removed to get rid of the front shafts, but the geometry on the 4x4 is slightly different to the 2wd and the Maxi ball joint will not fit.

TT

[nicholas garn]

The props are different lengths but you will have to shorten the prop anyway see page 84 para titled Propshaft.

[Doogle]

Can the brakes be fitted with 2WD front hubs? If i were to use the 4WD rear hubs and brakes but 2WD hubs with the vented front brake set up?

[Doogle]

The props are different lengths but you will have to shorten the prop anyway see page 84 para titled Propshaft.

Thanks, as you can tell, Im pretty new to this :o

[twinturbo]

Front calipers are the same, caliper carriers are different. so you need 2wd hubs and carriers

TT

[Doogle]

Thanks, I'll see what I can get off both cars!

[mark]

I wouldnt get too hung up on using discs at the rear

My own car is drum braked with standard 2wd fronts and can stop as well if not better than some of the fast cars i have owned :)

I have had a few nice cars too, integra type R (very good at braking), m3 evo, impreza, 300zx TT etc etc

Alot of people fit discs but then have to fit a valve to reduce brake effort at the rear so that they dont lock before the fronts for IVA, and your own safety for that matter!

Drums do look pants though :rolleyes:

Lsd is always worth having although ive never had a moment where i thought mine needs one apart from one particular corner at a track day when it was damp and the inside wheel kept spinning up, but apart from that the other 4000 miles went swimmingly :D............... and quickly ;)

[Doogle]

Thanks for that.
If it really doesnt make much difference then drums would be fine and save me money as Im looking for a 2WD donor car anyway and still undecided on the engine to use. Vented fronts would be nice though. Drums can look a bit pathetic but I guess the car is small and light any way. Again LSD not essential, cant see me doing many track days just the odd PH run but another thing to add to the spec list.

Whats the view on servo's too??

[spud69]

Hello Doug,

Welcome and nice to talk to you earlier today and hope your manual was waiting for you when you got home - sounds like you're keen to get started, some good advice so far.

Don't worry about using a servo on the roadster, the car is a lot lighter then production cars and, even though you will need a bit more effort, you get much better feedback and control back through the brake pedal without the servo.

All the Best.....AndyH

[mark]

Thanks for that.
If it really doesnt make much difference then drums would be fine and save me money as Im looking for a 2WD donor car anyway and still undecided on the engine to use. Vented fronts would be nice though. Drums can look a bit pathetic but I guess the car is small and light any way. Again LSD not essential, cant see me doing many track days just the odd PH run but another thing to add to the spec list.

Whats the view on servo's too??

I havnt seen any sierras that dont have vented front discs so there is no problem there

As TT said its very rare to find them with solid front discs

TT is the forums sierra expert by the way, i doubt you could ever ask him something sierra realated and get the answer "i dont know" :D

[Doogle]

Thanks chaps.

Andy, great to speak to you earlier, sorry if I went on a bit. Thanks for all the help and advice, I think my mind is made up, its nice to speak to someone who has the time and knowledge to aid the customer that I think Id have alot of back up building one of your kits with the added ability of buying the 'packages' which should help my challenge :D

Thanks for all the Sierra advice, Im not really a Ford man so this will be the first time I'v worked with Ford parts.
A friend has been giving me some engine advice. Looking at CVH or zetec options too now, just got to work out electrical issues, ecu and fuelling, whether to stick with injection or put carbs on. Again, all fairly new to me.

[Doogle]

Got an advert on a local website, just had a call, may have a cheap donor lined up, 2.0 DOHC Sierra! :D