Donor for simplicity...
 

I'm looking to (possibly) start on a build over the coming summer, as I've now no longer got college to concern me and thus need to begin my search for a good donor.

My mechanical experience is minimal, although I do pick up how to do things very easily - and I still need to arrange garage space at the moment. I'm only 18 :P

For my first build, I'd love to jump straight in with something immensely powerful - frankensteining a car like this: CLICK

But, realistically I'll have to K.I.S.S. So, what car do you recommend for a first time dismantlation and rebuild? There are plenty of places to rent equipment within 20 minutes of me so tooling should be ok, though I'm well aware I'm going to be stretched financially.

I've also got a library of car repair, modification, restoration and building at my disposal, so I should be fine with a simple project.

I'm going to guess that a Sierra would be your first answer - if so, what years and what model (ie. Engine/Spec). Same applies for other suggestions.

Thanks for reading, look forward to your knowledgeable replies.


Oh, on a side note, does anyone hail from SE London/Kent? Seven style cars are few and far between here - so I wonder.

Go for a sierra then you wont have to change the book design.
Try and get a pinto to save £s but these are getting rarer.
Most of the other sierra engines aren't worth using.

My view is get any sierra that you can get your hands on cheap.
As long as the gearbox and diff are good.

Then get a small zetec if insurance is a problem.
You can then upgrade to a bigger one without any drama later.
Plus they are dirt cheap engines!

Mike
PS Good Luck!

Hi Mike,
By small zetec I assume you mean a 1.6? The 1.25 from the Fiesta is not a "proper" zetec?!? Is there a 1.4 Zetec?

Cheers

I've wondered about the zetecs myself - what's the deal with getting a zetec to fit, say, a type 9 gear box from the earlier sierra's? I'm assuming all the modern zetecs generally use the mt75 box? so would it just be a case of adapter plates and bellhousings etc?

If an engine will bolt to one Ford gearbox (unless it's a Yamaha engine a la 1.25 Zetec, and the newer Duratecs) it'll bolt to any :)

The Zetec just bolts straight up to either an MT75 or a Type9.

Just to note, 'boxs from V6 Ford have a longer input shaft and need a spacer plate to use 'em with a 4 cylinder, although they are stronger than 4 pot ones.

you've got to be winding me up! seriously? just bolts straight on without any adapters or adjustments to be made?

this could well change things for me if it's as 'easy' as that :) everyone's been harking on about how cheap & plentiful & common the zetecs are. Are they any more difficult to get through sva (like the older old engines which only needed a visible smoke test, as opposed to the new ones measured on emissions?) If they're just as easy to fit and pass on sva, I might well be changing my mind yet again!

The Zetecs you would be looking for are reffered to as the Zetec E. these were found in the Mk5/6 escorts in 1.6 and 1.8 forms also in the sportier fiestas too. the Mondeos had the 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec E engines.
If you want a handy guide to all the different ford engines phone Burton Power and get them to send you a free catalogue, it has a very detailed write-up at the front explaining the differences.
I am using a 1.8 litre zetec from a 93 Mondeo, I have kept the flywheel, put on a new standard clutch and using a ford spigot bearing and thrust bearing it is now bolted directly to a type9 gearbox from a CVH powered sierra.
You can bolt a Zetec E to either a type9 or a MT75 gearbox as the bolt pattern is exactly the same but most people tend to go for the type9 as its narrower and some say lighter but not as strong.
Oh yes and i'm in Kent, Folkestone to be precise, you may want to consider joining the Kent Kit car club, over 100 members driving and building just about every concievable type of car and a friendly bunch too.
Cheers.

Sorry to butt in, have you got to cut the sump a la Pinto on a Zetec in order to gain ground clearence.

It does help but its not quite as simple as with a pinto because the zetec uses a cast ally sump that difficult to weld, i know a fairly local chap thats a wiz at it and pretty cheap too, i cut it down myself and just got him to do the hot bits.
Another option is to use a Sierra CVH sump as the bolt patterns line up.
cheers.

so as it stands, I'm going to build using a cvh engine, gearbox and all the other major bits, then find a zetec after sva and swap over :) nice one - will give burton power a call when I'm back in the uk = thanks for the tip!