Sierras...

[alga]

In reality, out of the whole Sierra, you want just the following pieces:

- Gearbox
- Rear subframe (diff (be sure to get the propshaft-to-diff bolts, too), driveshafts, rear hubs with brakes)
- Steering column with stalk switches
- Front hubs with brakes
- Master cylinder.

If you can find these, it's not worth getting the donor and having it sit on the drive while you take it apart.

Speaking of the engine, the Sierra carbed ones are really outdated, why not a pre-1995 Zetec on bike carbs and Megajolt?

[jps]

Hmm... I was thinking I need 'one car' to get the engine, diff and gearbox to get an age related plate... Or have I got this wrong?

Also assumed all the wiring would need to come from the donor too..?

I want to avoid fuel injection to keep things simple wherever possible.

[brainbug007]

You could always go the MX5 route as I think these are easier to get now than sierra's?

[jps]

The MX-5 route seem counter-intuitive to me - taking apart one sportscar to make another. Whereas butchering a rep-mobile/family car to turn it into a road legal go-kart seems somehow more noble!

[rpjg1975]

It all depends on how u want to go really. My build is sierra based and I used the donor loom as well. I think there are still bargains to be had if you aren't in a hurry

[twinturbo]

BMW e30 is another option, there are a few that have built using this platform (or the E36 Compact as that is realy just a tarted E30.)

GKD do a kit ( although not at all haynes based ) to use the BMW and you have a vast engine option.


If you do go Sierra then you will have to hunt, EFI is not a major issue other than clearing the bonnet but that's true of the carbs anyway. unless you go side draught.

TT

[robo]

Originally Posted by rpjg1975

It all depends on how u want to go really. My build is sierra based and I used the donor loom as well. I think there are still bargains to be had if you aren't in a hurry

Thats the trick, dont panic and by the time you need the running gear something will have turned up. The old sierra might not be that common but there are still thousands of them out there.

Bob

[PorkChop]

I haven't seen a Sierra in a scrapyard for quite a while and we are talking about a car which went out of production nearly 20 years ago. Don't forget that the Sierra has been a staple of the kit car industry for quite some time and is rather popular on the banger racing circuit. With this in mind you may struggle to find the ideal donor that isn't a million miles away from you. You will, however, be able to find the Sierra bits you need reasonably easily - just look on eBay or on here or LCB; although this would give you a Q plate and may well be more expensive than buying a donor car. If my heart was set on building a Sierra based Roadster, I would seriously consider going the piecemeal route.

[Not Anumber]

Cant agree with this. 2.0 Pinto with decent carbs and a tubular exhaust manifold gives plenty of poke in cars our weight even before changing cams and modding the head. It's a dead easy engine to maintain or upgrade, unburstable and of course works very well with the standard type 9 and diff ratios without having to mess about

Originally Posted by alga

Speaking of the engine, the Sierra carbed ones are really outdated, why not a pre-1995 Zetec on bike carbs and Megajolt?

[jps]

Just thought i'd add an update in case anyone comes along and reads this in the future! I've spent the last few weeks looking for sierras and have seen probably about a dozen come up on eBay that would have fitted the bill - although none that were quite right (fuel injection, or DOHC engine, or no MOT and a LONG way from home)...

On Tues I saw one for sale near Bedford, only 80 miles away, and snapped it up for £390. A C reg, 1.6 L. Pinto and carbs, 3 previous owners with one of those having it from 1988 - 2009 and what the current owner thinks is a genuine 98000 from new.

This'll let me stick to a 'book' build and get an age related plate - and perhaps i'll install the Zetec and MT75 gearbox i've got once the car is registered and on the road...

Not quite the £30 of the book, but I didn't mind forking out that much. Especially as it has 12 months and 2 days of MOT left, I think i'll be cruising round in it a little bit until time comes to rip it apart.. :-D

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