I wanna build a kit car

[NAC]

Am I crazy? Or am I carzy?

I've had the inkling to build a kit car since forever. However, a few concerns:

1. I don't have much experience with working on cars. I do have a pretty good understanding of all the mechanical parts, but the only major repair that comes to mind is when I rebuilt a transmission with my Dad when I was 16. I may have replaced a timing belt, also with my Dad, but to be honest I can't even remember for sure. Other than that – I've change oil, other very minor things.

2. I am not one to tinker and slowly improve something. Which is part of why I want to build a kit car. I like to dream up an idea, mull it over for a couple years, then do it. But since I don't have the habit of tinkering, why should I assume I'd like to build one over the course of a year or two or three? And are you ever really finished with a project like this?

3. I'm not patient when doing certain kinds of work. I've gotten much more patient than I used to be, and this is part of why I want to do it – to force myself to learn to be more patient when doing work with my hands. But for example, sweating copper pipes, or putting silicone on a bathtub, or anything which requires slow & steady hand movement tends to frustrate me. Or… things which require skill which I don't yet have frustrate me. Or if work doesn't come out as planned frustrates me. Now, a lot of this is just human nature, I think in many ways I'm actually more patient and less easily frustrated than the average person. But the average person doesn't commit to building a kit car.

4. I have a lazy streak. I'm not one to avoid hard work, but sometimes I like to do nothing on the weekend. At the same time, I'll get bored and wished I had done more. I'm not convinced that I'll want to dedicate a couple hundred hours or more to this project.

5. When all said and done, it will likely cost $35k, maybe more. I could go cheaper, but doing all that work but not getting the result I want would be silly, IMO. But for that kind of money I could buy a nice new car or a nicer used car which would be much more practical and reliable, and take zero of my time. 35k for a toy and a hobby is a lot of money.

6. Did I mention – the kit I want to build wont be very practical.

The kit I want to build seems very well designed. You take all the mechanicals of a Miata, without changing anything regarding suspension or steering and then bolt it onto a new frame and fiberglass body. Link:

http://exomotive.com/dbr1/

So, what advice can people give me?

 

[OlafSicky]

Cool looking car but in the end it will be a miata it will drive and sound like one. These old cars had very specific engines, sound, smell, and steering . You will have power breaks power steering catalytic convertor muffler. It will just not be the same. It will drive like playing NFS with a keyboard instead of a wheel
If you want this type of car just get ahttps://www.google.ca/search?q=heal...v&sa=X&ei=nUHFU7TjHsm3yATuk4HAAw&ved=0CCAQsAQ Healey 3000 or a MG and tweak and work on that.

 

[JulesMaximus]

So, what advice can people give me?

Based on everything you said, don't do this.

 

[Midwayman]

Factory five has a build school for their cars. For about a grand you can go build one of their cars in a weekend with a bunch of other guys. That gives you a big discount if you then buy one of their kits.

 

[NAC]

Cool looking car but in the end it will be a miata it will drive and sound like one. These old cars had very specific engines, sound, smell, and steering . You will have power breaks power steering catalytic convertor muffler. It will just not be the same. It will drive like playing NFS with a keyboard instead of a wheel
If you want this type of car just get ahttps://www.google.ca/search?q=heal...v&sa=X&ei=nUHFU7TjHsm3yATuk4HAAw&ved=0CCAQsAQ Healey 3000 or a MG and tweak and work on that.

I love driving the Miata, but you have good points.

I'll have to weigh the advantages of the kit:
better reliability

Advantages of a Healey / MG:
More "real" driving experience

It seems to me that both are fun to drive, however. The kit car is appealing on attracting even more attention. Without having seen it in person, I can't tell how much it will look like a kit car. Not that anyone will be fooled, but this kit does seem pretty well balanced, not overly "fake". Both items seem equally expensive. I suppose an MG can be pretty cheap, but not to get it into the state I would want it.

Based on everything you said, don't do this.

Note that I am playing devil's advocate in my post. But it wasn't untrue. I'm always goal oriented. I'm about to accomplish a goal I've had for over a decade, so I need a new one to replace it with. Something big. And building / getting serious with cars has always been an idea of a goal.

 

[NAC]

Factory five has a build school for their cars. For about a grand you can go build one of their cars in a weekend with a bunch of other guys. That gives you a big discount if you then buy one of their kits.

That is an interesting idea, thanks.

 

[ballmode]

Ariel Atom kit cars

 

[NAC]

Ariel Atom kit cars

I don't think they sell Atom kits. The company I want to buy my kit from does make the Exocet which is simliar, but based on the Miata mechanicals. I thought of that, but I think I'd prefer a classic late 50s early 60s racer look.

 

[MongGrel]

Based on everything you said, don't do this.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Imported]

I'd go for the Exocet. I've been tempted to do it to my Miata but then I'd need a truck to tow it around..

 

[_Rick_]

Why not make it a Caterham instead? I wonder how modular that platform is.

But still, the base "160" model should be a great starting point, since it's dirt cheap, compared to most everything else, and probably also relatively cheap to run.

And by making it as cheap as possible, it's not so bad when one day you give up on it

If you've got the spare cash and the spare garage space, I don't think you need to invest much in the way of tools, as a good kit will be designed to assemble with relative ease. A decent torque wrench is probably all you will need, beside a few stands and possibly something to get the engine and trans dropped in. But with a 660cc in the Caterham, you may be able to cut some corners, because the engine isn't going to be that heavy.
Look up build logs before attempting to go further.

 

[DrDoug]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Just about everything you described about yourself is counter to what is needed to successfully do what you want to do. If you really want to do this then use your credit card as your 'tool box' and pay someone who knows and loves what they are doing to build you your dream car. Otherwise all I see in your future is a nightmarish money pit.

You either love to do stuff like this or you don't, wanting to is just the starting point.

 

[NAC]

I appreciate all the input. I suppose I started this thread hoping people would convince me to do it regardless of my concerns. But, saner heads have spoken louder / been more convincing. I'm sure I would respond the same to a stranger expressing my concerns.

However, personal growth by definition only comes from overcoming your own shortcomings. I am who I am because of my decisions and actions, not my mental limitations. Or maybe I'm just stubborn and will do it anyway. I didn't mention my strong will power in the the OP 

If I decide on proceeding with this endeavor, it won't be until next Fall at the very earliest, and most likely a year or two or three after that. And it is clear that I should dive in with a small expenditure. If I do a Miata kit, I should start by buying a doner car for a couple thousand, and see how I like taking it apart for year. That work is less fun than the building, so if I succeed in putting in the time to strip it, I'll be more comfortable ordering the kit and spending the real money. And if I decide I really don’t want to proceed I can sell it without much lost.

I also should spend more time and be more open thinking about what I want:
Restore an original, build a kit car, or perhaps even just restore a 1989 Miata since I love them so much. That would be the cheapest option by far (but without nearly as much external gratification).

 

[pauldun170]

Patience and money.
Minimum requirements

Personally, I'd go the restore route. Miata's are cheap and their are a lot of a clean examples that would serve as good candidates. The driving experience will be the same. In the long run, one good Miata can be turned into years worth of project cars.
Sunday morning twistie chaser.
Track day weapon.
V8 hoon mobile.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

What other things have you built from scratch/kits?

 

[NAC]

What other things have you built from scratch/kits?

Do legos count?

No experience other than the transmission / timing belt, some small engine repair, and non auto things like home improvements, computer builds, etc.

But I'm not worried about learning things and doing the work. I'm sure I can research and learn how to do things and exectute. I also have several friends who have rebuilt cars who can help.

 

[Midwayman]

Go buy a RC car that comes in kit form. Try this one on sale RC GP 1/8 Racing B.. Item #84067 here.http://www.tamiyausa.com/items/radio-control-kits-30/1-8-r-c-nitro-engine-kits-27000
If putting all that together from scratch gives you a sense of joy at seeing all the mechanics come together, there is a chance you might enjoy building a kit car.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Have you got the space to do it in? Even if it sits for years under a tarp while you search for parts/information/inspiration?

 

[NAC]

Yeah, I have a detached garage that I can take over completely.

An RC car is an interesting idea I can think about. I am interested in a drone too. Neither has the appeal of a real car to me though...

 

[Midwayman]

Yeah, I have a detached garage that I can take over completely.

An RC car is an interesting idea I can think about. I am interested in a drone too. Neither has the appeal of a real car to me though...

Sure, but lets you give something similar a try for a cheap price. I want to do a kit car one of these days and used to love putting together the RC kits. More than actually driving them I think.

 

[phucheneh]

A typical DIY pseudo-resto is probably a lot easier than attempting to build an entire car without any major fuckups.

With the former option, your potential for disaster is more limited, and your learning comes in more digestible portions. One day you do the brakes. Maybe you decide you want to rebuild the front end. Rebuild a carb/carbs. Learn to hog ring some seat covers. Do some wiring. Ect ect. If you start with a functioning car, you can probably learn to do everything yourself...if you give yourself time.

Trying to build from scratch...even with a donor motor/trans that you don't rebuild...ehhhh. I wouldn't recommend most people do it. I could name off maybe five people on this forum where I would say 'sure, go ahead!' I know there are others capable of it, but point being, the vast majority of people that are not VERY heavy into cars, either with lots of their own projects, or doing it for a living, are probably not cut out to build a complete kit.

And that's not even mentioning one thing that I think is one of the hardest aspects- paint and bodywork. That's a BIG expenditure if you want a real pro to smooth out that fiberglass body and lay down a really nice paintjob. Makes the price difference between the 13k kit and the 32k turnkey a lot easier to understand.

 

[MongGrel]

I remember many, many years ago seeing a kit for these and always wanted to.

But unless I hit lotto, I imagine I'd never do it

The old Arntz Cobra 427 kit car.

Most aren't 427 of course, but still.

Frig for 28K someone sold a similar one that looked pretty hot, I'd never looked at em much.

It really wouldn't need a 427

http://www.cobracountry.com/cobra4salefolder/brundage-arntz/home.html

 

[phucheneh]

Who wants an old kit car? Kinda defeats the purpose.

Factory Five pretty much owns the Cobra kit car market. Personally, I think I'd rather have this as opposed to some of the more dated examples that look like the frame might as well be made of 2x4's.

 

[Zenmervolt]

A typical DIY pseudo-resto is probably a lot easier than attempting to build an entire car without any major fuckups.

I'm not as sure.

With a fresh kit you have perfect instructions for everything and completely fresh parts. You're not stuck trying to remove a bolt that's been rusted in place since the Eisenhower administration. If you install everything in the order the instructions give you, you're not trying to reach around parts or thread your hand into a crevice to get at the bolt you want.

Yes, it's a more immediate and sizable commitment, but I think there are fewer opportunities for massive swearing.

I do agree that it's not something I'd recommend to someone who has little or no mechanical experience, that's sure, but overall I'm inclined to think that building a kit has to be easier than working on something once it's already been built.

ZV

 

[phucheneh]

I guess the way I look at it is more that trying to make things from scratch is a lot harder than trying to fix things that are broken.

It's the kind of thing that I've encountered a lot, albeit on a smaller scale. Something that is in pieces, where I have no idea how it goes together, or how it functions...that's a PITA. Maybe I find an exploded diagram or some 'together' pictures of whatever I'm working on...but it's still hard.

Whereas, if I take it apart, I'm examining the fit and function as it comes apart, and I'm generally aware of the things that I need to know going back together. For a DIYer, I'd make comparisons to some of the most commonly performed tasks. Say, for instance, brakes. Anyone with a tiny bit of mechanical inclination can do a padslap without incident. Getting a little more into it and replacing hydraulic parts, taking bearings/hubs apart, ect...a little harder, but starting with functioning parts is a big plus. But if you're not comfortable enough to be able to take bunch of boxes labeled 'brakes' and put everything together for the first time, without instruction...I'd say don't do it. Yeah, instructions will be there...but I'd be leery of telling someone to follow 'insert bracket A into slot B' Ikea-esque instructions for a 3000lb 130mph potential death-machine. I'd want someone to know the function of all major systems fairly intimately before they try to assemble a whole car.

I've never built a kit car, so I dunno how relevant such thinking is. But I gotta assume it's a rare feat to truly be able to boil things down to the basic parts and instructions, and not have to use a little of your own experience and ingenuity to make things work properly.