Advice for first time builder...

Advice for first time builder...

Author
Discussion

MTBMartin

Original Poster:

14 posts

120 months

Wednesday 16th September 2015
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Giving serious consideration to building an Evo Coupe for road use, using an LS3. Any advice from anyone who's built one themselves would be very welcome, especially regarding realistic total cost, time spent on the build, level of practical skills required, quality of Ultima's components and support etc.
Cheers,
Martin

confusionhunter

448 posts

221 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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Soooo much info on this forum. I think you need to set aside a few hours and search on the forum.
If you don't want to or don't have the time I think you've just answered your question on your suitability for building one! wink Not trying to be difficult but your question is so wide ranging and well covered in detail in many posts.

I've found a significant amount of time is spent researching and forum browsing to get the best for what you want for almost every component of the car! smile and I bought mine and rebuilt it rather be a first builder and I'm glad I did as I would have taken forever to build one from scratch!

Contact the factory for a price list and then search on here for your engine/gearbox options and you'll be able to build a realistic cost. Hope that helps.

V8Dom

3,546 posts

201 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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pre evo costs used to be about 60-65k i think with basic ls3 s/hand box etc

some on here have spent alot more, i know some cars well over 100k

deadscoob

2,263 posts

259 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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When you plan the costs go in with your eyes wide open, especially if you go none standard, costs can spiral.

Get the price list from the factory, then if there are things you fancy changing, look at the parts cost and try and work out if it has a knock on effect.

Body mods can get expensive.

Skill wise, I think if you can bolt meccano together, you can build one of these, just need to take time, if you're not sure ask, if you're still not sure pay the factory or someone, for example the body fit.

Good knowledge on here if you get stuck, you just need to do the sums and see if it adds up. It's all quite easy till you get to engine, box etc, that's the point of no return smile

djb222

67 posts

125 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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Hi,

I began my build in 2005 and am almost at the point of finishing, although in truth they are always a work in progress. My build has taken so long due to personal reasons. Previous to building this car I built a couple of Westfields however the quality of the components, the build manual and the back up from the factory and advice accessible on this forum I would say any reasonably able person could build one.

My total build cost to date is around £60K and I stopped major spend in 2007. As already mentioned one job to have done by the factory is body fit, I didn't.

I'm pretty happy with the car and how its turned out, however looking back there are a few things I would change/upgrade. The beauty of these cars is that it is doable.

My first step was visit the factory, look at the builds in progress, decide what you want the car to be. What engine is probably the biggest decision, I went with an SBC but I would guess most these days are LS. Build time sensibly........ 12months plus

Go in with eyes wide open.

David

barriejames

895 posts

178 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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I am doing the same at present and part way through the build, using nicest factory parts I think around 70k will bring you an Ls3 Evo, do not talk to people on other kit car sites who think these are 25k costing cars, that is misleading. For me the whole thing will be at least 18 months build time

huzilulu

127 posts

111 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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I started my LS3-997 build this Spring, rough estimate of $125K (USD) inclusive of shipping/customs since it's a Middle East build...

I've never built anything before, nor have I worked on any car - i had an interest, just not the time or place. Change in life circumstances gave me the opportunity to do so this year, so here I am.. already have put in about 260hours and am about 45-50% done...


UltimaPanthera

17 posts

112 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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V8Dom said:
pre evo costs used to be about 60-65k i think with basic ls3 s/hand box etc
?!?
That sounds like the post-(pre-evo) is significantly more expensive?!


Edited by UltimaPanthera on Friday 18th September 19:11

drivin_me_nuts

17,949 posts

210 months

Saturday 19th September 2015
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UltimaPanthera said:
?!?
That sounds like the post-(pre-evo) is significantly more expensive?!


Edited by UltimaPanthera on Friday 18th September 19:11
Probably not that much more expensive but what ever you think you will spend on your carefully crafted spreadsheet, you won't. You will spend more and a good percentage more as the nice-to-haves becomes your essentials. Budget a mimimum of 10% over and then add 5% just in case and then another 10% to make it look prettier.