Scratch built car

[No Sound]

The project is to build a car from scratch, a one off.
The cars criteria:
• Fast (for a road car)
• Good handing, brakes and steering.
• Safe
• Comfortable (water proof/heating as it will be in Scotland)
• Environmental unfriendly
• Cheap as possible to build (minimum out sourcing)
• Try to make it look nice (very hard)
Main manufactures components required:
• Engine: SBC
• Gearbox: GM 400
• Prop shaft
• Front axle S3 Jaguar
• Rear axle XJS (in-board discs with LSD)
• Wheels and Tyres
The next decision is to select the type of chassis for a car. I looked at three chassis, ladder, space frame and backbone. Decided upon a backbone chassis but would include a steel floor and doors with side impact protection.
So now I can start the project with a trip to the Jaguar scrap yard for the front and rear axles. After money exchanged and a nice delivery from TNT I am the proud owner of two old Jaguar axles plus a steering column. The first job was to sort out the front axle.

[No Sound]

Thanks for all the interest. I have been working on the project for the last few years and intend to update the build thread regularly. The car will be in a GT/race car type of style. To give you an idea of the car dimensions:

Approx. length. = 4m
Front width (body) = 1840mm
Rear width (body) = 1920mm
Height = 1285mm
Wheel base = 2510mm
Ground clearance = 120mm
Approx. weight 1250-1300kg.

[No Sound]

The next job is to de-cage the rear axle so it can be integrated into the chassis. Because the car will be lighter than the Jaguar I have replace all the suspension units with Gaz s coil overs and changed all the various bushes, seals, shafts and also the discs.

[No Sound]

Barry38 said:

Mate - that's super ambitious. Good luck for your project. A lot of respect for you to doing that.

Thanks, yes it is big project but by breaking into sections makes it simpler.

[No Sound]

War Pig said:

Any idea of what it will look like yet?

The shape will be generated by manufacturing a wire buck so the shape will develop as I make the buck.

[No Sound]

GTiRichTea said:

Cant wait to see how this will turn out, keep up the great work .

Cheers

[No Sound]

150bhp said:

Super cool! Bookmarked.

Thanks

[No Sound]

fiatpower said:

Will be very interested in how this turns out. Looks very promising so far!

Cheers

[No Sound]

Monty Zoomer said:

Are you able to work on this full time or is it a spare time project?

Either way I'm looking forward to following this project's progress and wish you all the best with it.

Cheers, it’s just me doing the design/work and I am doing it in my spare time.

[No Sound]

The Nur said:

This looks very interesting indeed, best of luck to you

Does anybody fancy explaining to my simple self a couple of lines on inboard brakes and why they exist please? Always confused me...

Thanks

[No Sound]

omgus said:

Yet another Readers Cars Thread that looks to be awesome. Good luck to you, i eagerly await the updates.

Cheers, try to update tomorrow.

[No Sound]

Max_Torque said:

Reduction in unsprung mass! Having the brakes attached to the diff, means less mass hanging out at the wheel end of the suspension, and so less mass for the spring/damper to have to control. As downsides, they are more difficult to cool and put braking torque (huge!) into the halfshafts, and hence, as modern vented discs have become lighter, they are largely irrelevant these days. (not to mention that heavier modern cars results in a more favourable unsprung/sprung ratio anyway)

That Jag rear suspension also uses the halfshaft as a lateral load bearing member................

Nice summary

[No Sound]

gsd2000 said:

nice SBC powered

Could only be a chevy V8

[No Sound]

dom9 said:

Great thread - looking forward to following this one!

Cheers

[No Sound]

AER said:

Those lower rear wishbones could be replaced by a much lighter, stiffer fabricated tubular wishbone if you are into reducing unsprung mass.

What were Jaguar thinking when they designed them...?

I will look into that in the future but at moment I have alot to do.

[No Sound]

Hooli said:

Why the mix of parts? is the SIII front axle better than a XJS? or just what you can get hold of?

The reason for using the SIII front clip was the condition it came in. For the rear I wanted a power lock diff and not all XJ6 came with the power lock but the XJS did.

[No Sound]

Disco You said:

Bonkers! Good luck.

Cheers, yes bonkers

[No Sound]

With both the front and rear axles finished I started on the jig. When the jig was completed and levelled and bolted to the floor I positioned the front, rear axles and engine/box onto the jig.

[No Sound]

War Pig said:

Looks like a great project. Will follow this with interest. Good luck!

Thanks

[No Sound]

S6OOH said:

Hang on...did you start this on Saturday?!

Since Saturday I managed to rub down the top coat on two wheels, respray and just applied the final coat of lacquer!

Good work!

I must be good to get that lot done in 4 days.