universal build manual ???

[mattstead]

Hi, I want to get started on the building of my auto speciali Viper GTS esque replica, but unfortunately designer Keith Kirk died before actually writing a manual (not that he ever really wrote much down....he said that he was always available to help, and often visited builders to assist).

I've built a simple tiger LSIS kit before and am handy with the spanners but I'm having a mental blank as to where to start and what order to do things.
I'm tempted to get a build manual from another manufacturer as an idication as to what order to do things; or would something like the haynes locost book be better? or is there a universal build guide? Lets face it, at the end of the day it's just a spaceframe chassis with a fibreglass body - must be just like building a cobra?

[Paul Drawmer]

I've only built one car so my experience is rather limited.
However, for the car I built the manual was not a 'bible', only an indication of a way to do it.

I think this is quite reasonable, since most kit car companies have limited resources, and the data in the manual will lag behind developmental changes.

I don't know if any kit car has a 'proper' build manual; so the usefulness of a manual for one kit to the builder of another would be limited.

So here's my universal manual:
1. Measure many times, cut or drill once.
2. Ask if you are unsure - don't do it until you are satisfied with the answer.
3. Always torque up nuts properly - don't plan on doing them all later.
4. Witness mark those nuts which have been torqued up.
5. If you use nyloc nuts - get plenty of replacements, they are only meant to go on once.


I expect there will be others...

[mattstead]

Thanks for that, I know what you mean about some build manuals, my westfield one was very good, but my tiger one was described as a guide book..... but even that would be welcome, I'm not after something that removes the personal touch and doesn't let me think for myself regarding tasks, but rather to have something that says, first plumb the braking system, then fit the wiring loom, then fit suspension, then fit etc, etc, more as some bullet points to stop me fitting something which is going to make my life harder.

I suppose the "car is born" tv series could be a good start?