MEV Replicar Build Pictures
Discussion
naturals said:
Question for you Sonic7 - what's the quality of the build manuals from MEV like? Is there anywhere you can see some sample pages online? I'm a complete beginner at these things and need a project which isn't going to stretch me too far. This seems like a good compromise (I've previously toyed with GT40 and C-Type / D-Type replicas) being somewhat simpler and a good deal cheaper!
Good question, MEV don't produce manuals as such well not as far as I'm aware. They produce guides that are mainly in pictorial form and take you through the process of building your kit. Now to some this might seem at first somewhat alarming, however Stuart Mills at MEV goes to some amazing lengths to design a kit so that it is easy to build.Now the kit 'Replicar' that you are considering if you build and register it based on an MX5 should be straight forward, the basic stripping of the MX5 can and has been achieved by many, expert and novice alike, check out the MEV Owners Forum for a wealth of information from builders 'Exocet' threads. Again the refurbishing of what's used of the MX5 donor for the 'Replicar' is almost identical to the 'Exocet' so wealth of knowledge, experience and help can be gleaned. As the drive train and suspension is standard MX5, bolting it to the new MEV chassis should be straight forward, placing and fixing the body in place should also be straightforward assuming MEV have dedicated attachment points.
Whereas I'm sure MEV will be keen to utilise the MX5 wiring harness, they have at least on the Demo car build used after market clocks, now what provision MEV will or have maded in the kit for connecting the aftermarket clocks to the MX5 wiring harness I don't know so will have to wait and see.
Overall, not only with the great support from MEV direct, but the forum and other members experiences, I'm sure that the 'Replicar' like the 'MEVster' and the 'Exocet' before them are without doubt among the easiest kit cars to build available in the market today.
nigel
Any kitcar at the simpler end of the market (ie not a GT40,Ultima or Lambo rep to give examples) if it has been properly designed should not need a full build manual to construct it, this is particularly true where it is a one donor kit (or largely so). TBH I would say that if you need step by step instructions then chances are you shouldn't be building a kit, you'd do better to buy something built & then rebuild bits of it you don't like or want to improve or just generally tinker with it.
I've never produced a build manual for the Furore, I do provide a DVD of pics & a list of instructions of what order to do things in & for critical items like assembling the poly bushes correctly or building the pedal box up with cylinders etc. Any decent manufacturer will have someone at the end of the phone or via email to help out should you come up against a problem, but if you can't do basic stuff like rivet panels to a chassis, make sure body panels fit correctly & route brake pipes, fuel lines & wiring sensibly & neatly without having a full set of instructions then you are probably going to be one of the 1000's of people around the UK with an unfinished kit languishing in the garage.
I was recently complimented by a customer who's almost finished his kit that he was pleasantly surprised how easily it all went together & the hardest job was stripping the donor - which I would wholeheartedly agree with. If you can strip the donor without breaking lots of the bits you need, then putting it all back together on a nice clean new chassis with new nuts & bolts (usually provided by the kit supplier & usually with some method of idetifying which bolt fits what)is quite frankly a doddle! All IMHO of course
I've never produced a build manual for the Furore, I do provide a DVD of pics & a list of instructions of what order to do things in & for critical items like assembling the poly bushes correctly or building the pedal box up with cylinders etc. Any decent manufacturer will have someone at the end of the phone or via email to help out should you come up against a problem, but if you can't do basic stuff like rivet panels to a chassis, make sure body panels fit correctly & route brake pipes, fuel lines & wiring sensibly & neatly without having a full set of instructions then you are probably going to be one of the 1000's of people around the UK with an unfinished kit languishing in the garage.
I was recently complimented by a customer who's almost finished his kit that he was pleasantly surprised how easily it all went together & the hardest job was stripping the donor - which I would wholeheartedly agree with. If you can strip the donor without breaking lots of the bits you need, then putting it all back together on a nice clean new chassis with new nuts & bolts (usually provided by the kit supplier & usually with some method of idetifying which bolt fits what)is quite frankly a doddle! All IMHO of course
Thanks for your thoughts Russ and Nigel. I am quite handy (I've build my own computers quite a few times, managed the renovation of many millions of pounds of listed buildings in previous jobs and am doing an electrical engineering course atm). I also have family who have renovated cars so I'm not too daunted by the task per se, just trying to gauge where on the scale this is as a kit. That said my mechanical knowledge of a car engine, brakes, gearboxes, etc is basic at best.
Is there any specific training you'd recommend to help you get through a build? I'm moving to London during the summer but will look into some sort of car mechanics course to cover the basics.
Nigel, I've spent quite a lot of time browsing the MEV Owners boards - not posted yet but it's clearly a very supportive and helpful community.
Is there any specific training you'd recommend to help you get through a build? I'm moving to London during the summer but will look into some sort of car mechanics course to cover the basics.
Nigel, I've spent quite a lot of time browsing the MEV Owners boards - not posted yet but it's clearly a very supportive and helpful community.
smash said:
Website is here: http://www.replicar.net/mev_replicar.htm
Besides the Relicar site you can also find out info including pictures at the MEV website http://www.mevltd.co.uk/ or for the latest and greatest check out the Stuarts Build Blog on the MEV Owners Forum http://www.mevowners.proboards.com/index.cgi?board...
Stuart, once again you have reminded me that you stand, without question, head and shoulders above the rest of the Kit Car fraternity, with your immense personal efforts to create a new interesting and exciting Kit Car that can be built for very reasonable costs and look beautiful. Built and ready for the road! Not a "concept car" or a series of doodles on a computer. Interesting though these are there is no substitute for the real finished product on display!
That is the best looking kit car I have seen since Chris Smith showed me the Westfield Lotus 11 tribute car he had built in the early 1980's and that was a beautiful car. Bettered now by this MEV Replicar with your efforts. Well done indeed. I an looking forward to seeing you and your latest progeny (CARS!!) at Stoneleigh on Sunday 5th May. well done indeed, once again and all credit to you. Steffan
That is the best looking kit car I have seen since Chris Smith showed me the Westfield Lotus 11 tribute car he had built in the early 1980's and that was a beautiful car. Bettered now by this MEV Replicar with your efforts. Well done indeed. I an looking forward to seeing you and your latest progeny (CARS!!) at Stoneleigh on Sunday 5th May. well done indeed, once again and all credit to you. Steffan
Laughingman21 said:
Will this need an IVA or does it retain enough of the MX5 to avoid the test?
It will need an IVA. I suppose you MIGHT get away with it if you claim that the alloy Powerplant frame is the chassis, but in reality, it is more like a very stiff, strong subframe connecter. I wouldn't risk it. It will also be better if/when you come to sell it as it will be better for any prospective buyers.
I dont think the IVA is such a big deal in this case, so long as you at least look at the guide then i think most people would be able to pass, you just need to be aware of radii and things sticking out, as you're not really messing around too much with mechanics it should be a relatively straight forward build.
Thank you for the kind words Gents. I am very pleased with how it has turned out. We will be displaying it as an unfinished car at Stoneleigh so everyone can see how it goes together, it has no internal panels so you can see the MX5 components and how easy it is to build.
IVA is going to be very easy, kit cars fail on issues like lack of self centring to steering, brake balance, emissions and decibels etc. All these are a guaranteed pass if your donor was working correctly. Light positions are part of the mould so won't be wrong and exterior projections contactable with a 100 mm sphere are nil (assuming you have the correct mirrors ect). So provided it is built well, seat belts are E marked and speedo is calibrated it should be fine. Unless you leave a bolt loose or don't clip a wire or pipe on properly, then of course it should fail. Passenger headrest will be required for the test and rear number plate lights.
See you in the big shed in less than 2 weeks. Regards Stiggy
IVA is going to be very easy, kit cars fail on issues like lack of self centring to steering, brake balance, emissions and decibels etc. All these are a guaranteed pass if your donor was working correctly. Light positions are part of the mould so won't be wrong and exterior projections contactable with a 100 mm sphere are nil (assuming you have the correct mirrors ect). So provided it is built well, seat belts are E marked and speedo is calibrated it should be fine. Unless you leave a bolt loose or don't clip a wire or pipe on properly, then of course it should fail. Passenger headrest will be required for the test and rear number plate lights.
See you in the big shed in less than 2 weeks. Regards Stiggy
I admit I was a little sceptical from some of the teaser photos but that, that looks...well...stunning. And for the money, wow.
I'm sure Andy at ASM will be pleased, lol! I know it's a different market technically but his exclusivity has just gone out the window with the bath water!
Are we all invited to yours and Steffan's impending nuptials? :-D
I'm sure Andy at ASM will be pleased, lol! I know it's a different market technically but his exclusivity has just gone out the window with the bath water!
Are we all invited to yours and Steffan's impending nuptials? :-D
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