Birkin S3 Kitcar Build....
Discussion
Mini update!
Quite alot done now and pretty much ready for first fire up.
Not had many pics off my Dad recently but seats went in today. I'm going down in a few weeks so i'll get loads of pics.
I love the seats though. Think they look the part. Also can see carbon fibre stone guards in 2nd pic too. Interior still needs finishing off with carpet etc. Paint/Harnesses etc etc going on after SVA/IVA.
Quite alot done now and pretty much ready for first fire up.
Not had many pics off my Dad recently but seats went in today. I'm going down in a few weeks so i'll get loads of pics.
I love the seats though. Think they look the part. Also can see carbon fibre stone guards in 2nd pic too. Interior still needs finishing off with carpet etc. Paint/Harnesses etc etc going on after SVA/IVA.
Bluffman said:
Just wondered if you have any information about the current state of Birkin SA ...are they still up and running? I can't seem to get through to anyone. I'm a bit concerned as I have recently bought a part built Birkin S3 from RS
You have PM.Birkin SA are still in operation. Been a few changes though recently I believe.
Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 11th July 18:06
ayton 1 said:
RS were the dealers, but never really took off, Not sure where you would go at the moment,
Best bet is try to get hold of John Watson Via South Africa
RS will be doing there own versions using the Birkin chassis etc. I believe they do not intend to actively sell the S3, so if you want an S3 you have to import via Birkin Direct.Best bet is try to get hold of John Watson Via South Africa
Update pictures posted on behalf of my Dad.
Air filter on and bonnet in place. Air filter sits niceley inboard. Hole will be edged (for IVA) and meshed.
Bonnet catches were fitted this weekend. Had a few options but in the end had to go with the rubber covered ones to pass IVA.
Transmission tunnel carpet in place. Rest of interior carpet still to be fitted.
Front on view.
And the Chrysanthemum dust sheets have been replaced by the proper car cover!!
Air filter on and bonnet in place. Air filter sits niceley inboard. Hole will be edged (for IVA) and meshed.
Bonnet catches were fitted this weekend. Had a few options but in the end had to go with the rubber covered ones to pass IVA.
Transmission tunnel carpet in place. Rest of interior carpet still to be fitted.
Front on view.
And the Chrysanthemum dust sheets have been replaced by the proper car cover!!
Just got the latest news on brake balance bars from the top IVA man !
To quote -
It is acceptable to fit a brake bias bar, but this must be rendered
inoperable by "mechanical means". "Mechanical means" includes lockwire or
split pins, but not lock nuts (unless lockwired or split pinned) or Nylock
nuts. If rendered inoperable, a label must be affixed on or near the master
cylinder stating that adjusting the front / rear brake bias may invalidate
approval and breach Construction and Use requirements.
I have attached a link to the latest version of the IVA manual, which
contains the new requirements:
https://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files...
If you go to section 09B and read Required Standard 27, this should clarify
matters further.
So that seems reasonably clear, and a little easier than getting the welding tourch out !!
To quote -
It is acceptable to fit a brake bias bar, but this must be rendered
inoperable by "mechanical means". "Mechanical means" includes lockwire or
split pins, but not lock nuts (unless lockwired or split pinned) or Nylock
nuts. If rendered inoperable, a label must be affixed on or near the master
cylinder stating that adjusting the front / rear brake bias may invalidate
approval and breach Construction and Use requirements.
I have attached a link to the latest version of the IVA manual, which
contains the new requirements:
https://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files...
If you go to section 09B and read Required Standard 27, this should clarify
matters further.
So that seems reasonably clear, and a little easier than getting the welding tourch out !!
Ben'sdad said:
Just got the latest news on brake balance bars from the top IVA man !
To quote -
It is acceptable to fit a brake bias bar, but this must be rendered
inoperable by "mechanical means". "Mechanical means" includes lockwire or
split pins, but not lock nuts (unless lockwired or split pinned) or Nylock
nuts. If rendered inoperable, a label must be affixed on or near the master
cylinder stating that adjusting the front / rear brake bias may invalidate
approval and breach Construction and Use requirements.
I have attached a link to the latest version of the IVA manual, which
contains the new requirements:
https://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files...
If you go to section 09B and read Required Standard 27, this should clarify
matters further.
So that seems reasonably clear, and a little easier than getting the welding tourch out !!
This has been in the manual since the middle of last year.To quote -
It is acceptable to fit a brake bias bar, but this must be rendered
inoperable by "mechanical means". "Mechanical means" includes lockwire or
split pins, but not lock nuts (unless lockwired or split pinned) or Nylock
nuts. If rendered inoperable, a label must be affixed on or near the master
cylinder stating that adjusting the front / rear brake bias may invalidate
approval and breach Construction and Use requirements.
I have attached a link to the latest version of the IVA manual, which
contains the new requirements:
https://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files...
If you go to section 09B and read Required Standard 27, this should clarify
matters further.
So that seems reasonably clear, and a little easier than getting the welding tourch out !!
Was a rare sign of common sense.
Steve
We have got the engine started now. It was not exactly plain sailing as the loom supplied with the ECU had a wrongly made connector for the coil pac! This caused the plugs to fire in the wrong order !! After a lot of popping and banging through the exhausts and inlets, a phone call to the supplier, and swapping leads one and four with leads two and three, we were finally in GO mode.
Ben Jk said:
You have PM.
Birkin SA are still in operation. Been a few changes though recently I believe.
Hello,Birkin SA are still in operation. Been a few changes though recently I believe.
Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 11th July 18:06
I'm also interested in building a Birkin (would be my 3rd Seven).
What changes do you mean ?
What are the main differences between Caterham and Birkin chassis?
What size are your Team Dynamics wheels (bolt circle and offset)?
Thanks from Krautland,
Ferdl
[quote=Ferdl]
What changes do you mean ?
What are the main differences between Caterham and Birkin chassis?
What size are your Team Dynamics wheels (bolt circle and offset)?
Hi Ferdl,
The changes, some of this is the view I have got from what I have been told. About two years ago an accountant bought into Birkin, and seemed to take over the production side, via a firm named AIM Motorsport. Over an 18 month period they got into a right old mess, and John Watson (Mr. Birkin) had to go in with his staff and sort it out. I think the production side is now back under Birkins control ?
Differences - well the Birkin has aero dynamic sectioned tube used for the suspension parts, and much of it is rose jointed as standard. The rear end on the IRS back end is very well braced. Russell Spence of RSPerformance, who built designed and built the Lavant for Caterham, says the Birkin is a much better engineered car!!
Our wheels - They are 15" by 7J. The wheel offset is 35, and the fixing is 4 bolt with a PCD of 100. You then need two different sizes of spigot rings as the spigots on the front are different from the back. The two sizes are 60.2mm and 57.1mm. The man at Demon Tweeks told me that one end would be VW and the other would be Renault due to the size of the spigots.
What changes do you mean ?
What are the main differences between Caterham and Birkin chassis?
What size are your Team Dynamics wheels (bolt circle and offset)?
Hi Ferdl,
The changes, some of this is the view I have got from what I have been told. About two years ago an accountant bought into Birkin, and seemed to take over the production side, via a firm named AIM Motorsport. Over an 18 month period they got into a right old mess, and John Watson (Mr. Birkin) had to go in with his staff and sort it out. I think the production side is now back under Birkins control ?
Differences - well the Birkin has aero dynamic sectioned tube used for the suspension parts, and much of it is rose jointed as standard. The rear end on the IRS back end is very well braced. Russell Spence of RSPerformance, who built designed and built the Lavant for Caterham, says the Birkin is a much better engineered car!!
Our wheels - They are 15" by 7J. The wheel offset is 35, and the fixing is 4 bolt with a PCD of 100. You then need two different sizes of spigot rings as the spigots on the front are different from the back. The two sizes are 60.2mm and 57.1mm. The man at Demon Tweeks told me that one end would be VW and the other would be Renault due to the size of the spigots.
Ferdl said:
OK. What was the reason for not choosing the Subaru diff?
Hi again Ferdl,The options are Sierra or Subaru. I chose Sierra because they are a lot more common in the UK and therefore easier to come by (and won't cost as much) I did think about using a Subaru diff, but Birkin could not tell me the part number I needed, and it seems there are a lot more types of Subaru diffs than there are Sierra. As you have bought a part built car, you will need to make sure you get the diff that matches the drive shafts you have. The shafts are different for each diff and will have been supplied according to what was specified at order time. If you go with Subaru, then I don't know what the instalation involves, but if you decide to go Sierra, be warned, you have to shave some metal off the webs underneath the diff to get it to clear the hand brake mechanisms.
Long time since BenJ or I wrote about the Birkin build ! We have been busy doing bits ! I had to put the windscreen on because I couldn't get the mirrors high enough without having to drill holes in the bodywork. This also mean't putting the wipers, screen heater(in screen element in this case) and screen washers in as well. Wasn't a big job but takes a little time. I have had the suspension set up by a guy who prepares Caterhams. It has had the ride height set, corner weights balanced, and four wheel alignment done. The chassis proved to be extremely square and correct. Grant from OBNS said he had not seen any kit car that good !. I have had the lights set up at an mot station and had the emissions, and brakes checked. The brakes passed after a bit of "rubbing in", they are all brand new of course, but the emissions test was failed.
The emissions became a bit of a headache, and I finally had to have the engine set up properly on a rolling road. The suppliers of the ECU and electronics for the AT power throttle bodies carried out a full mapping run, and we now have a car that will pass the emissions test. They did a few power runs whilst on the dyno, and even though I was warned the dyno in question reads a bit low, we have 181.3 bhp at 7000 on a standard and new 2.0l Duratec. The torque curve is pretty flat and gives 153 ftlbs at 5500, but it doesn't fall below 132 through out the whole rev range. I had hoped that this would mean I was ready for the dreaded IVA, but we discovered the speedo was not starting to read until the car was doing about 15 mph, so I am currently trying to sort that out - then it will be IVA time !!
The emissions became a bit of a headache, and I finally had to have the engine set up properly on a rolling road. The suppliers of the ECU and electronics for the AT power throttle bodies carried out a full mapping run, and we now have a car that will pass the emissions test. They did a few power runs whilst on the dyno, and even though I was warned the dyno in question reads a bit low, we have 181.3 bhp at 7000 on a standard and new 2.0l Duratec. The torque curve is pretty flat and gives 153 ftlbs at 5500, but it doesn't fall below 132 through out the whole rev range. I had hoped that this would mean I was ready for the dreaded IVA, but we discovered the speedo was not starting to read until the car was doing about 15 mph, so I am currently trying to sort that out - then it will be IVA time !!
Bit of an update. IVA passed! Just waiting for V5 from DVLA now.
Spare wheel carrier is fitted as are both number plates. Press stud bases are in place for boot cover/hood etc too. Paint will be happening back end of this year as the car will need parts removing and taking off the road, so seems sensible to do this over winter.
Spare wheel carrier is fitted as are both number plates. Press stud bases are in place for boot cover/hood etc too. Paint will be happening back end of this year as the car will need parts removing and taking off the road, so seems sensible to do this over winter.
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff