Birkin S3 Kitcar Build....
Discussion
Ben you are cracking along. looking good.
there are a few of these in the local club over hear, think there are some shots in the galery section of the VCBG site
http://vic-clubmans.com/
if your ever stuck and need an answer at a weired time then you can drop most of the ozzie cluby builders a line on the Ozzclubies site, theres normally someone up when its a wiered hour over there.
http://www.prbaustralia.com.au/
http://www.prbaustralia.com.au/PRBcomposite.htm
there are a few of these in the local club over hear, think there are some shots in the galery section of the VCBG site
http://vic-clubmans.com/
if your ever stuck and need an answer at a weired time then you can drop most of the ozzie cluby builders a line on the Ozzclubies site, theres normally someone up when its a wiered hour over there.
deviant said:
The Birkin brand is very popular here in Aus and very well supported.
I believe they also do a proper composite chassis which is a very sexy thing!
James, i went on a run the other week with a couple of Brinkin's - they are or were imported for a time by PRB, the composite is the old PRB model that was phased out once the cost had reached a point where it was more expensive than the birkin kit i think.I believe they also do a proper composite chassis which is a very sexy thing!
http://www.prbaustralia.com.au/
http://www.prbaustralia.com.au/PRBcomposite.htm
Edited by ezakimak on Tuesday 6th July 14:39
Right, got back today from Norfolk. Pretty successful weekend. Engine is in place. Few other bits and bobs done. We got the diff ready to go in, mounts put in etc then realised that it should have gone in before the fuel tank. This means that fuel tank needs to come back out (not a big issue) plus the rear suspension top arms need to be released again to remove a rear section in order to slide the diff in from the rear. We assumed it went in from the top. Annoying but s
t happens I suppose!
This is one of the problems of not having a proper build manual!!! Birkin's build manual is very much work in progress!! Their biggest market is in AUS/SA/US where they seem to prefer to buy ready built!
Anyway....some pics....
Engine/gearbox/transmission etc etc ready to go in.


Actually putting engine in was easy. We lined it up with the car, making sure it was sat at roughly the right height for mounts etc...then picked up the front of the car and wheeled/lifted it over the engine!! No need to mess about with a hoist etc. Simples!
Before...

After...



Petrol tank etc in place...(which has to come out again now to fit the diff!!)
Basically the tank needs to come out, the top suspension arms released and the silver plate you can see needs to come out to slide diff in from rear. If only we had known beforehand.

Seat runners in and seat belts. Leaving the standard issue inertia reel jobs in until after IVA is passed then swapping for harnesses.

Cheeky pic of Wilwood calipers peeping through....wheel nuts are going satin black once build is finished. No point until then as they will just get chipped with wheels going on and off.

Lastly...pic of the sump. Really tidy bit of kit imo. £500 worth tho! Could have got a cheaper steel one but didn't look as nice!!!

So...after the fuel tank etc has been removed diff has been put in with drive shafts/prop shaft, then its time to dress the engine and then onto electrics.....

This is one of the problems of not having a proper build manual!!! Birkin's build manual is very much work in progress!! Their biggest market is in AUS/SA/US where they seem to prefer to buy ready built!
Anyway....some pics....
Engine/gearbox/transmission etc etc ready to go in.


Actually putting engine in was easy. We lined it up with the car, making sure it was sat at roughly the right height for mounts etc...then picked up the front of the car and wheeled/lifted it over the engine!! No need to mess about with a hoist etc. Simples!
Before...

After...



Petrol tank etc in place...(which has to come out again now to fit the diff!!)
Basically the tank needs to come out, the top suspension arms released and the silver plate you can see needs to come out to slide diff in from rear. If only we had known beforehand.

Seat runners in and seat belts. Leaving the standard issue inertia reel jobs in until after IVA is passed then swapping for harnesses.

Cheeky pic of Wilwood calipers peeping through....wheel nuts are going satin black once build is finished. No point until then as they will just get chipped with wheels going on and off.

Lastly...pic of the sump. Really tidy bit of kit imo. £500 worth tho! Could have got a cheaper steel one but didn't look as nice!!!

So...after the fuel tank etc has been removed diff has been put in with drive shafts/prop shaft, then its time to dress the engine and then onto electrics.....

Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 26th July 20:52
Ben Jk said:
This is one of the problems of not having a proper build manual!!!
Tell me you are joking. Surely what you mean is you left the manual at home and didn't have time to go back and get it, or that you lost it somewhere and are waiting for the replacement to arrive from BirkinKnowing the order in which to build a car is pretty much vital, and I can't believe that Birkin haven't supplied a detailed manual, I understood their products were quite expensive?
No joke. Build manual is pretty much non existant. As I've now mentioned above most people go for a factory built car or a rolling chassis, not a kit. However Birkin are sorting this out now and producing a proper manual as they are hoping to really push the UK market and most UK buyers would want to build there own...in SA/US/AUS where Birkin are most popular it seems this isn't the case.
We are managing as such and have a good contact at Birkin who is now sending us a build order for us that will show the order they build the cars in the factory, which should eradicate any future issues.
We are managing as such and have a good contact at Birkin who is now sending us a build order for us that will show the order they build the cars in the factory, which should eradicate any future issues.
Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 26th July 20:50
Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 26th July 20:53
The manual is available on line.. http://www.birkindirect.com/BuildDoctor.aspx
Ive been to the factory in Westmead in Pinetown
Probably the best seven replica ever made......Factory was opened by Hazel Chapman...Nigel Mansell and De angles
Ive been to the factory in Westmead in Pinetown

Probably the best seven replica ever made......Factory was opened by Hazel Chapman...Nigel Mansell and De angles
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