Birkin S3 Kitcar Build....

[deviant]

Should be done by the end of the week!

[yazza54]

Bloody hell, how fast?!

I don't usually like 7 types much, but I'm really quite interested in this, looks a nice bit of kit!!

You must go through a lot of coffee with that work rate!!

[Ben Jk]

This has taken a couple of months so far. I only posted this topic on here last week. Its not all been done since then!! But my Dad is retired so it should come together pretty quick.

[yazza54]

Ben Jk said:

This has taken a couple of months so far. I only posted this topic on here last week. Its not all been done since then!! But my Dad is retired so it should come together pretty quick.

Still good going!

[Beverlonian]

Hi Ben Jk

Pops head over parapet, looks like a great car and you can't beat looking through build photo's.

All the Best
Andy

[Red16]

Ben... your photos have stopped working... any chance you could get them working again?

Sounds like your build is flying along... keep at it

[yazza54]

Finished yet?

[Ben Jk]

Red16 said:

Ben... your photos have stopped working... any chance you could get them working again?

Sounds like your build is flying along... keep at it

I can see them???

[Ben Jk]

yazza54 said:

Finished yet?

PMSL! Not quite.

Next big job is engine going in, and thats not happening until i'm down at my parents again in 2 weeks.

[ezakimak]

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.

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.

http://www.prbaustralia.com.au/
http://www.prbaustralia.com.au/PRBcomposite.htm

Edited by ezakimak on Tuesday 6th July 14:39

[Red16]

Ben Jk said:

I can see them???

So can I now... must've been a problem with my iphone the other day.

When you expecting to have the engine in?

[Ben Jk]

Not until i'm next down at my parents in 2 weeks.

[Ben Jk]

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 st 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.....

Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 26th July 20:52

[singlecoil]

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 Birkin

Knowing 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?

[Ben Jk]

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.

Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 26th July 20:50

Edited by Ben Jk on Monday 26th July 20:53

[AndySA]

Looking good Ben, engine looks great

[Ben Jk]

After finding out the other day that we neded to strip the back end down again to fit the diff...its been done. Diffs in and drive shafts connected up.

Its a Ford Sierra diff btw.

[Mr.Chips]

Great thread! I saw a Birkin at the Stafford kit car show 2 years ago and was really impressed. I'm glad that Birkin have a GB agent, as at some point, I am interested in having a go at building one myself. Please keep up the progress reports. Regards.

[Red Smartie]

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

[Ben Jk]

Yeah..we've got that link, but it doesn't deal with any of the mechanical side of things, or the build order...i.e. letting you know to put the diff in before finishing the rear suspension etc.

Cheers for the help anyway though mate.