Discussion
I’m considering building an Ultima, and have been reading this forum for a while now, and am slowly getting to understand just how these cars go together.
Now I live in Melbourne Australia and will have to use a modern engine block LS2 and freighting the stuff over is going to cost a bit.
Ill obviously need the following
Chassis
Body
Windscreen
Side windows
Locks, latches and hinges
Fuel caps fillers
Windscreen wipers and wiper motor
So what I would like to know is
What are the minimum parts that you would buy from Ultima?
What parts could I get away with buying latter?
What parts would you just not even bother buying else ware, i.e. there is no other substitute, and it wouldn’t even be worth trying to make your own?
In short what other stuff should I include in the first order listed above?
Ta
Ryan
Now I live in Melbourne Australia and will have to use a modern engine block LS2 and freighting the stuff over is going to cost a bit.
Ill obviously need the following
Chassis
Body
Windscreen
Side windows
Locks, latches and hinges
Fuel caps fillers
Windscreen wipers and wiper motor
So what I would like to know is
What are the minimum parts that you would buy from Ultima?
What parts could I get away with buying latter?
What parts would you just not even bother buying else ware, i.e. there is no other substitute, and it wouldn’t even be worth trying to make your own?
In short what other stuff should I include in the first order listed above?
Ta
Ryan
Your first move has to be to mail the factory and find the shipping cost. I believe shipping to the US is free so maybe the same applies down under.
Everything you could want will go in the one, custom designed, packing case so you do not want to have more than one delivery if you can avoid it. I doubt the cost of shipping would vary much dependant on how much or little you put in your first order.
Consider carefully how much each item will cost locally and don’t ignore the fixings and fittings as these are usually included in a factory option. A cooling system for instance comes as 150 pieces and a steering rack 46 pieces.
Order
• Chassis, suspension, hubs.
• Body
• Windscreen
• Side windows, headlight covers
• Locks, latches and hinges
• Fuel caps fillers
• Windscreen wipers and wiper motor
• Pedals and maybe master cylinders although you should be able to find the cylinders locally.
• Steering rack & column
• Front to rear cooling water pipes. These are alloy and formed into some quite strange shapes so would be a pain to do yourself.
• Fuel tanks? They are foam filled for safety
• Wiring loom. You will change much of it for your engine choice and instruments but unless wiring comes easy to you then it is a good place to start.
• Mirrors
• Headlights. The Perspex covers are shaped for this set of lights.
Options
• If your ok with metalwork then you could source your own ali. for the chassis skins but the cills have a joggle in them which you would need to have machine folded.
• You may find brakes locally but will have to do all the research into what will fit. In the UK we also have to have a mechanical parking brake which is a separate calliper.
• Wheels, again what will fit and what offsets. The fit of the tyres in the wheel arch is very close so big mistakes can be made here.
• Drive shafts. These are fairly special but could be manufactured for you locally but again would require much research.
• Heater/aircon (a must for you) again research
• Rear lights you could do yourself. Some are going for the LED clusters.
• Switches and instruments you can do your own thing but again will need specific wiring changes.
That’s all I can think of at the mo but I’m sure I will think of something else immediately I hit submit.
Steve
Everything you could want will go in the one, custom designed, packing case so you do not want to have more than one delivery if you can avoid it. I doubt the cost of shipping would vary much dependant on how much or little you put in your first order.
Consider carefully how much each item will cost locally and don’t ignore the fixings and fittings as these are usually included in a factory option. A cooling system for instance comes as 150 pieces and a steering rack 46 pieces.
Order
• Chassis, suspension, hubs.
• Body
• Windscreen
• Side windows, headlight covers
• Locks, latches and hinges
• Fuel caps fillers
• Windscreen wipers and wiper motor
• Pedals and maybe master cylinders although you should be able to find the cylinders locally.
• Steering rack & column
• Front to rear cooling water pipes. These are alloy and formed into some quite strange shapes so would be a pain to do yourself.
• Fuel tanks? They are foam filled for safety
• Wiring loom. You will change much of it for your engine choice and instruments but unless wiring comes easy to you then it is a good place to start.
• Mirrors
• Headlights. The Perspex covers are shaped for this set of lights.
Options
• If your ok with metalwork then you could source your own ali. for the chassis skins but the cills have a joggle in them which you would need to have machine folded.
• You may find brakes locally but will have to do all the research into what will fit. In the UK we also have to have a mechanical parking brake which is a separate calliper.
• Wheels, again what will fit and what offsets. The fit of the tyres in the wheel arch is very close so big mistakes can be made here.
• Drive shafts. These are fairly special but could be manufactured for you locally but again would require much research.
• Heater/aircon (a must for you) again research
• Rear lights you could do yourself. Some are going for the LED clusters.
• Switches and instruments you can do your own thing but again will need specific wiring changes.
That’s all I can think of at the mo but I’m sure I will think of something else immediately I hit submit.
Steve
Edited by steve_d on Tuesday 19th September 16:10
Thanks for that Steve
I wasn’t aware it was for safety reasons, thought it was to prevent fuel sloshing and running away from the pick up point. How does it work from a safety point of view
Cool, would have missed that and its obviously essential to the look and quality of the finished product
Will add the sill covers as well
Upon reflection I cant believe I missed these !
A lot of the other stuff I might make a decision on later, after I get the first order. Was going to split the order into a few lots as
- I expect that it might take me awhile to build it to the standard I am happy with,
- Custom stuff may have to be done to get me comfortably in the car
- and to comply with local regulations so some stuff may not be possible
- Last but not least personal taste some things I might do differently
So was basically trying to work out where to start, and try and get most of the big bits over hear in one go I guess. Leaving out the bits that I am unsure about or can’t afford at this stage. Could always order more parts later, at least I would be started.
Ryan
steve_d said:
Fuel tanks? They are foam filled for safety
I wasn’t aware it was for safety reasons, thought it was to prevent fuel sloshing and running away from the pick up point. How does it work from a safety point of view
steve_d said:
Headlights. The Perspex covers are shaped for this set of lights.
Cool, would have missed that and its obviously essential to the look and quality of the finished product
steve_d said:
If your ok with metalwork then you could source your own ali. for the chassis skins but the cills have a joggle in them which you would need to have machine folded.
Will add the sill covers as well
steve_d said:
Mirrors
Upon reflection I cant believe I missed these !
A lot of the other stuff I might make a decision on later, after I get the first order. Was going to split the order into a few lots as
- I expect that it might take me awhile to build it to the standard I am happy with,
- Custom stuff may have to be done to get me comfortably in the car
- and to comply with local regulations so some stuff may not be possible
- Last but not least personal taste some things I might do differently
So was basically trying to work out where to start, and try and get most of the big bits over hear in one go I guess. Leaving out the bits that I am unsure about or can’t afford at this stage. Could always order more parts later, at least I would be started.
Ryan
Edited by ezakimak on Tuesday 26th September 04:53
Ryan,
Make sure you get in touch with Bob (Ls2ultima)
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=55138 he's in Melbourne. I cant remember if its best to bring it all in one go, or in pieces into OZ, you'd better check that out before you order. I know he has to have the engineer in place before he started building.
GC
Make sure you get in touch with Bob (Ls2ultima)
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=55138 he's in Melbourne. I cant remember if its best to bring it all in one go, or in pieces into OZ, you'd better check that out before you order. I know he has to have the engineer in place before he started building.
GC
ezakimak said:
steve_d said:
Fuel tanks? They are foam filled for safety
I wasn’t aware it was for safety reasons, thought it was to prevent fuel sloshing and running away from the pick up point. How does it work from a safety point of view?
The foam traps the fumes to reduce the chance of explosion.
Steve
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