Scratch build in Australia?

[Tenrocca]

Looking at the prospect of doing another build sometime in the next few years. Made some initial contact with Mr Bruce regarding his fia kit which may be an option down the track, but also considering starting from scratch and getting one of his bodies. As most Australian kit manufacturers are now gone or going, and the Pace chassis isn't (for me at least) what a cobra should be, building a local kit isn't really an option. A kirkham\shelby is still the ultimate cobra kit, but not really in budget. I also love the "Exact" Carbon car - but I think only a few were built. (Check these out if you missed the thread New kid on the block new carbon fiber cobra).

I know the Clubbie boys build their chassis from scratch, so Im unsure why the same isn't done as much or at all in the cobra community. When I look at some of the morons in the past that have sold cobra kits it clearly isn't rocket science.

Apart from having to do your own torsion and beaming tests, I cant see anything that would be different in getting it engineered over what I needed to do for my Classic Revival. Ensuring you have a design that meets the tests is clearly an issue, but shouldn't be hard to overcome if you work with an excellent engineer like Treeve.

Any thoughts.

Cheers

[Towmaster]

If you do it I will be following the build thread....
Other than that... I know nothing about the registration complexities...
I think you should do it!

[sambo]

Andrew, when you buy a local kit doesn't the manufacturer provide not only B&T results but also perform a full brake test and the car has to pass a lane change test also? There may be other tests that I've forgotten.

Originally Posted by Tenrocca

When I look at some of the morons in the past that have sold cobra kits it clearly isn't rocket science.

I wouldn't be using this as a yard stick.

Then you have suspension geometry to think about - roll centre, bump/toe steer, ackerman, etc.

[sambo]

Originally Posted by Tenrocca

As most Australian kit manufacturers are now gone or going

I've only heard of one manufacturer suffering a long term illness. Aren't the doors still open at Harrison, Kenmer, G-Force, DRB, Python, etc?

Not to put you off a scratch build, it would be great to follow something like this.

[Gav]

I have a friend building from scratch a Daytona, I can put you in contact Andy.

[PeterAllen]

SLAP... SLAP... Creating a chassis and installing a drivetrain is 5% of a build. Any mug with a cut-off saw and a welder can do it. Manufacturers aren't selling metal and fibreglass they're selling hard-earned intellectual property which culminates in a complete vehicle, and believe me, it's hard earned.

[Tenrocca]

Peter, I certainly wouldnt do it as a first build - but having done one already, and having customised or fabricated parts of that build - plus with enough plans or ideas to go off other builds I reckon it would be quite doable.

Sambo - while there are manufacturers still going there isnt one that ticks all the boxes Id want. If someone in Oz did one like that "exact" car they would be serious competition for the current popular choice. Also any decent engineer is going to do the brake and lane change test. Apart from taking it over the pits that was the majority of the testing that was done on my car. Just because the manufacturer has built one test car (or not) and had it tested doesn't mean every other car will behave the same way. Treeve has made comment on this previously.

It would be a while off if I do it - just mulling over a few options.

Cheers

[deano59]

i admire anyone who builds anything from scratch im the sort of bloke the more people tell me i cant do it the harder i try to prove them wrong .ive built dozens of full chassis frames for speedway over they yrs some turned out to be fantastic cars others what was i thinking lol.

would you not be better off buying the body and seeing if some of the current or past chassis would not fit it . , paul wooley offered me his jigs a while back when i first though of getting another cobra so i could have saved some bucks and done my own chassis . there must be a few jigs now not been used or at least a frame hanging up somewhere not been used and make the desired changes you want to suit your own purpose . i know sometimes it's easier to start from fresh but sometimes it's easier to modify something that has a solid base to start with .
i will be watching with keen interest as well good luck with it
cheers dean

[albanycobra]

Go the scratch build, I have done a few over the years..If you get the chassis plans that are on this forum somewhere for the 289 then enjoy the process.
...the other issue with scratch builds is resale...but that's not a concern if you plan to keep it long term.

[albanycobra]

Just read the Carbon thread...Nice car, try get one of those.

[Dimis]

AWESOME - Don't let the doubters get you down & just GO FOR IT!

What could possibly go wrong that a little of your ingenuity OR a SH!T load of cash can't resolve?


PS: If you're interested I know a guy....
Pm sent

[muzzza]

Originally Posted by albanycobra

Go the scratch build, I have done a few over the years..If you get the chassis plans that are on this forum somewhere for the 289 then enjoy the process.
...the other issue with scratch builds is resale...but that's not a concern if you plan to keep it long term.

If I could acquire the right body ( and a truck load of time !! )........would be very tempted. Go for it Mate! Murray

[damage]

aaaaaah, you must have 2 former f1 engineers a spare 17000axis cnc machine and a stockpile of Unicorn horn and angel dreams then?

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by damage

aaaaaah, you must have 2 former f1 engineers a spare 17000axis cnc machine and a stockpile of Unicorn horn and angel dreams then?

I'm thinking google, a dremel and obviously a truck load of cement dust...

[Aussie Mike]

This is something I've often thought about too Andrew.

I reckon a traditional style round tube chassis would be straightforward to build. use 4" tubes like the 427 but maybe space them on wider centers to help with the torsion and beaming.

There is a big selection of diff centers axle and suspension uprights available from various donor cars. Holden, Commodore etc would be easy enough to adapt. Suspension arms are fairly straightforward to fabricate.

You have a CR that handles pretty well after some mods and tuning. You could use that geometry as a starting point. Then there are several good books available that show you how the geometry works and you can set up your roll centers etc to suit yourself.

Cheers

[albanycobra]

Here's the scratch chassis I did years ago...must be nearly ten years ago...Never finished it, I had a lot of troubles with torsion testing. Got there in the end. Torana front end and Commodore VN diff I think.


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[spookypt]

Do it. It'd be a great build thread. 😄

[deano59]

here is a speedway chassis i did using a hq front clip ive built a few of these over the yrs now

[Aussie Mike]

I reckon a dedicated race car would be a good option for first go at a scratch built. You could build something like Lobelly has done. Nice and basic, No need to worry about emissions etc and lots of fun. That way you could stay closer to the FIA style. Run a Windsor with webbers etc

Cheers

[albanycobra]

Exactly...race cars are almost open slather on what you want to achieve...no torsion test and emissions to mess you around......You could build a true 289 replica. Hill climb it and do Vintage events with it...