First post, so be gentle.

 

Looking at building a Zero, but I only have limited space - single garage and little chance of leaving a stripped out Sierra on the drive without causing considerable marital discomfort.

 

I am therefore looking at buying, stripping and getting rid of the donor before I get hold of the kit. I obviously have the list of parts from the Zero website, but I'm sure there must be other parts that may come in useful. The build needs to be as "cost effective" as possible, so any additional parts that can be recycled would be advantagous.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Any other tips on donor aquisition welcomed.

Can't or won't GBS supply all the secondhand parts you need ? If not I'm sure you'll find suppliers advertising in the Kit car press.

Keep everything apart from the Glass & the chassis. You'll be amazed what "comes in useful" later

Although its not a part make sure you get the V5 with the donor. You can then get an age related plate & makes life alot easier for the SVA etc...

 

Just in case you did't know...

 

Steve

Keep everything apart from the Glass & the chassis. You'll be amazed what "comes in useful" later

Do as Dan says strip everything out of the Sierra that will come off including all small clips, heater and associated pipes, all electrics even if you are not going to use the loom it is worth removing it as a complete item and tagging all ends you never know you might change your mind and in any case you are bound to want extra relays/fuses/plugs and scokets etc Also keep the VIN plate, now scrap the shell but DON’T give up the V5 whatever you do. SORN it as if you are just laying it up for a while.

GBS do supply all the kit you need, but it's quite expensive, and they can't always suppy the V5. Also, it's been a while since I messed about with cars (about 18 years) so I thought stripping a Sierra would be a useful experience.

 

Yes, I did know about the V5 - (been "Lurking" for a while now.)

 

I was going to keep the wiring loom anyway, but following your comments, I'll keep as much as I can find room for.

 

Will probably still bin the following -

 

seats - (take it they won't fit)

dash and trim (not clocks)

all bodywork

fuel tank (don't think it fits)

glass

chassis

 

Thanks.

Will probably still bin the following -

 

seats - (take it they won't fit)

dash and trim (not clocks)

all bodywork

fuel tank (don't think it fits)

glass

chassis

 

Thanks.

That looks about right to me it's easy to throw the surplus bits away after the build but not always easy to retrieve bits you find you want which you know were on the shell you scraped

Its good advice to keep everything I'm still finding things to use (even fixed our toilet seat with the bar that held the jack to the sierra).

 

I built a mini shed from plywood to hold the bits until required.

 

These are what I have kept in addition to the GBS list

 

Lower steering column

Handbrake cable (will need shortening)

All Clips, self tapping screws, grommets, nuts and bolts.

Brake calipers (when you get new ones these are exchange parts and will save you £10 each subject to condition.)

Heater matrix and hoses

Brake master cylinder (Keep the ends of brake pipes labeled for reference if making your own new ones.)

Switches, bulbs

Seat belts (used one to hang the diff from an engine crane whilst fiddling it in - you'll see)

Expansion tank for radiator

Brake proportioning valve (I was advised not required but for the space it takes up I’ve kept it)

Pedal assembly (you don’t need it but someone else might)

Throttle, clutch and speedo cables

Boot carpet ( well padded and keeps your knees clean)

Washer system pipes - edge trim, brake pipe protection

Drain tubes from sunroof - handbrake cable and fuel line protection wiring conduit

Jack

Wheels – mine were 41 offset so no good on the front but just fit the rear as temporary measure.

Wheel nuts

Fuel pump, filter and engine management (mines injection) and engine loom even if not using the rest of sierra loom.

Indicator relay hiding behind the dash.

Steering wheel

Horns (IVA requirement)

 

Once stripped don't rest until you get the kit, get all parts cleaned, derusted and painted. I didn't and spent loads of time doing it with the kit sat in the garage.

 

If building in a single garage build some sort of trolley at a good working height to wheel the chassis in and out.

 

Find somewhere away from your garage to put your bonnet, nose cone cycle wings I'm sick of moving mine!

 

I'm sure I've missed stuff (and will end up buying it again).

 

Andrew

Very important, if you don't do this you may have big problems at registration.

Keep the VIN plates, those little ally pressed items rivited in the engine bay usually on the front bonnet shut.

Cut out any Vin numbers stamped on the body so the shell can't be identified at this time

Keep V5 don't anotate it as scrapped just keep declaring SORN

Dispose of shell and parts at scrap yard or metal dealers and get a reciept. This will show that you disposed of the remains of the donor responsibly.

Keeping the VIN plates, V5 will get you an age related plate.

Declaring SORN until the Car is SVA'd and registered will keep the ownership and identity current and stop any problems from DVLA.

Photograph the strip down.

The only thing identifiable from the donor on the V5 is the engine but if you have the V5 and the car on SORN you can register a new engine number against the V5 at any time as long as it is the same type and size.

If you wanted to fit a later, bigger, different make of engine it would be worth photographing the engine bay of the donor with the required engine fitted, sort of fitted, more like just placed in the engine bay if you get my drift, before changing engine numbers on the V5.

Documentation started at an early stage is very important so get reciepts for the kit, get reciept for the donor vehicle, get Design weight declaration from the kit supplier.

Start a folder for all the reciepts and photographs, i had 2, one for VOSA/SVA and one for DVLA it smoothed the way for SVA and was especially valuable for DVLA registration which was both relativelly pain free and quick. DVLA comented that they often get a cardboard box full of reciepts and tend to take there time completing the paperwork, if it is presented in a logical and organised way it makes their job easier and your registration a lot quicker.

Last point for now, photograph all the stages especially the removal of the key componants from the donor that are required for the points system for an age related plate and corresponding addition of these items to the kit.

Sorry to hijack your thread but what Steering rack is used in these kits as I'm still a fair way off and still locating a Donor/parts but obviously we dont use a Sierra power assisted do we? I cant find any mention of it anywhere

One little extra - keep some lenths of door trim (the squishy rubber stuff that clips over a metal edge), I've found loads of uses for that!

Sorry to hijack your thread but what Steering rack is used in these kits as I'm still a fair way off and still locating a Donor/parts but obviously we dont use a Sierra power assisted do we? I cant find any mention of it anywhere

There has been several supplied with the kits over the years - Escort - Sierra - Metro etc. Mine has a LHD Metro one fitted upside down with extenders on the ends of the track rods which also change the thread so the sierra TRE's can be used.

The Sierra power assisted rack is a good choice as it is part way between a quick rack and a standard one. Just drain it link the input and output pipes together, grease it up and use it as a standard rack. Several people have them fitted.

I stripped a Sierra and a V6 Granada in a single garage (not at the same time), I wheeled the cars out on skateboards when it was time for the scrap man to take them away. I stored all the parts in the roof of the garrage while I build the car.