Bulkhead panels

I'm starting off with fitting the bulkhead panels as recommended in the first section of the build manual.The panels come powder coated and pre cut and require minimal trimming around the chassis welds to make them fit.

I used some blue 3m detailing tape on the rear of the panels to help Mark the position of the bars before boring and riveting them in place.

The drivers side panel wouldn't fit in one peace and had to be split in two. 

Panels now fixed in place with new black rivets and tiger seal adheisive. 

Kit is here..

 True to there word MNR completed the chassis and had the rest of the kit ready to collect at there HQ in the agreed 8weeks.Using a local transportation company I had the complete kit lifted from MNR in Harrogate North Yorkshire and delivered to me in N.Ireland

Chassis no.190 on its new trolley

Boxes of nice new parts everywhere 👍

Plan on widening this rear cross bar to give a little more stability,the stands have been great so far and are fully adjustable for width,length and height.  

Chassis trolley

Looking at other people's builds I noticed that they were commonly built on 3x axel stands.Personally I didn't want the car sitting in the one spot clogging up my single garage,I liked the idea of a mobile trolley to let me move the car around and even push it outside when the weathers good.Searching online I found these guys http://www.cjautos.org.uk/

I purchased a pair of there mobile stands and addapted them to fit my Vortx chassis,hopefully when I'm done I'll be able to sell the stands on to someone else that's hoping to build a kit. 

R1 engine

5VY R1 at the bike breakers before it was stripped of its engine. 

Engine has a couple of damaged exhaust studs that will need removed before fitting,also a sump baffle plate is required to stop oil surge on hard cornering.Installed in a bike the engine leans into the corners but installed in the car it obviously stays stationary.

Engine home in the garage 

What to buy ? / Ordering my kit..

After deciding against building a radical style car I'd narrowed my choice down to either a mk indy ( http://www.mksportscars.com/ ) or a MNR Vortx http://www.mnrltd.co.uk/ My intention was always to build a bike engined kit,I just love the sound of the high revving super bike motors and the fact they weigh absolutely nothing when complete. 

I was familiar with the MK brand and had read lots of different articles and build blogs of there kits,whilst searching online i came across the MNR vortx,right away the front end of the car caught my eye,it really set the car apart from the competition.The more i searched online the more great reviews i came across for the quality of the MNR chassis.My mind at the stage was more or less made up,all that was needed was a phone call to Chris at MNR.

I expressed interest in purchasing a kit via email to MNR,they swiftly replied with a price list,also letting me know that there was a minimum lead time of 8weeks on there custom built chassis.

While i considered my options i got searching for bike engines for sale.A bike breaker near me had a low mileage Yamaha R1 5vy engine that would suit my needs.After more searching i decided that the 5vy R1 with its 180 bhp coupled with the raced developed MNR chassis was the route i was going to take.

A call was made to Chris at MNR,we discussed my plans regards the R1 motor and a spec list was hammered out to suit my budget.Chris gave me good advice at this stage helping me get the initial big spend items out of the way,meaning my project would only require minimal spending as the build progressed.

Agreed spec list to suit my initial spend with MNR..

RT.track developed chassis,powder coated black,build to my specification,with

  -RAC MSA  approved full roll cage,custom sized to my height  

 -Detachable side impact bars 

 -Independent double wishbone poly-bushed suspension,and protech adjustable dampers

 -Fully adjustable toe and camber front and rear 

 -Factory fitted floor pans.

 -Mounts factory fitted for electric reverse,and Yamaha R1 engine 

 -MNR race front end upgrade,MNR uprights,Willwood powerlite calipers,discs,pads and billet hubs

 -Willwood rear calipers with integrated mechanical handbrake,discs,pads 

 -Custom 4-1 race manifold  to suit R1 engine 

 -Electric reverse kit

 -paddle shift gear change kit

 -D&f balance prop shaft with custom fitted torque tube 

 -Hand brake kit 

 -MNR wiring loom 

Kit paid for in full,8 week wait now before the chassis will be ready,better crack on and prepare the garage and track down the Sierra Donner parts..

   

Garage cleaned out ready for delivery of my MNR vortx kit.Carpet tiles from the skip at work should make the build a little more comfortable:-)

also added a electric winch to the ceiling,Ebay special £37 delivered to my door,its rated to 250kg so should Handel the r1 engine no problem..

Introduction

I've been planning to build a lotus 7 inspired kit for a few years now and finally the time is here to make it happen.

I had also considered building a radical/spire style kit but after a bit of research I fond that there harder to get through the IVA test and probably not that suitable for everyday road driving.

My car history has been a crazy ride of performance cars since the very day I passed my driving test. Since then at s rough count I reckon I've owned around 2500 bhp of  performance cars,including 8 Impreza's,3 evo's,2 M3's and a host of other wacky wagons along the way lol. 

Here's some of my old fleet..