Hey I was thinking about getting a kit car but then I realized that they are a little out of my price range being a college student so I was wondering if anyone thinks its a good or bad idea to build one completely from scratch? My issue is that I dont know the exact dimensions of the chassis (how long each tube is).
Should I build one from scratch?
- Thread starter NateDawg
- Start date
Welcome to GT40S Nate. This just my personal opinion, but in your situation, with lack of funds, I would not recommend to even start a scratch build. Do tons and tons of research and you will find that even a scratch build can be very expensive. Most of the ones that are ever competed are done by craftsman that have built other cars. Please read all the build threads and see what goes into building a kit then figure 2-3 times as much work for a scratch build.
Regards Brian
Regards Brian
Welcome to GT40s.com Nate.
Brian’s spot on with his assessment from where I sit. No one wants to shoot down your dream in flames - but many of us have been down that road...
The rest of the story lies within your own skillsets..
* Are you an accomplished Weldor and Machinist?
* Do you have a mechanical engineering background?
* Have you created fiberglass body bucks and molds before?
All of these things roll into what’s required to do your own “scratch” build. Now you may source parts, body panels etc. along the way, but be aware that they’re far from inexpensive. The cheapest GT40 body I have seen anyone acquire was over $5,000 USD and at that, there were interior panels missing and things just were not as one would have hoped they’d be...
Examine the build logs and see where that takes you...
Enjoy. The forums!
Brian’s spot on with his assessment from where I sit. No one wants to shoot down your dream in flames - but many of us have been down that road...
The rest of the story lies within your own skillsets..
* Are you an accomplished Weldor and Machinist?
* Do you have a mechanical engineering background?
* Have you created fiberglass body bucks and molds before?
All of these things roll into what’s required to do your own “scratch” build. Now you may source parts, body panels etc. along the way, but be aware that they’re far from inexpensive. The cheapest GT40 body I have seen anyone acquire was over $5,000 USD and at that, there were interior panels missing and things just were not as one would have hoped they’d be...
Examine the build logs and see where that takes you...
Enjoy. The forums!
Neil
Supporter
Nate, I've built a couple of cars from scratch and it isn't quick, easy, or inexpensive. I'd recommend studying related disciplines such as mechanical engineering of physics. Also enroll in a good community college that offers an FAA approved Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics course. Try designing a chassis & suspension on paper (or your computer) first. Mistakes can be made without penalty except for your time. If you do scratch-build a car, don't limit yourself to simply copying an existing example. Be creative.
Thanks everyone for the feed back and I do understand that itll be hard and not inexpensive and that itll take a couple years probably. Neil would you mind talking to me and giving me some pointers or advice if I do decide to go through with it. By the way the whole point of building it from scratch is to learn and be LESS expensive than a kit car and a prebuilt.
Also I would follow this guy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfymEaRX9YMipm_cNOZXAg for the body work and then cook up the chassis based on the gt40 the best I can. The way he made the body is the same way they made airplanes back in the day... and lmk if there are easier or better ways to make a body for a car.
I am also in phasis with Bian and Randy
You want to learn ; so before to start you own project try to help some one in doing various works on his project ( watever car it will be )
Learn first to weld and when you are happy with your welds ,start buying your welder and do practice doing tools for your future workshop .
( Welding table , Drill table , etc etc )
Learn first to laminate helping some one who do composite with good skills and is able to teach you in exchange of some hours labor ; then if you are not scared about dust , bla bla bla you can start molding small devices for friends and get some things in exchange
You are stating that kits are out of your budget ?
Unless you have already an complete organised workshop ( may be your father ? your uncle ? some one so kind to let you use his shop fo soooooo loooong period you will need to add to material expenses( tubes , welding gaz , resin , parts and harware ) a hudge amount of necessary tooling ( welder , grinders, drills, etc etc ) that will make the final price comparative to a kit price
You are a student ? perfect !!! Start to find some of your young collegues fan of build like you or who's father or watever person in family have some project then try to give an help and set up a team with those collegues to do a team project ( To built a gt40 from ground you will need to
do your chassis drawing first adding the body if you want also to do it at 100/100 . This will make the team busy at least for 1/2 a year or more !!!!
If you are able to set up , sort of "young homebuilt team" so yes you will be able to manage such a project !!!!!
Good luck for the future and remember ;
dreams can be made if .... "the force is with you" ( Jedai homebuilder LOL)
You want to learn ; so before to start you own project try to help some one in doing various works on his project ( watever car it will be )
Learn first to weld and when you are happy with your welds ,start buying your welder and do practice doing tools for your future workshop .
( Welding table , Drill table , etc etc )
Learn first to laminate helping some one who do composite with good skills and is able to teach you in exchange of some hours labor ; then if you are not scared about dust , bla bla bla you can start molding small devices for friends and get some things in exchange
You are stating that kits are out of your budget ?
Unless you have already an complete organised workshop ( may be your father ? your uncle ? some one so kind to let you use his shop fo soooooo loooong period you will need to add to material expenses( tubes , welding gaz , resin , parts and harware ) a hudge amount of necessary tooling ( welder , grinders, drills, etc etc ) that will make the final price comparative to a kit price
You are a student ? perfect !!! Start to find some of your young collegues fan of build like you or who's father or watever person in family have some project then try to give an help and set up a team with those collegues to do a team project ( To built a gt40 from ground you will need to
do your chassis drawing first adding the body if you want also to do it at 100/100 . This will make the team busy at least for 1/2 a year or more !!!!
If you are able to set up , sort of "young homebuilt team" so yes you will be able to manage such a project !!!!!
Good luck for the future and remember ;
dreams can be made if .... "the force is with you" ( Jedai homebuilder LOL)
you write ;
Also I would follow this guy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfymEaRX9YMipm_cNOZXAg for the body work and then cook up the chassis based on the gt40 the best I can. The way he made the body is the same way they made airplanes back in the day... and lmk if there are easier or better ways to make a body for a car
This guy is a good sample of how home builders can reach aprofessional way to work ......
He is using some methods used in good workshop but this is not a "cheap process " ; need space and money to buy all necessary products
the buck uses a lot of pricy material , and a hudge amount of hours and skill
His laminating too ; foam , resin and roving he is using are not cheap !!!!
Beside the fact he is building a nice project there are others home builders suing much more simple process and can be abetter inspiration to you
Check in this forum the built of a Lola T70 spyder or aM20 Mac laren ...
Also I would follow this guy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfymEaRX9YMipm_cNOZXAg for the body work and then cook up the chassis based on the gt40 the best I can. The way he made the body is the same way they made airplanes back in the day... and lmk if there are easier or better ways to make a body for a car
This guy is a good sample of how home builders can reach aprofessional way to work ......
He is using some methods used in good workshop but this is not a "cheap process " ; need space and money to buy all necessary products
the buck uses a lot of pricy material , and a hudge amount of hours and skill
His laminating too ; foam , resin and roving he is using are not cheap !!!!
Beside the fact he is building a nice project there are others home builders suing much more simple process and can be abetter inspiration to you
Check in this forum the built of a Lola T70 spyder or aM20 Mac laren ...
Build a Cobra.
Hello Nate,
Check this out:
So it can be done and all above applies.
Check this out:
Benjamin GT40 YOUTUBE PROJECT
Hi, This is Benjamin, and I will share my GT40 project ! I'm 23years old and I'm an engineering student. I'm passionate by machining, mechanical design and car. My dream is to own a GT40 ! My workshop is composed by lathe, numerical milling machine, CNC, 3d printer, and MMA/TIG (and basic tools...
www.gt40s.com
So it can be done and all above applies.
