Projects - What would you do and why?

[dydey90]

Next year I have four weeks off between jobs, thanks to left over holiday and stuff, so I thought I'd find myself a project to take up my time.

I've always wanted an MR2 so I'm keeping an eye out for either the first or second generation.
Quite fancy a mini, possibly with an engine conversion for a challenge.
Perhaps an older, four-pot, low displacement bike like a CBR250RR, or a two-stroke.

What would you do?
Anybody got any (cheap) dream projects?
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[Matt B]

Personally, with 4 weeks off I wouldn't get started on a potential money pit project. I would put it towards a nice touring holiday on the bike. Have some fun and see a bit of the world before work starts again.
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[Nash GT]

I tend to do cars, have done several mr2 and mx5s in the past.

MR2 engine conversions have been done and some of them are very good, but as mentioned above, 4 weeks is ambitious and has a very high chance of becoming a money pit.
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Suzuki GSF600N

[MarJay]

I'd ultimately like to build my own bike, but I'd never manage it in four weeks. It would probably take that long to build the jig for the subframe!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[P.]

I'd fly away to the States, chill in Miami for a few weeks. Hire a Mustang or Corvette, smash around a bit.

Then when I get back, start work, save up for a nice little bike.

[_Iain_]

Mini's are big money & they're a shit to work on. I have a '91 cooper with no front end at the moment that's got to the point where it's got to go off to someone else to have half the bodywork replaced.

Four week cheap project? Get something that runs, drives & has test on it & then make it better.

The one I'm likely to be starting on as soon as I get my payout sorted is to replace the 1400cc engine in my Volvo with a Renault F7P. Given I've bent three pushrods this week & the clutch is really close to death thanks to repeated clutch kicks I feel moar power is the answer.

https://i50.tinypic.com/2iu2a2d.jpg

800kg 985kg as standard, I've dumped all the interior, so probbably down to about 750kg 935kg. Rear wheel drive & 140ish horsepowers from a revvy naturally aspirated twin cam? Ought to be lulz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u24190ze4w

Engines usually sell for £150-200, the relevant conversion bits usually go for around the £100-150 mark. Have seen a complete conversion set with a motor on Bandit 1200 carbs availible for £400 recently.

Also worth looking at Vauxhalls with engine swaps - being part of GM a lot of stuff is interchangeable. 2.3 Saab turbo into Mk3 Astra with Calibra brakes & 2nd hand coilovers also won't cost too much & with 200bhp on tap ought to make an interesting sleeper.

I've found in the past that it's wise to set a budget for your project. Double it and that's what you'll likely need, don't take on anything you don't think you can complete in a week (if you've got a four week timescale) as stuff always fucks up and parts take days to be delivered. Do the research & make sure you have all the parts ready before you start & it'll be fine!
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Nexus Icon]

[dydey90]

I seem to remember a common conversion for a Corsa C was to stick in a Z20LET (2.0 turbo) from a Calibra/VX220

I'd love to do one of the stupidly large engine into a clapped out Volvo style jobs, but I don't think Im that good.
____________________
This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[Nash GT]

[_Iain_]

[dydey90]

I might see what corsas and volvos are on ebay as spares/repairs with knackered engines...

I wonder if I could fit a standard-looking exhaust to the corsa so it looks untouched on the outside...
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[_Iain_]

Protip, don't use eBay - Volvo's go for stupid money on there, as do Corsa's

Gumtree is best for Corsa's, and £400 will buy you a mint running 3 door, with four good tyres and a years MOT.

Volvo300mania on Facebook is the best place for 340's. £500 buys you a shed, £1000 a clean one.

I'd aim for something that's clean, solid and works - if you start putting three times the power that a cars designed to take into a rotten shell then it'll break very rapidly. Cars with knackered engines are a bad move IMO as you'll save perhaps £50-100 however you won't be able to drive the car prior to conversion & find any other faults with it (think brakes, steering bushings, suspension knocks)

https://www.gumtree.com/p/vauxhall/vauxhall-corsa-b-1.2-club/1087169053

Prime example there - £300, drive it away.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Corsa-B-5-Door-1-2-16V-ECOTEC-auto-non-runner-Great-body-no-rust-/141439912228?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20ee79c924

£250 on ebay, however the timing chains snapped and it's an automatic. Given you could sell the engine from the car to recoup costs, I doubt it's worth saving the £50

As for the sleeper corsa? Yes, yes you can - 14" steelies are needed to clear the 2.0 brakes though

https://www.migweb.co.uk/gallery/data/502/DSC_0056.jpg
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[dydey90]

What do you mean brakes? :p

No alloys? I rather like the SXi ones...
____________________
This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[P.]

[_Iain_]

Alloy wheels, steel wheels, doesn't matter. Base model corsa wheels are 13" and don't clear the brakes when you convert em!

You might find this interesting;

https://www.corsa-novatuning.nl/uk/PartsB8v.htm
____________________
Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[thx1138]

yeah, I'm getting some rat, hard tail chop thingymajiggy bob from a mate soon, that's all I know right now.....

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/THXII38/Bikes/WP_000758_zpsaee51bae.jpg

[dydey90]

The above is also an option, after some terrifying insurance quotes it might be better to just see what the cheapest bike (or bikes) I can find are and bring them back to life.
____________________
This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[_Iain_]

[chris-red]

I'd want to build a tarty TDR250.
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[dodsi]

[Matt B]

[MarJay]

[recman]

[duhawkz]

[P.]

I crashed my car with undeclared mods.

They shafted me for some additional £500 of spooge

However, I still don't declare. I'd do a 140 engine into a 50 frame, but car wise, I'm happy with just buying something to run into the ground, project cars go on for too long.