Build Pages

I have catagorised the build into the following sections.

Pre build - Choosing the options pre-order, and work done prior to collecting the chassis, including the stripping of the donor car.

Trial build - this is the pre-assembly and chassis modifications before powder coating.

Chassis build - all work after powder coating up toSVA test.

Pre-Build Decisions

The chasiss options are shown on the right.

Engine Choice

The Ford option is common. Although they are in good supply and cheap as chips I wanted to try something different.

The Toyota 4AGE was attractive, and having had a Corrola GTi 16v I knew it was a good engine, but supply is not as good as the Ford, and good ones appeared expensive. Although in MR2 form you also had a gear linkage solution.

The Rover K series was listed on the Sylva site at the time, when speaking to JP it was evident that nobody had yet gone for this option. JP was also enthusiastic about it as an engine, being light in weight, and sounding great. I have had a couple of Rovers with the K in it and knew it was a good little engine, despite its head gasket scares.

The K series was cheaply available (Even before Rover went bump), it was being used elsewhere, namely the Caterham, and in mid engine form in the MGF and the Lotus Elise. There was also lots of tuning parts available, and spares are relatively cheap.

Having chosen to go with the Rover K-Series as the power plant, the next decision was where to get the engine and gearbox from for the build. This decision would greatly influence the ease of the build and the costs. I wanted a donor car so that I could have an age related number plate on the car not a Q plate, I was not bothered how new it was. The K series is available in the following sizes, 1.1 8v, 1.4 8v, 1.4 16v, 1.6 16v, 1.8 16v, and 1.8VVC. . The 1.1 and 1.4 8V were ruled out, as were the 1.8 engines as they were more costly to find, even in breakers yards. This leaves the 1.4 and 1.6 derivatives, the 1.4 is a great engine and was particularly good in the Metro GTi with multi point injection (mpi). The 1.6 engine was introduced in the "bubble" shape 200 and 400 models of about 1995. My prefernce was the 1.6 mpi engine in a 200 or 400 if I could find one at a good price, or a Metro GTi 1.4 mpi. The other consideration was the date of registration of the donor car as if it was registered after August 1995, then at Catalytic converter would be required, pre August 1995 it would not be required. Subsequently post build there is also a gearbox choice decision which could be bought into the equation, as there are 3 variations used, the R65 (1.4 and 1.6), PG1 (1.6 and 1.8) as well at the latter stage of production the IB5 (1.4 and 1.6). Gearbox choice did not factor at all in my donor choice, and todate I have not expeienced any problems.