Now that you have ordered your kit, on reflection you may be thinking, what have I taken on, have I done the right thing.
Loads of questions will be running through your mind. Will I be able to do it, what tools do I need, where will I find all the parts, are there any books. Where I do I get the inspiration from.
Yes all JBA builders and other kit car builders have thought the same thing.  

Will I be able
Of course you will, the JBA Falcon has been built by people from all walks of life, even by doctors and lawyers. What is more, new builders are building their Falcons to a far higher standard than ever before.
You may not be able to complete every part of your project.
Most of us can't, we need help from someone along the way. It could be with the wiring, maybe mechanical advice or the upholstery and trim. 
This is where the Owners Club and your local kit car club and friends come in.
Your wife, partner or girlfriend may be good at tackling upholstery issues. Some of your friends may possess certain skills that could be valuable to you, or know of someone.
The JBA Owners club will help by giving you contact phone numbers for members in your area who maybe able to help you. Remember that you must be a club member to receive these details, conditions of the Data Protection Act.
Your local kit car club will have access to all the local information that the JBA Owners Club is unaware of and the majority of kit cars use Ford components. Many of their members might possess the skills you are seeking. 

Tools
Firstly if you need to buy a main toolkit, you have two options to consider, the price and their use.
Prices range from cheap and nasty, medium and high quality-heavy duty. Forget about the cheap and nasty tools, sold at market stalls.
Now think about their use. For instance a mechanical engineer would choose expensive high quality tools, to last a lifetime. These they usually purchase from Tool Factors.
You on the other hand, might only require them for your one off project and maybe occasional use thereafter, if the latter is your answer. 
Choose a medium grade, like the ones sold by reputable firms such as Halfords, Machine Mart, Argos, B&Q, Index and Motoring outlets and your local motor factor, shop around for the best deals.
You will need
A basic mechanical toolkit with metric sockets and spanners; Drill preferably variable speed and bits, various screwdrivers, set of files; hacksaws, large and small; axle stands; trolley jack; clamps; pop rivet gun; a bench vice; hand lamp; steel tape measure plus the wife's tape measure, a small angle grinder comes in handy too as does a small bench grinder.   

Books
Although there are many books available on all aspects of kit car building, the two you most need are listed below.
The Ford Sierra Manual. Choose the one that covers the year of your donor car, from Haynes, also available from Halfords branches.
The Department of Transport SVA Manual is available from participating Goods Vehicle Test Stations or from the Vehicle Inspectorate, 91/92 The Strand, Swansea, SA1 2DH. The cost is about £35.00, with time limited updates. If you use an older edition, it will not cover the new regulations that are now in force.
If you are using a different engine from the Ford Sierra range, it is well worth obtaining the Haynes manual for the car from which it came.

There is a new SVA Manual due out in March 2004.  
This will contain new changes, which still have to be passed by parliament. 

Inspiration
You may well have your own ideas, but it is also very rewarding to look at other owners JBA's. You may like the way that they have done their doors or parts of the interior, the lights they used, colour schemes and it doesn't end there, what about under the bonnet, some are absolutely superb. Take as many photos as you can, especially under the bonnet, a photo speaks a thousand words and these will help you with your build.
Do not be afraid of asking questions of the owner, they are only to pleased to discuss their car. 
Also consider things in modern cars that you might like to include in your JBA, such as electric windows, ice alerts, various warning bleepers, CD players etc.

Viewing a JBA
The best place to view lots of JBA's is at kit car shows, the biggest being Stoneleigh held each May bank holiday at the beginning of the month. The other two big ones are Newark and Donington near Derby.
Also at JBA Owners Club events and outings.
There is of course the JBA Factory open days, where many owners turn up with their Falcons. If you feel like having a test drive in a JBA, these are available at open days or alternatively throughout the year, by prior appointment only by contacting JBA. You will find dates for these venues on the events page of this site.
 

Other Parts
What parts will I have to buy or source. The choice is up to each individual depending on what stage they want to take their car.
Starting at the front of the car. Bumper, two headlamp units and two rims, sidelamps, flashers, windscreen washer jet, wiper arms and blades. 
At the present time sidelamps can be used with an amber lens, instead of having separate flashers, providing that the headlamps are fitted with a sidelamp capability. 
Side of car. Bonnet catches SVA approved, side flasher use Sierra, door handles SVA approved, external mirrors SVA approved, fuel filler cap SVA approved.
Rear of car. Bumper, rear fog lamp, two stop/tail lamps. two rear flashers, two reflectors, boot handle and locking mechanism.
Interior of car. Underfelt, carpet, seats and runners, brake & clutch pedal rubbers, heater from MKII Ford Fiesta, interior trim material, door handles SVA approved, door straps, instruments SVA approved, warning lamps SVA approved, mirror SVA approved. 

Do not use any outlet for your parts, use highly reputable companies who know the kit car industry inside out. SVC is a top supplier of lamps and seat belts and other items for JBA's with owners club discount. Europa is a one stop shop for almost all parts, with owners club discount. Woolies for all trimming needs. Speedometers you need highly accurate top quality products for the SVA test. ETB and Greenguages are manufacturers of such products. 
There is of course refurbishment parts, but these will be addressed as we come to them in the following pages.

The next page deals with all the options in finding a Donor car and what you need from it.       

   Top Photos Courtesy Of  David Bradburn: Steve Longley-Australia: Robbie Gibson.