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The
Donor
You have various options open to you. Lack of space
may prevent you from stripping down a car.
New regulations are making it increasingly difficult to
rid yourself of the remaining shell. However the bonus
here is that the cars are becoming cheaper and you can
cut your donor up to transport it to a scrap dealer.
Other alternatives are to buy a Donor Package. this is
all the parts you need already stripped from the Sierra.
JBA does such a package
Email them for a
price.
Another Donor Package specialist is KitFit who supply
reconditioned parts for kit car builders, telephone
contact number is 01636-893-453. Another source is your
local vehicle dismantler, but be wary of buying a
written off vehicle, always ask for the log book, see
below.

New Regulations
have come into force 07-04-2003 regarding cars
that have been written off by the insurance companies.
This is crime prevention scheme against car thieves
"ringing" stolen vehicles.
This can pose problems for anyone building or
refurbishing a kit.
If a kit uses a part from a written off vehicle e.g.
Sierra rear sub frame, then it may be subject to a
VIC Check at a goods vehicle test station or other
government appointed station arranged by your local
Vehicle Inspectorate. This could happen when you come to
register the kit after it has passed it's SVA test. Fees
apply,
More Info.
The
donor car you need is the Ford Sierra saloon.
Remember that the Estate versions is not suitable
as a donor nor are 4 X 4 Saloon Configurations.
The engine size is up to your own preferences, various
Ford engines, Rover V8 and Fiat twin cam have all been
fitted. In fact JBA make a special chassis for the Rover
V8 engine.
Don't
just run out and buy any Ford Sierra, but go for one
fitted with the choice of engine you have in mind. It is
a very good idea to register the donor car in
your own name, this helps with the registration
procedure once your kit is built. Remember to complete
the SORN details, so that you do not become liable for
Road Tax.

If you are using an engine which is not from the donor
car, then you will have to supply written conformation
to your SVA Test Station as to its age, when it was
first fitted into a vehicle from Ford or other
manufacturers Rover etc.
The
components needed are
- The
whole back end, except the shock absorbers.
-
Remember the Bump stops.
-
Final Drive Assembly, diff including IR Suspension.
- The
engine complete with starter, alternator, distributor,
carb etc. engine mounts and exhaust manifold.
- All
the electrical wiring and engine management system
wiring on an EFI engine.
- Side
Flashers.
-
Gearbox plus mountings and gear lever and all
ancillaries.
-
Exhaust System (can be modified) Plus Downpipe.
-
Whole front end
- You do not need
the Mac Pherson struts.
-
Steering rack, steering shaft, steering wheel and
lighting stocks and cowling, anti roll bar etc.
- All
brake parts servo etc discs, drums, brake balance
valve.
-
Wheels necessary for moving chassis around, even if
you are buying new ones.
-
Clutch and accelerator cables.
-
Pedal Box including Pedals, Clutch, Brake,
Accelerator.
- Also
label and save the wiring loom if you are going to use
part of it later, as you do not need it all, remember
the reversing lamp cable on gearbox.
- Plus
electric radiator fan if fitted and Fuse box.
-
Battery and Coil.
-
Interior door lock handles and connecting rods, you
may want to use them.
-
Centre Console you may or may not want to use it.
- Keep
the radiator and hoses plus heater hoses, use radiator
as part exchange.
-
Bonnet Stay use this to make stays for the Falcon.
- VIN
Plate or details from it. Handy if you have to order
new cables etc.
Some
builders use the original Sierra instruments etc. rather
than individual units and blend them in behind their
wooden dashboard.
If
possible try driving the Sierra around for a while, to
test it out, to ascertain it's mechanical condition
before you strip it down. Remember that the car must be
legal for the road, in order to do this.
Cleaning Donor Parts
Once
you have stripped all the parts including engine &
gearbox you will have to use a degreaser, to clean the
parts.
Remember to block off all entry
holes into the engine.
I used shrink rap and
polythene bags held on with masking tape and left the
old spark plugs in place.
You can
buy degreasing agents from Halfords, products such as
"Gunk" is a good one, this can be brushed or sprayed on,
then leave it a while to get to work, before washing off
with water. If you have one of these Power Washers use
this to wash off the Gunk.
Next
is to use various sizes of wire cup brushes on an
electric drill and a wire hand brush to clean up and
de-rust the front & rear assemblies. Alternatively you
can have these parts sand blasted, which will produce
far better results.
These were then painted with undercoat and finally with
black enamel.
Many builders have these parts Powder coated.
Recondition
It
is advisable to refurbished all the brake parts with new
components. If the engine is sound, always renew the
cambelt or timing chain along with the fan belt. clutch
plate & thrust bearing.
You may also want to fit a new alternator and starter
motor. For anybody living in central Scotland I would
recommend Shandon Electrical at Bellshill Industrial
Estate. Tel: 01698 843602 for alternators and starter
motors. For other areas visit your local motor factor.
The steering rack is another item that you should
consider renewing, cost is about £30.00p from a motor
factor.
You will usually find motor factors in an industrial
estate near you.
More information about the Donor strip down below.

Save on
Parts
If the
firm you are employed with has their own vehicle fleet
and the fleet is maintained in your company's workshops.
Ask your fleet engineer or mechanic to order your parts.
He will get them cheaper than your company does.
Here is how it works, your company gets a discount on
the goods they buy, the more they buy the bigger the
discount. The firm supplying them wants your firms
business and they want to keep it. So they keep in with
the mechanic, fleet engineer or stores person and allow
him maximum discount on parts for his own use.
The
next page deals with collecting your Kit.
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Photos Courtesy Of David Bradburn and Doug Philp. |