New build of a Marlin E39 Sportster

[Mike]

Hi Rickard

May I add my welcome too -it is great to see a new build appear, and I'm sure you will develop a strong following as you progress.

There is at least one other e39 Sportster build on the go - he is "Well North" too - somewhere around Aberdeen!. His name is Cameron Mitchell - on here as "Cammy". He started his project with an M52TU engine, but after some hard won advice from other builders elected to go with the same engine as yourself - the M52B28.

Cameron's blog is here:
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ighlight=Cammy

From what Cameron has described, the kit sounds very good, making use of the entire e39 rear sub frame which is secured with just 4 bolts - so easy. Installing the engine is bit more tricky though - you'll see we've all had our head scratching moments over getting it aligned in the chassis/bonnet!
(- mine is a Cabrio, but has essentially the same steel chassis from which the Sportster was developed)

Good luck, and keep posting photos of your progress.

Mike

[Rickard]

Originally Posted by Mike

Hi Rickard

May I add my welcome too -it is great to see a new build appear, and I'm sure you will develop a strong following as you progress.

There is at least one other e39 Sportster build on the go - he is "Well North" too - somewhere around Aberdeen!. His name is Cameron Mitchell - on here as "Cammy". He started his project with an M52TU engine, but after some hard won advice from other builders elected to go with the same engine as yourself - the M52B28.

Cameron's blog is here:
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ighlight=Cammy

From what Cameron has described, the kit sounds very good, making use of the entire e39 rear sub frame which is secured with just 4 bolts - so easy. Installing the engine is bit more tricky though - you'll see we've all had our head scratching moments over getting it aligned in the chassis/bonnet!
(- mine is a Cabrio, but has essentially the same steel chassis from which the Sportster was developed)

Good luck, and keep posting photos of your progress.

Mike

Thank you,
Yes I have secretly followed you both before I selected what to build of and I can only agree what kind of problems I think I can get into - and I am very happy about how you both have taken pictures and documented all of different situations there can be into this kind of building kit cars.

I think there is the most scary moment - the electrical wiring to get everything to work as before or how it should work... and what and how I should cut/skip different parts to my car.

One other thing I am thinking about is this with ABS brakes - should I or must I install it to get everything to work properly.... I have not decided yet what I should go for....

//Rickard

[MartinClan]

Hi Rickard

Welcome from me also. I will also be watching your build. I have an E30 Sportster built at arround the same time as the one that you have pictures off on your Flikr site.

The best advice for the electrics is to make sure you photograph and label everything carefully when dismantling the doner. I re-used the E30 wiring loom including the fuse box and all relays. I spent an entire winter season identifying all the circuits and stripping out everything not needed. As a result the electrics went together easily with everything working first time. Even the engine!

You can see my build here. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/martinclan/

Personally I wouldn't use the ABS. It just adds complication to what already is a relatively complex build.

Cheers, Robin