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New member, want to build a Birkin - any advise?


joshesh

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Like the title says, I am new here.

 

Little background: I am a mechanical engineer, do a lot of hands on compressed gas systems integration and troubleshooting. In my spare time I'm an avid autox'er and currently run a 2006 mitsubish evo... but I am really debating selling it and buying a kit from the dealer in texas to start my Se7en build.

 

So, if you have any comments please share - even if you think I'm crazy or dont think I can do it (cause I love when people tell me that ;)

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Josh.

Search the archives for all the sage advice previously written.

 

Be forewarned, my biggest mistake was riding in a se7en: it has been down hill from there with no regrets. I almost bought one the next week but held out another month for a wide track kit from Dick.

PM me for details or if you go with a Birkin. Also check your state regs depending on your intended use.

 

Cheers

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Believe me, I will be reading and reading more. I have been through a few build journals for other Birkin's. I am also interested in the wide kit. And I drove a Caterham for the first time last week, has to be the top on my list of cool cars I have driven.

 

I live in California so registration isn't super easy and that isn't really my goal. I want to autox and track car that I can customize and make myself for my tastes. I will PM you for more details, thanks for the info.

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If I had the money I'd do it again. I love my Birkin. And the new ones are even better.

 

Many said "Just buy one used that is working already". That might have been good advice in that I'd have been on the road earlier, but working on it myself certainly was a worthy way to spend some of my lifespan. And I know the car better for doing it.

 

I say go for it.

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I live in California so registration isn't super easy and that isn't really my goal. I want to autox and track car that I can customize and make myself for my tastes. I will PM you for more details, thanks for the info.

 

Registration in California is easier than you might think. There are plenty of resources to guide you through the process.

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As Aaron says, registration in California has become vastly easier. Herb has a point about getting to know your car by building it completely, as you intend to do. I, on the other hand, bought a running car and have re-built just about everything, thus becoming just as intimately familiar with it. :-) Whichever way you go, you can't go wrong with a Se7en.

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Believe me, I will be reading and reading more. I have been through a few build journals for other Birkin's. I am also interested in the wide kit. And I drove a Caterham for the first time last week, has to be the top on my list of cool cars I have driven.

 

I live in California so registration isn't super easy and that isn't really my goal. I want to autox and track car that I can customize and make myself for my tastes. I will PM you for more details, thanks for the info.

 

Please sit in a Birkin and make sure you fit before you take the plunge. There are enough variants of Caterham that you really want to make sure you fit before you put down any $$$.

 

If you'd like to try out an Ultralite for size I'd be happy to give you a ride in Mine if you are ever up in Daly City.

 

Finally CA registration is actually quite easy now and there were apparently 40 unused SPCNS numbers in 2011.

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I fit snugly into the caterham superlight 500 chassis, it was not the wider body one. How much different are interior dimensions between caterham and birkin? And where can you get a kit for building a ultralight, I only see fully built cars available?

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I fit snugly into the caterham superlight 500 chassis, it was not the wider body one. How much different are interior dimensions between caterham and birkin? And where can you get a kit for building a ultralight, I only see fully built cars available?

 

I dont know the dimension differences which is why I suggest you sit in one first.

 

Loren (WestTexasS2K in this thread) owns the Ultralite brand and is the person you should talk to about a kit. I can tell you that the Ultralite is significantly larger than the Caterham. I cannot get my knees under the R500 dash but have plenty of room in the Ultralite.

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I fit snugly into the caterham superlight 500 chassis, it was not the wider body one. How much different are interior dimensions between caterham and birkin? And where can you get a kit for building a ultralight, I only see fully built cars available?

 

 

A Birkin will be a fraction wider than an R500 for seat width like 1 inch or so - there will not be much in it. The one thing that you should do is try the Birkin to work out what seats you want - the standard road seats have a "special" reputation that can only understood by trying them.

 

 

WCM Ultralites are available in kits, rollers or ready to thrash if you look at the order form here:

http://wcmultralite.com/order_S2K.htm

 

PM Loren (WestTexasS2K) here on the forum as he knows all about Ultralites :)

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Like the title says, I am new here.

 

Little background: I am a mechanical engineer, do a lot of hands on compressed gas systems integration and troubleshooting. In my spare time I'm an avid autox'er and currently run a 2006 mitsubish evo... but I am really debating selling it and buying a kit from the dealer in texas to start my Se7en build.

 

So, if you have any comments please share - even if you think I'm crazy or dont think I can do it (cause I love when people tell me that ;)

 

 

This past summer I took the plunge, and sold a stage three built WRX for a 1999 Birkin. I'm an impulsive type of guy, and wanted something fast and unique to Autox. I did not even ride in one before making the trade. A couple of members here (and all around good guys) were kind enough to give me a few rides each during some Autox's here in Calgary. Any doubts I had about the purchase disappeared faster than the smile on my face appeared.

 

Be sure to sit in a Birkin as it is a tight fit. I am only 5'6" 210lbs, and I feel big in it. That's the point though.

 

I did almost all the mods on my WRX, but building the Birkin is a little different. It can, and will feel a bit daunting at times but if I can get through it, a drunk monkey can.

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I will definitely search out a few more birkins and sit in each to make sure I fit. I am 5'11" and 225 so i should fit, there is a guys who autox's his superlight caterham and he is 6'2" 300+ lbs and he had to do some modification to lower the seat and expand the foot well. So if he can fit Im sure I will figure out a way to get comfortable in one.

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I do have a nice used Ultralite going up for sale soon. I just has fresh paint. New wheels and tires. Runs like new. Only thing it needs is some interior carpet replaced. It will be going up for sale at 22900.00. You can't come close to building one for that price. I can attach photos when I get home if your interested can't do it from my phone.

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My Birkin's cockpit is a hair narrower than my Caterham, both standard sized models. Thus, to put my Caterhem issued racing seats (Tilets) in my Birkin, I had to take out the interior panels so the Caterham seats fit.

 

And the cockpit of the Birkin is 2-3" shorter, meaning the steering wheel is that much closer. The Birkin's peddles are adjustable and there is as much, or more, leg room, but the steering wheel is shoved closer.

 

With my ultra-thin carbon fiber racing seat I am just comfortable in my Birkin (I am 5'9"). The fat stock Birkin seats just shoved me far too close to the wheel. So, all things being equal, I (vastly) preferred the Caterham cockpit. All things weren't equal tho as the Birkin makes 2x the horsepower of my Caterham, so out w/the old, in w/the new, cramped cockpit and all.

Edited by Kitcat
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