068-071 Diablo Build:CKC Cover copy
MEV Build Pt2
Kit Car Basics Tools
4/3/11
11:28
Page 68
Tech Talk
Ask John
Diablo Build
Warp 8 Pt6
£500 Challenge
Wheel Bearings
Diablo Detail – Sam Harpa’s DC Build Take one Diablo replica, add four turbos, air suspension and endless electronic gadgets and you have a highly ambitious first build! IT WAS A chance visit to the Detling kit car show in 2006 that set Sam Harpa on the course of building a kit car. He stumbled across a DC Supercars Diablo replica owned by Garry Biddiss (which we featured in 2007) and, after a chat, decided he wanted to embark on his own build. A background in marine engineering and more recently property development armed Sam with the necessary hands-on experience to tackle the build. More specifically, he has also built a few bikes and worked on classic cars, while a large workshop complete with a four-post lift would provide a
great environment in which to build this large supercar. The kit arrived in November 2006 and Sam followed DC’s advice in fitting the engine and building it up to rolling chassis stage. He had already bought a running BMW 750 donor for £500, removed its V12 engine and had it running on the bench on its new stand-alone Emerald ECU. Early on, Sam decided against using the Ford Granada brakes. Instead, he took the wheels and wishbones to Rally Design and figured out the largest calipers, bells and discs that would fit. The bells
There are a lot of body panels in a Diablo replica!
Sam Harpa’s passed its IVA test last November, but he’s in no hurry to get it into action. A few details need finishing off ahead of its appearance at the Stoneleigh show in May.
come as ‘blanks’ and had to be machined on Sam’s lathe to get the correct offset. It was clear from the outset that this car was on course to
Suspension is the first thing to go onto chassis.
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Hijacker air suspension was an early addition. Allows car to be lowered for show and raised for speedbumps.
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BMW V12 engine ready and waiting.
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Granada brakes were shunned in favour of the largest Wilwoods that would fit. Wilwood logos later removed.
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68 www.completekitcar.co.uk
be a very high spec Diablo replica. At around the same time, Sam saw Hijacker hydraulic suspension for VW camper vans advertised
Upright assembly from the Granada as it came from the donor car...
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APRIL 2011