|
I just came across this thread. NeilBlanchard, I applaud the scope of your vision. However, you are proposing to construct an entire road-worthy passenger vehicle from scratch which is an undertaking of the Most Extremely Large variety. You are creating a chassis including suspension and steering; bodywork, including interior fittings, windows, HVAC, all safety requirements; an electrical system for propulsion, lighting, and ancillaries; and so on and on.
Some little experience tells me that dull stuff like door-hinges and suspension calibration and keeping water out will occupy a startling amount of time and effort. I don't know what your financial and temporal resources are, but I hope they're substantial.
I'll continue to follow this thread with great interest, and leave you with one-and-a-half bits of free (It's worth what you paid for it) advice: developing and testing of sub-systems - and sub-sub-systems - is the only way you will maintain your sanity, as fifty small nightmares are so much easier to handle than one great big one. And second, I'd heartily agree with those who have suggested a donor chassis. Small pickups (Ranger, S-10) seem to come very close to being the right size.
|