HELP - I want to build my own car

[webmiester]

Hi guys,

I want to build my own car. My inspiration is the Mercedes G-class because its design is boxy yet classic, modern, and very class.

First, where do I find someone who can build the body? Can anyone recommend anyone to me?

Next, what kind of engine would you recommend I use. I want to use an economical engine, not a gas or diesel guzzling engine. I want sana gasoline para it can be converted to LPG, and Ill have no problem with smoke belching apprehensions. But I can consider diesel as well. Does anyone have a recommended supplier for this?

Third, What kind of suspension and chassis should I put and where can I get one of those?

Finally, how about interiors and the dashboard?

Thanks so much.

I hope it wont cost as much s a brand new Mercedes G class when done, hehehe

[ghosthunter]

Seriously... you want to custom build a vehicle to look like a G-Wagen? ... Do you also expect it to drive and ride like G-Wagen?

[ZURC01]

Seriously... you want to custom build a vehicle to look like a G-Wagen? ... Do you also expect it to drive and ride like G-Wagen?

*webmiester...... Sorry I don't have any input or suggestion regarding your project G-Wagen replica, but if you have the money to spend, I would buy The "Real Thing"!!........Those G-Wagens are awesome vehicles!!.....for serious off-roader.

Those Gen3 W463 G-Wagen has a full time 4WD plus I believe the only SUV with front, center, and rear fully locking differentials (electric)......It has solid axles front and rear, I test drive one of them a while back (2002) in pavement and it feels like any other Mercedes.....don't know about in rough roads though.

You can't go wrong with a real one.....personally I would prefer the G-Wagen over the Defender or the LC80 Land Cruiser. I'm not saying its better than the other two....just my preference.......don't want to pick an argument with the Defender and Land Cruiser folks......peace......hehe

[webmiester]

*webmiester...... Sorry I don't have any input or suggestion regarding your project G-Wagen replica, but if you have the money to spend, I would buy The "Real Thing"!!........Those G-Wagens are awesome vehicles!!.....for serious off-roader.

Those Gen3 W463 G-Wagen has a full time 4WD plus I believe the only SUV with front, center, and rear fully locking differentials (electric)......It has solid axles front and rear, I test drive one of them a while back (2002) in pavement and it feels like any other Mercedes.....don't know about in rough roads though.

You can't go wrong with a real one.....personally I would prefer the G-Wagen over the Defender or the LC80 Land Cruiser. I'm not saying its better than the other two....just my preference.......don't want to pick an argument with the Defender and Land Cruiser folks......peace......hehe

Hi Zurc01,

I agree with you. Having the real thing is really very nice. I dont like the big engine though. I really dont think driving around Manila requires us to have such huge V6 engines, and even with the potholes, 4x4's arent a complete necessity. The high ground clearance is all I really find necessary.

I actually miss the days when we had 4-door AUV's which were powered by 1.3,1.4, and 1.5L Gasoline engines. They had sufficient power (not too much), and decent fuel economy. Their parts also werent so expensive.

Having something done locally is a "heritage" thing as well. Its like buying guitars from Cebu or hand-made scissors from Bicol. We dont always buy them because they are far better or far cheaper than their imported counterparts, but rather because they are part of our heritage. One can really say that the cars we make are like works of art and history ;).

[niky]

Buy a Nissan Patrol or Terrano. That's what they most commonly use when making Hummer replicas.

Have a local builder use the interior and running gear and build it into a new body.

AMC have experience doing custom steel work, with the Hammer... if they're still around, maybe they'll be interested in doing a G-Wagen replica?

Otherwise, you'd have to have it molded in fiberglass.

Doing a one-off in fiberglass or hand-beaten in steel is going to be very, very expensive. Especially if you want it to look good.

[webmiester]

Exactly,

So who are these local builders you are mentioning? Does anyone have an actual contact that he knows is good?

I like the Alano Hammer, its really nice and I would like to get one... but it is too rugged for me The G-class lines are much more refined. Unless Alano has already come up with something similar to an H3, that would be nice too.

Now buying a Terrano or a 2nd hand Patrol/Pajero as donor vehicle would be great, only that it is suicide for the resale value. Cant I build one using a new set of chassis? Jeepney manufacturers make their own chassis, can these be used for something like this?

Buy a Nissan Patrol or Terrano. That's what they most commonly use when making Hummer replicas.

Have a local builder use the interior and running gear and build it into a new body.

AMC have experience doing custom steel work, with the Hammer... if they're still around, maybe they'll be interested in doing a G-Wagen replica?

Otherwise, you'd have to have it molded in fiberglass.

Doing a one-off in fiberglass or hand-beaten in steel is going to be very, very expensive. Especially if you want it to look good.

[dfopiso]

*webmiester: did you get in touch with DOST already? they are focusing yata on buses with CNG as fuel

you have a noble cause. doing it alone without sponsors would be difficult. mahirap naman if you have this plans for just 1 unit, lalabas hobbyist lang. better if you can make this a cause ang get the support of government. pag private ang partner mo, baka hindi maging successful kasi puro economic feasibility ang trust

pwede rin, contact a foreign lending institution but make sure you have full control and exclusive rights sa project mo

[webmiester]

*webmiester: did you get in touch with DOST already? they are focusing yata on buses with CNG as fuel

you have a noble cause. doing it alone without sponsors would be difficult. mahirap naman if you have this plans for just 1 unit, lalabas hobbyist lang. better if you can make this a cause ang get the support of government. pag private ang partner mo, baka hindi maging successful kasi puro economic feasibility ang trust

pwede rin, contact a foreign lending institution but make sure you have full control and exclusive rights sa project mo

CNG is not really in my mind as of the moment. I have yet to find adequate number of CNG refilling stations for practical personal use. Will it cost millions ba to build a car? It will cost millions if we are to build a factory, but not a single car. It may eventually cost like another vehicle, but I don't think we will need a foriegn lending institution to do this.

Government support might never come. You can read about it in other threads. It doesnt exist.

[niky]

Exactly,

So who are these local builders you are mentioning? Does anyone have an actual contact that he knows is good?

I like the Alano Hammer, its really nice and I would like to get one... but it is too rugged for me The G-class lines are much more refined. Unless Alano has already come up with something similar to an H3, that would be nice too.

Now buying a Terrano or a 2nd hand Patrol/Pajero as donor vehicle would be great, only that it is suicide for the resale value. Cant I build one using a new set of chassis? Jeepney manufacturers make their own chassis, can these be used for something like this?

Jeepney ladder frames are heavy and crude. Buy a dead Patrol or Terrano and you already get a ladder frame attached to a decnt body. All you have to focus on is recladding the body to make it look like a G-Wagen.

Too bad he isn't around. If I recall, Dprox's car was made from the ground up (secondhand engine chassis, bespoke design), but the metalwork cost him a bit.

[webmiester]

Hi Nicky,

Alright, Ill look for something like that. I was also thinking of the Anfra's chassis. I wonder if FMC still has or can still make one of those. Oo nga, Dprox's car was made from scratch, Maganda nga to find his suppliers, it will save me some time and effort.

I actually came accross an Advertisement for an ANFRA Special Edition AUV on an online classified ad website (I dont know if we are allowed to mention it here). It was an old model, but it was a 5-door Anfra with a 1.4L Mazda Engine. That's acutally more or less the configuration I like

[donbuggy]

Too bad he isn't around. If I recall, Dprox's car was made from the ground up (secondhand engine chassis, bespoke design), but the metalwork cost him a bit.

Dprox's Chokaran.

[Phoenix67]

Re-inventing a wheel is an ambitous endeavor... It would be a lot cheaper and less hassle to buy a secondhand black merket G-class merc.

But if you still want to make one...Alana Motors will probably have the tech capability. Nasa Lucena ang shop but I think you can contact Jappy Alana in Makati area. An AMC Hummer cost about P900k....so probably nasa ganyan din ang range niyan. A SWB Montero (aka Pajero EVO) would be a good donor vehicle (under chassis and engine).

[lowslowbenz]

I've seen a home made G-wagen roaming around Cavite. Modesty aside, I can spot a fake a mile away. There are a lot of body fabricators in Cavite, or further down south. The only question is how much will they charge you for it.

Or why not save-up and buy the real thing? .... :D ..

Does the name Irene ring any bells? ....

[ecneret]

^agree. sa cavite dami body fabricators. may nakita pa ko before nakadisplay na for sale na H2 along aguinaldo hi-way...

[SiRbossR]

Ampapanget naman ng gawa at mga taste ng mga gumagawa from cavite.

[nickriingen]

Ampapanget naman ng gawa at mga taste ng mga gumagawa from cavite.

Yes, sa owner type jeep sila mahusay. Medyo may pagka baduy ang design. Kung replica, mas mahusay doon sa Mac Arthur Hiway, Bgy. Balangcas, Santo Tomas, Pampanga. Mamili ka lang ng kung anong body katulad, fabricate nila yun from front to rear. Sa ibang components, doon ka maghanap sa Bgy. Capalangan, Apalit, Pampanga.

[glenn manikis]

Ampapanget naman ng gawa at mga taste ng mga gumagawa from cavite.

pangit nga mga replica... halatang halata... sayang lang pera, then baka sakit pa sa ulo mo yan.... i think its better to buy a 2nd hand G CLASS....

but if you are going to build a replica... ENGINE ng G Class na 290 GD TD — OM602DLA29 2.9 L Diesel I5 (turbocharged), 92 kW (123 hp)yung engine ng MB100 pareho ng G CLASS 5cylinder 2.9.... I think nasa 50k lang YOU can buy it at AWONS...

[jpdm]

^agree. sa cavite dami body fabricators. may nakita pa ko before nakadisplay na for sale na H2 along aguinaldo hi-way...

Many but not sure if they are still into fabrication. Most fabricators shifted to second hand car dealership.

[niky]

Local replicas? we have a shop that makes Cobras, and another that makes Super Sevens.

[webmiester]

You know what? Maganda sana if the PhuV chasis with suspension, and brake system was made available and we could build our bodies on top of that platform. Since wala naman silang nakuhang engine, we can just put our own engine in. Dati a company called centurion did this eh. Pero sa kanila it was only the body and chasis that was available. Maganda if coplete with suspension and brakes natin mabibili, then we can just make the body ourselves

It would mean that our backyard manufacturers will have an affordable, accessible, and safer, brand new chassis and brake system rather than relying on surplus.

If I could get that one, I can build my new car on this platform as well