Hi im new to the forum.....

[Locky]

Hi all, great website.
Been looking to build a locost for years and i finally have my own house with a garage and drive i can start planning seriously.

So here goes the first question....

Width.
What determines the width of the locost because all donor cars are different widths. and will this determine the size of the wishbones?
Im looking to predominantely use vauxhall parts as i can get them quite cheap.
Looking to use an XE redtop, omega diff. im hoping the omega box will line up and will make the prop easier to work out.
I have the book by Chris Gibbs, not Ron Champion. is there a difference between these kits?
what are peoples preference?
All help is greatly appreciated.
Locky

[twinturbo]

Preference here is the roadster. The locost is based on a solid rear axle not the independant setup like the roadster.

Bear in mind that the car is based on using sierra components for the suspension, and any deviation will require you to work out how to fit them and any geometry changes need to be calculated..

TT

[aerosam]

Welcome to the forum!

The Chris Gibbs book that you have is for the Haynes Roadster not the original Locost.

Since this is your first build, it might serve you well to keep things simpler. what i mean is use your VX redtop engine (cracker of an engine BTW) with a VX rear wheel drive gearbox or an adaptor plate to a type 9 ford box, but use sierra parts for the uprights/hubs/diff/steering etc. that way you can be certain all the suspension geometry is right and there is a minimum or re-designing work to be done.

But feel free to ignore me, I'm on my first build and using all BMW 5 series parts. I've been building for over 2 years, If I'd stuck to the plans, I would probably have spent this summer driving the nuts off it instead of building it.

Best of luck, and above all, enjoy it!

Sam.

[David_17]

I would totally agree with the above post. Keep the sierra running gear and use the vx engine ;)

[Locky]

Thanks for the warm welcome and for the information. I may have mis typed when i stated i was building a locost, its a low cost roadster. i would rather a non solid driveshaft system. i see what you mean by keeping that part of the running gear gierra, ive nothing against ford in that respect but it was a quiery as price will be a factor.
Thanks again all.

[twinturbo]

:)

The problem with these books is that the gestation period from idea to publication to book deletion to final builds tends to fall badly with donor availability.

the Locost £250 book was a joke. 2dr escort MK1/2 's even rough shells had gone through the roof and even 4dr's were comanding good £££ by the time the book was popular.


The roadster chose the dirt cheap sierra.... now theres a growing shortage of suitable cheep donors.


BMW's, Omegas and MB's are the last of the readily available RWD cars.. So will become the staple donor of the next gen Kits.

TT

[flyerncle]

Welcome Locky and good luck with your build.

Your signature should read "If it has boobs or tyres it will cost you a fortune and give you problems" :eek: !

[Locky]

lol
apparently the reason for boats and ships having female names is because they are money pits.
I had a type 2 camper called eileen because it constantly had a slow puncture and after as week of standing still it would lean to one side. that was also a money pit.