My locost build

Work continues

I’ve had some time off work so decided to exhume the chassis and get going again.

Having removed al the cr*p that was covering it I wheeled it out into the sunlight for a quick photo shoot. I span it round and wheeled it back in.

I’ve also bought the new Haynes book “build your own sports car on a budget” as it is more geared for using a sierra.
From the book I have used the plans to make my own seats, from cardboard first.
I’ve also started to strip the steering rack. I have the ball joints off and a good idea of how the shortening will work.

Back building..

Spent 3 hours on the “the Car yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, I’m making plans for the next steps.
Floor pan has been 95% fully welded in, just a couple of short seams to finish, but the welded had to cool down so I went in.
I have the back end to complete and get the rear suspension made so that will be my next goal…

Sept 2004

Well as you can probably guess, there has not been much to report recently
New additions to the family have quite rightly taken priority.
However things appear to be settling in to some sort of routine now, as a result I have managed to get outside
The chassis has not changed, but the donor has lost a good few pounds.
Pics will follow soon

Floor pan is a goer..

Progress, not a lot, but progress.
The sheet of steel that is to be the floor pan is now 5 smaller pieces. Two of which perfectly fir the appropriate holds in the chassis. Two more to go, then weld ‘em in!
Once the floor pan is done, I’ll complete the rear end..
Photos to come…

February 2008

Hmmm ..
That was the quickest year ever!

So what have I done?
Not a lot actually, I successfully managed to side track myself with my new hobby, air rifle shooting, and have been busy in the garage designing and making various air rifle targets that are now for sale here.

So the car.. what’s happened..?

I have primed the front wish bones
Assembled the hubs and attached the front wheels!
I have also welded a plate of steel to front of the chassis to between chassis rails LD and E
Suspension mount at the front has been fully welded and “mock” springs made to substitute the lack of real ones

Next goal is to weld in the floor pan.
I’m getting into the garage much more at the mo, so with luck and dedication there should be some progress (oh and my eldest daughter Mia will be driving next year, a bet was made that it would not be ready for her to learn in - I don’t want a pile of bits - if I should fail it should be a close thing
)

Jan 2007

Front suspension… Done. All bar a lick of paint.
Bracket on, welds cleaned up and primer sprayed
I’ll let the primer harden for a bit then pop in the bushes.
Then I have the top coil over bracket to locate and weld onto the chassis.

Nov 2006

Well, I failed my target! However I have made some good (for me!) progress.
All wishbones are welded up, the bottom ones have the plate fully welded in place.
All that needs doing is the brackets welding in place, a little cleaning up with the grinder
and a splash of paint.
Then it is onto the rear… or may be the engine.. or the floor pan!!!!!..

October 2006

Well I’ve done it again… Huge gap.
So what’s happened? Well, Dad has cleaned up the rear hub carriers on his lathe, they look lovely now.
I’ll be reusing the hub carriers from the sierra, they have been cut off from the funny swing\trailing arm thingy that Ford
supply. I’ll be making my own contraption to connect up to the de-dion and trailing arms.
So thanks Dad! they are great.
Picked up some tubing for the de dion bar. It is 2.5mm x 50mm square section tubing.
Not the best solution but should be more than man enough, it’ll be welded in the middle
in a way similar to the GTS tube.

In the photo gallery you can see the progress with the front wish bones, I’m pleased with them.

I have to remake the bottom bones as I messed the first set up.
Still the benefit is I will be using the larger CDS tube (25mm) to prevent the bending
some Locost users have experienced.
**TARGET** - for me!
Get the front end rolling by the end of Nov!!!
Not a huge task but… I am playing with making my own resetting air rifle targets and designing and
making a new stock for my air rifle… so plenty of distractions available!

Watch this space!
Ta ta

July 2005

Spent a fair bit of time experimenting with the foundry and burner
nothing really to show, prototype waste oil burner was cool!
Stripped nearly everything off the engine, jet washed it and managed to rest the chassis over it.
See the photo gallery for this month for more.
Ordered more bits, 2 x Landrover engine mounts at �3 odd each and a Westfield type 9
gear box mount at �12ish see costs page for more detail.

Feb 2006

….hmmm..big gap.
6 full months of nothing. I guess I have suffered ‘motivation block’. I’d go into
the garage and be totally unable to ‘get into it’ - the enjoyment had gone…
So I would go back into the house.
I can’t believe its been 6 months though!

Anyway, I’m back!!!.
Had a rustle round the garage and started the jig for the bottom wishbones and…
….enjoyment!! again!!! So motivation is back up - hence the update..
Lets see if I can get this thing rolling over the next few months?@%*&�???
More to come….