Good morning all,

I'm a new owner - picked up my Locost 7 this weekend. As with all new owners I'm afraid I have a few questions. Please feel fee to direct me to other FAQ posts if I've missed them!

1) I'm new to the kit car world, have never owned anything like it before so, first things first, how do I know what I've actually got.

I didn't get any details of the make up of the car in the paperwork when I bought it. Obviously this causes some slight problems as when it needs parts I'll need to know what pads or discs or master Cylinder etc etc etc.

I know it has a 1.3 (1298cc) the previous owner thought Ford, and I know on the logbook it says it's a Locost 7 and it was built in 2005. I bought a few books already including a buyers guide, so I think I've got a live rear axle but other than that..... where do I even begin!

2) Priority 1 is to get a decent cover for the car. I read good things about the Storm Car covers - it's probably more than I need, but I'd rather hit it hard and have a good breathable cover as I'll probably only get the car out a couple of times a month. I'm going back and forth with the retailer and they have said I need either the Caterham or Westfield cover depending on how my locost's dimensions compare to those two models. That's not really helping me!

Thanks in advance for the advice.

If anyone is based in the Isle of Man and can spare me a couple of minutes to look over the car that would be much appreciated!

Cheers

[Edited on 28/9/16 by tobymanx]

Congrats on your purchase!

I would post some pictures up of the engine bay, gearbox, hubs upright and rear axle and a general overall picture. The folk on here will tell you exactly what you have got

Welcome to the madhouse.

welcome to the mad-house!

There is so much knowledge here it is bursting at the seams

looking forward to the pictures,. you never know, the builder may well still be on here

I will get photos of all as instructed!

In the interim - I found this online before I bought the car - which comes from when it was sold you the previous owner:
http://www.kitcar-trader.co.uk/locost-for-sale/locost-1300-xflow

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=gal&user=BKLOCO

I don't know if its the same car but BKLOCO refers to it as the 'Flying Banana'

[Edited on 27/9/16 by Irony]

Parts of it look similar - and others don't

I suppose that's typical - subsequent owners add their "stamp"

I have a cover on my locost that was originally for a mazda mx5. Elasticated front and rear and it fits perfectly.

Ok hopefully we have some pictures of the car, engine bay and rear axle to help identify precisely what it is!

Any input gratefully received!

quote:

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Originally posted by Irony
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=gal&user=BKLOCO

I don't know if its the same car but BKLOCO refers to it as the 'Flying Banana'

[Edited on 27/9/16 by Irony]

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Would anyone else like to educate me on what it might be - what the engine/axle etc look like or the size of cover required?

It's a crossflow engine,and live rear axle.

Think you will need better /closer pics of parts of chassis etc to identify it.

Not an MK Indy nose and scuttle looks wrong for an MK too.

Nose looks like it's from a Cateringvan, mouth of mine was slightly lopsided on one side if you studied it carefully and that looks the same unless it's the angle of the picture.

Looks pretty straight forward. From your pics, it looks built from a donor escort 1.3, inertia starter so may be earlier one. Does it have 4 gears? Handbrake also escort, rear axle/brakes at a guess may be escort too. Front hubs/brakes probably cortina with transit van track rod end as top wishbone link. I wouldn't start buying anything for it til someone has a good look over it first. I wouldn't buy anything Westfield/Caterham as their stuff can be very expensive. Keep the pictures coming.

I know the IOM have different systems,
if I look up LHN148P, it lists it as escort,last taxed (gb) 1989

Vehicle details

Vehicle make FORD
Date of first registration 21 November 1975
Year of manufacture 1975
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1298cc
CO₂Emissions Not available
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Not taxed
Vehicle colour BLACK
Vehicle type approval Not available
Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY

edit: Welcome!, also hn reg is Darlington.

[Edited on 28/9/16 by gremlin1234]

Does it have a VIN number on the chassis at all. It looks like it's never been SVA/IVA'd and still registered as the donor car, which is not good.

quote:

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Originally posted by RoadkillUK
Does it have a VIN number on the chassis at all. It looks like it's never been SVA/IVA'd and still registered as the donor car, which is not good.

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code:
 I know on the logbook it says it's a Locost 7 and it was built in 2005.

Good, I missed that it was on the Isle of Man, I was expecting the worst there.

quote:

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Originally posted by RoadkillUK
Good, I missed that it was on the Isle of Man, I was expecting the worst there.

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quote:

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Originally posted by benchmark51
Looks pretty straight forward. From your pics, it looks built from a donor escort 1.3, inertia starter so may be earlier one. Does it have 4 gears? Handbrake also escort, rear axle/brakes at a guess may be escort too. Front hubs/brakes probably cortina with transit van track rod end as top wishbone link. I wouldn't start buying anything for it til someone has a good look over it first. I wouldn't buy anything Westfield/Caterham as their stuff can be very expensive. Keep the pictures coming.

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quote:

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Originally posted by CosKev3

quote:

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Originally posted by RoadkillUK
Good, I missed that it was on the Isle of Man, I was expecting the worst there.

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It states in the OP's first post he has the logbook and it's a Locost built in 2005!
Stop the scare mongering!

[Edited on 29/9/16 by CosKev3]

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Does anyone want to have a guess at if a Westfield or Caterham cover would fit best?

a tiny amount of research on my part found this (on a Subaru forum):

For Caterhams:
Overall length:
Roadsport / Classic: 3380mm
Superlights: 3100mm (no spare wheel you see!!)
SV (fatboys version): 3530mm

Overall Width:
Roadsport / Classic / Superlight: 1575mm
SV (fatboys version): 1685mm

All Westfields seem to be one size:
Overall length: 3540mm
Overall width: 1560mm

If it really is that standard I'll just get my tape measure out!

I have heard that quaife is good, but have no experience of them personally. Gearbox expert needed here.

As your new to this, you need to decide what you want the car for. A road car with a few comforts(radio, heater ect) or a track car, lightened and tuned to the hilt. Or maybe something in between? It is so easy to spend money on stuff you find you don't actually
need.

Mine was built as a 1300 xflow, 4 speeds, no roof or screen and it was great, but I found long drives missing that extra gear so in went a type 9 gearbox. Got fed up with eating flies so on went a screen. A heavy downpour had me getting free colonic irrigation so I made drain holes in the floor and got a roof. Struggled to keep up with other sevens sometimes, so in went the 2L pinto,FR32 cam, light flyweel and twin dellorto's. Not the fastest upgrade by a long shot but quick enough for my purpose.

quote:

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Originally posted by benchmark51
I have heard that quaife is good, but have no experience of them personally. Gearbox expert needed here.

As your new to this, you need to decide what you want the car for. A road car with a few comforts(radio, heater ect) or a track car, lightened and tuned to the hilt. Or maybe something in between? It is so easy to spend money on stuff you find you don't actually
need.

Mine was built as a 1300 xflow, 4 speeds, no roof or screen and it was great, but I found long drives missing that extra gear so in went a type 9 gearbox. Got fed up with eating flies so on went a screen. A heavy downpour had me getting free colonic irrigation so I made drain holes in the floor and got a roof. Struggled to keep up with other sevens sometimes, so in went the 2L pinto,FR32 cam, light flyweel and twin dellorto's. Not the fastest upgrade by a long shot but quick enough for my purpose.

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Yes, it is quite heavy. Mine as a xflow weighed 630kg, with me in it, full fuel tank, spare wheel and a tool bag. Was quite nippy, could just hit 100mph but could do it uphill as well. The advantage was good handling, but could be easily caught on a straight by 'Mavis in a Corsa'. Some fun derived from 'old fellas' waving and clapping their hands as you drive by and schoolkids screaming their approval.

I made the decision to stay 'old school' and not go the ECU route and the pinto is a good old engine for that. I have a Ford ST170 car sat here as I was going to use the engine, but haven't got round to it. At 65 I probably won't either.

quote:

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Originally posted by benchmark51At 65 I probably won't either.

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I usually refer to myself as 25, but with 40 years experience

Ok so I have my 'good camera' to hand. Photos of what are needed to properly identify this car? What parts of the chassis are snaps required? Thanks in advance!

Ps bottomed out the size of the car and which cover I need. Car is 3300mm by 1560mm so it looks like a Caterham cover just need Storm to answer any of my emails or phone-calls!!

Ok so here (finally) I have some more photos to aid with identifying the car.

Front suspension:



Rear axle:



Rear suspension:





Engine:



Gearbox:



All comments and suggestions as to it's origin welcomed!