capri driver
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| posted on 23/2/06 at 11:23 AM |
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capri to locost?
hello, i'm new to the forum and i signed up because i've been itching to build a car for ages but don't know much about it.
i have a 1.6 laser but i need to sell it in order to buy a van. i need something i can carry bikes around in but having just a van would be really
boring. i just can't imagine a vw transporter would be much fun on a wet roundabout and certainly wouldn't look as good.
what i was thinking of doing (since i cant afford 2 cars) was while i have my van i could build a locost style kit car out of my capri. then at least
i'll have something to blast around in occasionally when i'm not on my way to bike races.
what i wanted to know was how much of my capri parts would fit straight onto a locost chasis? i've seen the locost book and i know most of the
parts come from old fords so i imagine once i have a chasis i could just transplant stuff.
i'm no expert though and everything i know about car mechanicals has been learned since i got my capri. but i'm not an idiot either and
reckon i could learn to do most things.
it would be no big deal cutting my capri up as it's a little far gone anyway but turning it into a go kart would be awesome.
any ideas?
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smart51
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| posted on 23/2/06 at 11:39 AM |
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I don't know exactly but here is my best guess.
The rear axle / brakes can be used but it is a bt wider than an escort axle so some small changes will be needed.
The propshaft will be too long but there are plenty of places that will shorten it for you.
The engine and gearbox, the wiring, brakes, handbrake lever, instruments, radiator and fan, upper steering column, switchgear and wheel can be used as
is.
The steering rack may need to be shortened, I don't know.
The front uprights, hubs and brakes can probably be used with slightly different wishbones than would be used for an escort.
The seat runners may be OK, maybe the heater, possibly other bits and pieces.
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Locost?
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| posted on 23/2/06 at 12:12 PM |
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Hi. I used 1600 laser Capri for my build before I sold it part built. I used engine + ancilleries, gearbox, rear axle (looks better than escort as it
fills arches better), brake master cylinder, front disks and calipers (same as cortina), rear brakes & drums, hand brake lever, full pedal box
(modified), alloy wheels and fuel tank filler kneck and petrol cap. I could have used prop shaft modified but got one made new. I was also going to
use the following but sold them all with part built car: Wiring loom, instruments, rear view mirror and countless other bits and pieces.
I used an escort rack, cortina uprights, sierra column.
Very few changes from book chassis, mainly the brace across the engine bay is moved to the opposite side as the exhaust exits on drivers side and the
trasmission tunnel is made wider to get the engine a bit further back (watch pedal clearance though). Nose and scuttle made slightly higher to clear
taller pinto engine so no need for a bonnet bulge. Also sit engine as low as possible for same reason (lot of people chop their sumps). Sit heavy
pinto as low as possible as it does effect handing apparently (can't speak from experience as not finished when it was sold).
There are some pictures of my car before I sold it here:
Click Here
Hope this helps.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 23/2/06 at 01:49 PM |
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Earlier thread:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=39252
Cheers
Mark
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capri driver
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| posted on 23/2/06 at 02:06 PM |
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very helpful, and inspirational.
i've never attempted anything like this before so it's going to take a lot of planning. judging by the amount of gear that can be swapped
straight over it looks like i wont have too much to spend on top either which is always good.
i'm gonna go get the locost book again (i found it in the local library!) and go through it with a fine tooth comb and get prices for all the
stuff i can't do myself.
i won't get around to it for a while becase of work but it'll give me something to think about.
cheers
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caber
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| posted on 25/2/06 at 01:23 PM |
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The book is fine as far as it goes you will need lots of help from this site when you start building, wel at least I do! You also find out therre is a
lot of info missing and not a few errors. Get the McSorely plans off the 'net there are lost of links from threads here or just google for them.
I'm working on a rock bottom build budget and am still looking close to £2000, thoug hI didn't start with a donor I have got a lot for
free along the way and the rest cheap from Ebay and for sale section here, the most expensive bits are those I have bought from scrappies!
Good luck with the project
Caber
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