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Locost 7 chassis mods ??
sooty - 22/1/11 at 11:41 PM

Chance of a Locost 7 car based on an Escort.

As this has a solid rear axle, could the chassis be modified to Independant suspension with a Sierra diff, with wisnbones etc.

Seen on YouTube some Locosts have Bike engines and some Ford/Vaux engines. Is one better than the other for any reason.

thanks

mistergrumpy - 22/1/11 at 11:46 PM

Can't see any problems why it couldn't be modified. Just a matter of stripping out the old stuff and then welding in new brackets and putting wishbones and hubs on at the rear.
There's different views on both sides of the BEC (bike engined car) and CEC (car engined car). Bike engines are okay and offer cheap, quick performance whereas car engines are considered more solid in the gearbox area for example. There's loads of debate on here about CEC V's BEC it's a right Pandora's box.

ReMan - 22/1/11 at 11:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sooty
Chance of a Locost 7 car based on an Escort.

As this has a solid rear axle, could the chassis be modified to Independant suspension with a Sierra diff, with wisnbones etc.

Seen on YouTube some Locosts have Bike engines and some Ford/Vaux engines. Is one better than the other for any reason.

thanks


Yes bike engines generally have a better power/weight/cost ratio.


There I said it!

Chippy - 23/1/11 at 12:03 AM

^^^ and break more often, Cheers Ray

computid - 23/1/11 at 12:18 AM

Im Building my locost with a MKII escort RS Turbo engine. Ive got an english rear axel and a type 9. Looking back its probably not worth the extra hassle. Get a Zetec Fiesta and use the engine out of there, its easier and cheaper.
So Yes, it can be done, but if you can afford it I would go for a zetec (Lower part cost in the long run).

ReMan - 23/1/11 at 12:27 AM

We used to have a Fester Zetec 1.25, it was crap

snapper - 23/1/11 at 05:03 AM

Just to a a 3rd rears suspension set up into the mix Gavin174 converted a book Locost chassis to Dedion using Sierra diff, shafts but using 4 trailing links and a panzer rod. The trailing link beakers he'd to be set closer in to match the narrower body, seems to work well.

Ivan - 23/1/11 at 07:45 AM

I still don't believe that the effort involved and potential weight penalty warrants the conversion to independent rear suspension on an existing solid axle car. You will not notice a huge difference for the effort involved.

Certainly on the track there will be little or no advantage and on the road some additional ride improvement but none that you couldn't get with judicious spring and damper selection on the solid axle.

kj - 23/1/11 at 08:29 AM

but changing the rear axle would mean you would have to IVA it as you will have to modify the rear end of the chassis.

snapper - 23/1/11 at 08:58 AM

You would not have to IVA it just because of the change of suspension, the chassis mods involved are minor and do not involve much if any cutting away, just a bit of adding to

MikeRJ - 23/1/11 at 03:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by snapper
using 4 trailing links and a panzer rod.


Is that how the suspension on German tanks is located?

wilkingj - 23/1/11 at 05:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by snapper
using 4 trailing links and a panzer rod.


Is that how the suspension on German tanks is located?





Nah... Its Built like a Tank!