Looking to begin my first ever Locost product here on the other side of the pond. Been trying to identify a donor vehicle that provides me with all (or most) of the mechanicals that I need. Things like solid rear axle, correct from spindles, proper engine / trans. I have been having a little difficulty because I have an aversion to typical US domestic cars, and there isn’t a lot of readily available "foreign" models to work with. Thinking about using an older 83-95 Volvo 4/6cyl donor. Has anyone attempted this, or have any suggestions as to this being a great or terrible idea? I just joined up so ANY help at all would be great. You can post here are email me at :

mfisher@williamsvillek12.org

I'm a school teacher so my computer access is regular. Thanks for all the help.

Locosts rarely use Volvo components. While they are readily available in most parts of the country, they tend to be heavy and some question the electronics.

The most popular US donors are probably:

-Miata (IRS)
-RWD Corolla
-RX-7 (1st gen is live axle, 2nd gen is IRS)
-4cyl ranger (Zetec and Duratec)

The US forums aren't as good as this one, but you may wish to try the locost yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Locost_North_America/

or a newer site (not too much traffic yet):

http://www.locostusa.com/forums/

This all said, the Locost culture is all about self-reliance and not snobery. Go Volvo and we'll be happy to help and provide encouragement.

[Edited on 9/3/06 by kreb]

Thanks for the info, and encouragement. As I do some research, I'll post my volvo related findings.

I've looked into the US Locost forums, and clearly this is the real resource. But I'll poke around on those US sites for kicks.

Keep the info coming, It's tremendous!

Along the Ranger line, you could also go for a Stalker-type of car, one with a V6. Since you'd be making the chassis it should be easy to make that engine and axle fit.

I believe there is a company in Japan That will send Crated second hand 4AGE engines anywhere in the world. I'll try to find details if you're interested.

KB58 makes a good point. Whilst the pushrod 60 degree Chevy motors are a joke in terms of HP output relative to displacement, they make tons of satisfying torque, are non-tempermental, inexpensive and surprisingly light. The 3400 version of that engine has very good flowing aluminum heads, and weighs in the low 300s. That's lighter than most of your old British four-bangers. My Stalker has the lower-output iron-head 3.4 and I routinely kick all sorts of Lotus, Ferrari, Corvette and Porsche butt. (And I'm not a particularly accomplished driver)

If you hang around the North American Locost group, Keith Tanner and Ted Saton are probably the most knowledgeable, but there's a good number of other useful folks as well.

[Edited on 10/3/06 by kreb]

quote:

---

Originally posted by snoopy
hi and welcome HERES a site to look at in canada its a clone of the mk indy which is a very popular kit over here adapted to use u.s.a doner vehicles

---

Hello,

I would recomend you to put this question to www.Locostsweden.se, if you wish to use Volvo parts.

A number of Volvo-based cars are built.

/Hasse

If i was on your side of the pond i would go for the Miata, there are loads of them in the US so getting parts is both easy and cheap. Remember you don't have to go live axle, you can do IRS or De-dion as well, the latter being very popular over here due to the abundance of Sierra's. Good luck with whatever you decide to use and keep us updated on progress.

mdfisher21,

Have you seen the Keith Tanner book "Build a cheap sports car".
It's designed for US based builders and is all about using the Miata as a donor.

I had a look at a copy Wednesday and was pretty impressed.

Hope that helps,
James

Wow, Thats alot to process!. Thanks a lot. This info is FANTASTIC. As some of you might have gathered from my bio, I'm going to be doing this build... starting within about 6 months... with a group of pre-engineering students here in a Buffalo High school. Should be fun.

In my recent travels I have come across a couple older.. but completetly rebuilt For 302's. I know they're heave, but they throw down a lot of tourqe. Anyone have any experience with them?

I might use the ranger / 4cyl. mustang donor as a fall back, but I think I might be able to showhorn that 302 in there. Thanks for all the help, it's been fantastic.

Don't try too hard to put a big engine in the car - these things are all about light weight and nimble handling.

A quick-revving small engine (Miata, or even a bike engine) will be far more rewarding, especially when you start chucking it round twisty roads.

Have fun!

David

The only trouble I'm encountering over in my neck of the woods with miata's is, they are getting more scarce by the day. With the US SCCA expanding it's spec miata racing classes by the hour, the prices for miata's have gone way upthis year, and the availability way down.

I'm not trying to cheap myself out, but I am trying to stay true to the "Lo-cost" if at all possible.

Everything is on the table at this point, even bike motors, but especially around here, rusted out fords are a dime a dozen, so I'll probubly end up with something along those lines. Thanks again for all the great suggestions.

There was a guy on e-bay with 100 brand-new 2.3 Duratecs (Or was is zetec? I get them mixed up) for sale recently. They were going for $500 to $700 each A nice, light and reasonably powerful engine.

If you want to go V-8 on a future build, that's fine, but I have to agree that a 4 cyl is your best bet for the fist go around.

Consider a small truck - Ranger or S-10 for a donor. A tad heavier, but common as getout...

I have to devote some time to looking on ebay. And I think that the suggestions about holding off on a V8... for a future build, are probubly a good idea. I could get it in there I think, but theres no reason to kill myself to do it.

I know this is a preference thing, but any suggestions as to carbuerated as apposed to EFI. I know that I'd be able to make it REALLY simple by going carb, and forgetting all about computers.

Thanks again for all the help.

quote:

---

Originally posted by mdfisher21
... I could get it in there, but theres no reason to kill myself to do it.

---

If you're going for a big motor & miata's are non - preferred, it might be worth looking at mazda rx7 for the running gear (if not the engine - these are great but limited mileage & thirsty). old ones were live axle but the newer ones much more like the miata.
The iron V8s are extremely heavy (mustang, chev small block) but a few folk use the range rover (ex buick) though I guess these cost the earth stateside. I expect the newer ally OHC V8s (lexus, bmw jag) are just too bulky to go in a 7. I think the old 5l mustang is about as compact as you can get.
Bob

What's the availability of RWD Toyotas in the US of A? Their 4-AGE engine is very popular in Oz, and has quite a few followers in the UK.

A decent, modern-ish engine that has a respectable amount of power straight from the box, with scope for tuning. It's also quite small, and light.

rgds,
David

quote:

---

Originally posted by David Jenkins
What's the availability of RWD Toyotas in the US of A? Their 4-AGE engine is very popular in Oz, and has quite a few followers in the UK.

---

This is my own ignorance talking, but what the "stalker" concept.

I also found out some information from a gentlemen by the name of mcsorly, about slightly modifying the size of the frame. He's got modified draweing and everything. Might not be a bad idea, after all I am a surly american, little extra room never hurt!

Thanks for any further info on the stalker concept. I have thought about newer import v6 pickup, but the issue is the front spindles. Trying to keep it to just one donor.

Thanks again.

>>>What's the availability of RWD Toyotas in the US of A? Their 4-AGE engine is very popular in Oz, and has quite a few followers in the UK.

...as another problem w/ rwd toyotas, there are"drifting" clubs popping up ALL OVER THE PLACE here. Anything import, and RWD from 1978 and up is getting snatched up by the clubs and groups.

I'm starting to sound like I'm stomping on all your Ideas, and I hope im not, just offering some thoughts on how people are using up good donors over here.

Thanks for the help

A "Stalker" is a Super-7-esque car, one using American-based parts, in particular the GM V6, available very cheaply compared to many engines. Pickup trucks and various GM cars use a straight rear axle with this engine so you can find all your parts on one donor car.

There are a couple owners on here, in fact "Kreb" posted in this thread above. That's apparently his car in his avatar.

I'll have too look into that as well. That seems more complicatied, judging by a couple of pictures ive seen... some have Blowers!

Research is ongoing. Thanks for the tip!

quote:

---

Originally posted by mdfisher21
I'll have too look into that as well. That seems more complicatied, judging by a couple of pictures ive seen... some have Blowers!

Research is ongoing. Thanks for the tip!

---

Here's another thread about Kreb's car, the Stalker:
http://www.grmotorsports.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=7216

After a weekend of doing some local research, it seems that I might have a glut of 4 cyl. mid-to lat 80's mustangs available for donors. Seems to be relativley popular among locosters, as have all the really important components in one convienent package!

we'll see, but we might have a winner!

Make sure to choose a version of the Mustang engine that has an active aftermarket. It's no fun building a car and finding no source of "goodies" for it.

Do your research all up front!

I have a freing who use to race older style 4 cyl. mustangs in an SCCA class here in the states. Hopefully, together we can come up with something that will have aftermarket potential. His SCCA car was mostly bone stock, just a cam, and headers and he was making north of 160hp with it. They are fairly light, and that amount of HP should be plenty of fun in a locost.

Anybody have any experience with the mcsorely 7+442 frame setup?

While the donor search is ongoing, I hoping to et some info on registering a locost.

In New Yor State, my Locost would have to be registered as a "homebuilt", and as such, subject to an additional initial inspection, above and beyond a typical vehicle inspection.

I learned this throug wading through thousands of DMV webpages.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this inspection process in New York State? I know it's a long shot, but you've all been so helpful so far, I thought it was worth a stab.

I'm looking around on some US builder sites as well.

Thanks again.

For registration try http://www.locostusa.com/forums/ they have a section on titling and registration. Also check out the yahoo group http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Locost_North_America/

Thanks, I just registered witht he first group, so I'll start poking around there!

My buddy and I are each building Locosts in Canada with Focus 2.0 Zetec engines (and McSorely-design 2+2+2 frames) and Ford T-5 trans. That way we have N. American engine parts accessibility with European flair (we've converted to Weber carbs from E.F.I. - simpler, more power, and looks "right". 170-180 B.Hp, about 1000 lbs, 15" X 8" wheels...yowza!

I've met with a couple people who have some donor ford rangers and mustangs over the past 3 weeks, nothing complete enough for me to use though. I have pretty much settled on those two platforms for ease sake, and I think I'm going to keep the carb. As this will be a project done with students, I think the less wiring and electrical components, the better.

I have sourced the square stock tubing and gotten pricing, but I'm just wondering if anyone has anything to add about the tubing that wasnt in the book... in terms of gauge / thickness etc. Should be getting the tubing all lined up in the next couple weeks, and tearing into a donor before june...hopefully.

Thanks for all the infor so far!

quote:

---

Originally posted by kreb
Locosts rarely use Volvo components.

---