martymcfly
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 05:13 PM |
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Just a few questions of compatability.
Before i start just a quick hello from a long time member but low poster.
My name is Martyn, i live in Derby and have been a frequenter and reader of this forum for quite a while.
As with quite a few of the users here, the interest is picked up with the buying of Champions book and then wondering which way to turn? No matter how
long i put it off the hankering is still there to build a Locost 7 but where do you start? Every month thinking about it raises more
questions..........and here seems to be the best place to ask 
Here are a few nagging questions i cant seem to find a solution/answer to.
1. I seem committed to building a live axle (champion) book chassis, I like the simplicity of the rear axle layout and i have a spare axle. Years
ago.....ahem.....when i looked into the chassis build, there was mention of some wrong measurements. I think it was something about the front end, are
these easily spotted when you undertake the building? Or can someone say exactly which bits they are?
2. Will a MX5 angine and box fit the Champion chassis? I also have this combination spare and in the abscence of a built chassis i dont know the
answer. Although i have read posts of people thinking of removing their xflow to fit a zetec so i think it may be ok.
3. The severe lack of cortina/sierra uprights is a bit of a concern. Would swapping to the MX5 ones pose any major problems in the front suspension
area? I understand about the hole size difference in the casting, but wonder which wishbones to err towards. I am also aware that a mix and match
approach may be the way forward adapting the wishbones to suit the uprights 
Any help or input would be great and thanks for reading
Martyn
BTW is anybody building in my area? Might be worth a meet up for a chat before i jump in!!!
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AndyW
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 05:28 PM |
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The only question I can answer for you is the amount of sierra front uprights that are available. See the link below....
Give me a click
also you will be surprised at how many donor parts people have lying around, just put u a wanted ad...good luck and get building!!!
[Edited on 16/2/12 by AndyW]
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jacko
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 05:31 PM |
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Hi
If you have the full mx5 have you thought about using the MX5 rear axle ? and modding the chassis
I think the 2nd edition champion book has new measurements for the front end
If you are going fiber glass sides you may want to think about making the chassis deeper like the MK indy [ think its 25mm ] deeper then the champion
book but check this size ]
Jacko
[Edited on 16/2/12 by jacko]
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adrianreeve
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 05:57 PM |
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Also worth joining the Haynes forum, there are a couple of sets of plans available for using MX 5 stuff, may be easier to build the chassis to accept
the Mazda stuff rather than trying to adapt the Champion chassis.
Cheers
Adrian
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PSpirine
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 06:52 PM |
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Yep, if you've got an MX-5 lying around, there's a dedicated Mx-5 specific version of the Haynes roadster. It's all somewhere online
with the mx-5 mods and measurements.
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martymcfly
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 07:12 PM |
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Unfortunately i dont have a full mx5 donor.
The engine and box were ear-marked for another project but really are too much hassle to fit to that chassis unfortunately (mk3 spitfire! lol) I do
have a full mx5 loom, ecu and exhaust and inlet bits though.
I've read the .pdf for adapting the haynes to an mx5 donor (invaluable info it is aswell) but thats not what i want tbh. I'd prefer to
keep the original slimmer design alive, if the engine will 'shoe horn' in it's a viable project and the other smaller bits will
adapt round it. Thats my hope anyway, as long as i dont have to deviate to far from the measurements and mess something else up further up the
build!
It may be just me, but i find this forum a whole lot more technical and interesting (and a lot faster moving) than the Haynes forum, hence i have not
signed up there. I may find a need to at a later date, but the info is not as wealthy as here 
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JAG
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 10:02 PM |
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Hi, have a look in my photo' archive for pictures of the MX5 1600cc engine and 5 speed box in a Stuart-Taylor chassis.
I've got an Escort live-axle at the back with Ford Cortina front uprights.
It all works nicely and the finished car has covered about 8000 miles now
Justin
Who is this super hero? Sarge? ...No.
Rosemary, the telephone operator? ...No.
Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? ...Could be!
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rdodger
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| posted on 16/2/12 at 10:27 PM |
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The car I am building has a narrow tunnel like the Champion book chassis. The chassis is a development of the Mac#1 so I guess it originally came from
the Ron Champion book?
Any how I am using an MX5 engine and box. In my case a 6 speed but the 5 speed is similar.
To use this combo has meant altering some of the vertical tubes at the front of the tunnel, a diagonal support and a modification to the drivers
footwell for the clutch arm. On the 6 speed box the tunnel mods are on the drivers side. I have also tried a 5 speed and the mods for that would be on
the passenger side.
I have also had to carve a load of alloy off the box case where it bolts to the centre spine.
The pictures were taken before modification for the clutch arm.
[Edited on 16/2/12 by rdodger]
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adampage
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| posted on 9/3/12 at 04:07 PM |
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Stick with Cortina....
I'd say stick with Cortina, small & fairly light, usually a handful around on ebay (not hundreds, but how many do you need?!) and plenty of
light hubs & calipers available.
If you can't get the original there's always aluminium ones from Westfield/MNR/Rally Design/HiSpec, or Steel ones from MNR or various
autograss parts suppliers (can't find names now, but will come to me!).
EDIT - I remember now, Randall Motorsport do some good looking Cortina replacements, and they're BRISCA/Hot Rod, not Autograss, sorry....
All in my humble opinion of course....
[Edited on 9/3/12 by adampage]
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