Paul200
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 posted on 14/8/03 at 08:00 PM |
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Performance of BEC..?
Hi every1,
I'm planning on building a Locost this winter and just wanted to know what sort of performance I would get from a BEC-Locost? I want to know
0-60mph's, 0-100's, top speeds... I'll probably be building a blade or ZX9R so anything about these or others would be great.
Cheers,
Paul200
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 14/8/03 at 08:12 PM |
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Assuming you keep the weight pretty low (sub 450kgs), and have some decent tyres on there, a Blade/ZX9 Locost should give you 0-60 in 4s and 0-100 in
just over 10s.
Top speed is entirely dependent on wheel/tyres and diff ratio chosen, but the usual is around 125-130mph, and you do not want to go any quicker than
that!
Chris
[Edited on 14/8/03 by ChrisGamlin]
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Paul200
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 12:45 AM |
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Thanks for the reply. Would I be right in thinking that 450kgs is the average weight of a Locost? I've also been told that the average 0-60 of
a 2.0 litre engine Locost (ie. pinto, zetec, etc) is around 7secs - is this correct?
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locoboy
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 08:07 AM |
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Hi ,
My 2L pino F 27 will pull 60 in 6.6 seconds and that is in standard tune with 1 twin choke downdraught carb and a moldy cast iron manifold!
Throw a couple of hundred quid in the right direction and you should have a sub 6 seconder.
Colin
ATB
Locoboy
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 10:02 AM |
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Yeh I'd say the average BEC Locost weighs around 450kgs, some less, some more. Mine is pretty minimalist with light wheels and tyres (makes big
difference), live axle (lighter than IRS), aeroscreen, ally 4 pot brakes and fairly light seats etc, and it weighs around 415kgs with a splash of fuel
in it. My wheels (Compomotive split rims) and tyres (ACB10's) save probably 20kgs over a set of single piece Minilite-alikes with Yoko 032
tyres, and the Wilwood brakes are a few kgs lighter than the iron M16 calipers. I could get it under 400kgs if I really tried (I still have a steel
floor which adds about 10kgs) but I dont think its really worth the extra spend.
I'd imagine that a 2.0 Zetec, with around 150bhp and weighing around 550-600kgs would do 0-60 in around 5.5s, but 0-60 isnt the be-all and end
all, its not really a very good figure to gauge performance to be honest.
Once up and moving, a 150bhp Zetec will lose very little to a blade under acceleration. Judging from experiences on track, Id say around 170bhp of
Zetec/Vx power is about equivalent to a blade car. I was at Cadwell a couple of weeks ago and was having a little play for several laps with a
Westfield Zetec racer which has about 175bhp, and the straight line acceleration was almost identical. X-Flows tend to be a bit less torquey so need a
bit more power to keep up, and I don't recall coming across a Pinto on track so cant comment, but I imagine it wouldnt be quite as quick as an
equivalent powered Zetec.
Chris
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locoboy
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 12:21 PM |
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I agree with chris thet once the car has the momentum there will not be much between a Vx/Ztec or a bike engined car. But i would think that a BEC
would be better under braking as it has less momentum to overcome due to the lightweight characterisics of it and will cary more speed through the
corners or at least accelerate out of the quicker. If its the ultimate track machine on a budget you want...go bike, but for enough to scare the pants
off you as a first car you cant go far wrong with a ford lump.
I have had mine for 3 years now with a pinto and i am at the stage where for road use i want more power, and am reluctant to swap to Zetec or spend
the 100's of pounds updating my pinto so am seriously considering a bike engine.
cheers and beers
col
ATB
Locoboy
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 12:58 PM |
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Yeh a well set up BEC should be better on the brakes and slighly quicker through corners than a heavier CEC car, but not by a huge amount. I imagine
the Westie racer I was having a blat with at Cadwell had a better setup car (more than likely) cos we were very even all the way around the lap.
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locoboy
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 01:28 PM |
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Either that or he was a better driver!
ATB
Locoboy
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 01:47 PM |
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LOL probably, tho we were doing 1.42's-1.44s at the time, which aint too shabby, only about 5s off the BEC pole time from last year.
According to Simon Pullan (ex Locost and Caterham Superlight champion) who gave me some tuition in the last session, my car is too firmly set up and
thats why its not gripping as much as it should do, so thats my excuse and Im sticking to it 
Chris
[Edited on 15/8/03 by ChrisGamlin]
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locoboy
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 01:52 PM |
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Not bad times at all , you should get it set up correctly and put down better times and show the W£stfi£ld boys a clean pair of heels!
ATB
Locoboy
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 01:59 PM |
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Thats the plan, an LSD in the back and better setup should improve things a bit.
Chris
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locoboy
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 02:25 PM |
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U got IRS or Live axel?
ATB
Locoboy
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 02:52 PM |
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Live axle, if you know of a cheap LSD going gimme a shout 
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Jasper
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 03:29 PM |
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Chris - sent you a u2u re Titan Quick Racks, any news on these??
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 03:42 PM |
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Ah I knew someone mentioned the Titan, but couldnt remember who. I looked through my e-mail but couldnt find anything so thought I must have dreamt
it!
Errm to answer the question, no. I chased Graeme Finlayson loads about them and eventually gave up as they still didnt know any possible prices or
timescales etc, and they were off to Barbados at the time, to do the rally, so probably had more pressing things to worry about.
I dont think Im gonna bother with one now anyway, the only real reason I was considering one was because I thought my steering rack was shot, but it
turned out to be the balljoint causing the problems. If you want I can e-mail him again tho and ask, or pass on the interested parties to you so you
can carry on the cause, so to speak.
Chris
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Jasper
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 03:55 PM |
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Chris - I can't be bothered to sort this out either, can you recommend another good rack? I don't mind fitting the internals to my
existing rack if necessary.
The other question you may or may not be able to answer - do you think my R1 can will be below 100Db, cos what with fitting a new axle I'm
having trouble getting down to Goodwood to get it checked. Got a track day at Keevil booked for 8th Sept.
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ChrisGamlin
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 04:14 PM |
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Errm not 100% sure on racks, I heard that the Burton Power ones were made by Quaiffe and meant to be pretty good but dont quote me on that. Probably
best asking the question on the BEC list.
Regarding noise, it will be touch and go if they test you properly I'd say. Mine with the ST can was 103db at 7800 when tested at Goodwood last
year, but the R1 can definitely brings it down below that. The thing is, will they really test you properly or not? When we were at Hethel a couple of
months ago we were all worried about the noise regs as we were told they were strict, then when they tested us, they only asked for 4500-5000 rpm and
we all sailed through!
Best thing to do is to make sure the can isnt pointing at the ground (as this amplifies the sound), make sure that no panels etc rattle (ditto), and
as a last resort have a play with your Digidash and configure it so that it reduces the revs a bit if you are worried
Chris
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Jasper
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| posted on 15/8/03 at 04:15 PM |
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Cheers Chris.
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