I have been dreaming (for the last five or so years) of building a Locost based on the 5cyl turbo Volvo engine from the late 90's. However, recently I measured one up and found it to be about 36" from the bottom of the oil pan to the top of the head. I was wondering if anyone had any information regarding hight limitations in the typical "locost" chassis.

Thanks for the Help
Milo

I believe if you use the Luego Velocity XT nosecone, scuttle and bonnet, or make your own, you will gain about 2" over the Locost body. It was done on the velocity so you could fit Ford Pinto's without hacking the body work about.

Or build up your top rail. and raise up the scuttle and nosecone, or a big Air vent between the level of the nose cone and the bonnet.

Nice engine, I have one in my Volvo. 140Bhp and not even turbo'd.

the 850 R version was a stormer 270bhp (I think).

Been thinking of something similar for the next car. Really need a Viento ... the problem there is filling the spare space around it in the engine bay

I too was looking into the T5 motor for an alternative project albeit a middy.

For RWD application I think I remember someone saying the 960 box will mate straight up but finding a manual may be a challenge.

300hp for well under £2k and the lurvly sound of a 5pot.

If you like swedish the Saab turbo is very tunable and very cheap.

- Jim

yes it will !!

early t5 is 225 later 236 , R 250 , only for 8 seconds tho.

youll need an adapter plate for a RWD gearbox either getrag or T5 cossie .

960 gearbox is rare as and wide .

im working on an adapter plate , and hopefully after xmas will have my NA 2.5 20v installed 170bhp , with plenty of headroom for more revs .

if your keen on turbo s go for it - you will need some exceptional tyres/lsd to get just the normal amount of torque down onto the road , hence the move to NA from B230 redblock . even on std boost it had too much torque low down .

itll also be good for pootling about and accelerating away in 3rd from low speed because of that torque .

So I was looking at the M90 transmission (the 960 man transmission) which, because of the "modular" aspect of these engines will bolt right onto the 5cyl engine. I have a World Class T5 transmission but people have been trying to discourage me from using it as I would need to build not only an adapter plate but likely a bell and have to rework the whole clutch assembly. After all that the $1500 to get an M90 from Europe seems like a bargain. I am in the USA so unfortunately we never saw manuals in the 960.

Thanks for the help!

adapter plates are £150 from sweden , the t5 box has better ratios , clutch is easy .

$1500 for an M90 , hmm if you can find one , and when you break it - where do you get the next bit .

stick with the t5 or getrag - and visit turbobricks .

Ive got a B5234T and an M90 box for my "next" project took a while to find the box though. you can't beat the sound of the 5pot too

its all coming out in the woodwork !!

now for sale though!

24 and needing a house

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Originally posted by Volvorsport
yes it will !!

early t5 is 225 later 236 , R 250 , only for 8 seconds tho.

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