woodenbloke
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| posted on 12/4/05 at 07:13 PM |
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Starting from scratch!!
I just thought I'd say hello and introduce myself to the forum.
I’m just in the early stages (well I’ve bought the book and a mig welder!) of building a Locost. I’m based in a village called Spetisbury, Near
Blandford Forum in Dorset. Anyone near?
As this is my first project on this scale I’m keen to not over complicate matters and stick as closely to ‘the book’ as I can. I think though, that
waiting for a suitable donor escort to materialize might not be the best plan as there seem, after reading lots of these threads, to be so many other
options. My other slight problem is that I’m 6’8” tall, with size 15 feet so I think I’m going to have to make some modifications!
I’ll have to make it wider and taller, especially in the pedal box to get the feet in, and also longer. Longer I’m happy with but wider has problems
as I have read.
I know that a Capri or Cortina axle is wider than an escorts so maybe this is the way forward.
I guess my question is that, bearing in mind I’d like to keep it as simple as possible, do I buy a Capri or Cortina as my donor, or just a Capri or
Cortina axle and something like a Sierra (more available and cheaper?) for everything else?
Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions you may be able to offer. I’m now going to break in my shiny welder and remind myself how to do
it!!
Cheers,
Tim
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billy
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| posted on 12/4/05 at 08:10 PM |
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HI and welcome to the forum, id say you defo want to be finding yourself a sierra, as thro out the buid you will find you can use alot of the bits
from the donar car. i used steering, brakes, uprights, diff, driveshafts, you can use the wiring loom if you strip it out. if your thinking of making
it wider too then your ok as you wont need to shorten the driveshafts. Beware if you have ron champions book as there are a few mistakes
luego-lo-cost finished,vauxhall 16v 2.0,twin 45s de-dion rear set up
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 12/4/05 at 08:15 PM |
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welcome to the mad house have a look for mcsorley plans,they are available in several sizes with all the errors ironed out and use the champion book
as a "guide"
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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niceperson709
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| posted on 12/4/05 at 11:03 PM |
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Hi Tim
I'm sure that some one else will chime in with the URL but you should check out Jim Mc Sorley's website he has the BEST drawings to use
when building your chassis and he as a couple of oversize options which will be big enough for you .
best wishes
Iain
do a search here for Jim Mc Sorley
Best wishes IAIN
life is not the rehearsal , it's the show so don't sit there thinking about it DO IT NOW
http://iainseven.wordpress.com/
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JamJah
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| posted on 12/4/05 at 11:23 PM |
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Hi.
One dorest based locoster that i am aware of: Doreststrider.
Theres also the New Forest meetevery month in Cadnam. Check Clubs and Events Page for more infor or u2u kitlooney1000
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Ian Pearson
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| posted on 13/4/05 at 09:16 AM |
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Hi Tim,
I'm a couple of miles north of Shaftesbury. Not too far from Blandford.
You're welcome to come and have a look at my mess/ build so you can see what you are getting yourself into.
Good Luck.
Regards, Ian.
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woodenbloke
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| posted on 13/4/05 at 10:08 AM |
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Thank you all for the warm welcome.
I've looked at the McSorley plans and then look great and cheers for the warning about the book.
So many people are using Sierras that it really looks the way forward. But, I wouldn't be sure what to do at the back end. I see from many posts
about this that it’s a hot topic for debate!!
The De-Dion kit route, although it looks really nice, seems an expensive option? And would I need to mod the kit if my car were wider anyway? But, can
use all sierra bits.
The live rear axle route is the closest to the book and therefore probably the easiest for me (virgin car builder)? But the Sierra doesn’t have one!!
How well do sierra bits marry with live rear axles?? (Diff ratios etc)
Using the sierra suspension? People say this is rubbish!!
There is a brief glimpse in Ron's book of a car with IRS, a setup not dissimilar to the front?
Any thoughts??
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James
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| posted on 13/4/05 at 01:11 PM |
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Again, welcome to the mad house.
What is it about this hobby and giants. Most people who come on here seem to be 6'2"and above!
As for your rear axle- I really would consider GTS' or MK's De Dion axle. I'm not sure of the MK price but the GTS is only about
£150 IIRC. At the end of the day you're likely to spend best part of £4K on this project anyway and the De Dion is a damn site easier than
cobbling together your own IRS. I should know!
Hope that helps,
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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scotty g
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| posted on 13/4/05 at 05:11 PM |
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If you want to go down the live axle route you can get a second hand one for £50 or less. Look at "donorspares.co.uk", ebay and also keep
checking the for sale section on this forum. Im about as far into my kit as you are and i bought a late sierra, i will take the de-dion option on a
GTS chassis. I saw this car being built at Detling, nice kit. Also i believe they either do or are planning to do a GRP body kit to fit the McSorley
plans.
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ayoungman
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 12:39 PM |
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hello, Tim. You build your car like an Ariel Atom !........ Have no body tub and stick one foot out either side !!!!!!!need to have hand controls
obviously !
"just like that !"
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