tobymanx
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| posted on 27/9/16 at 09:42 AM |
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New owner - now with pictures
Good morning all,
I'm a new owner - picked up my Locost 7 this weekend. As with all new owners I'm afraid I have a few questions. Please feel fee to direct
me to other FAQ posts if I've missed them!
1) I'm new to the kit car world, have never owned anything like it before so, first things first, how do I know what I've actually got.
I didn't get any details of the make up of the car in the paperwork when I bought it. Obviously this causes some slight problems as when it
needs parts I'll need to know what pads or discs or master Cylinder etc etc etc.
I know it has a 1.3 (1298cc) the previous owner thought Ford, and I know on the logbook it says it's a Locost 7 and it was built in 2005. I
bought a few books already including a buyers guide, so I think I've got a live rear axle but other than that..... where do I even begin!
2) Priority 1 is to get a decent cover for the car. I read good things about the Storm Car covers - it's probably more than I need, but
I'd rather hit it hard and have a good breathable cover as I'll probably only get the car out a couple of times a month. I'm going
back and forth with the retailer and they have said I need either the Caterham or Westfield cover depending on how my locost's dimensions
compare to those two models. That's not really helping me!
Thanks in advance for the advice.
If anyone is based in the Isle of Man and can spare me a couple of minutes to look over the car that would be much appreciated!
Cheers
[Edited on 28/9/16 by tobymanx]
Kit Car newbie
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 27/9/16 at 09:53 AM |
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Congrats on your purchase!
I would post some pictures up of the engine bay, gearbox, hubs upright and rear axle and a general overall picture. The folk on here will tell you
exactly what you have got 
Welcome to the madhouse.
Build Blog
Build Photo Album
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HowardB
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| posted on 27/9/16 at 09:56 AM |
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welcome to the mad-house!
There is so much knowledge here it is bursting at the seams 
looking forward to the pictures,. you never know, the builder may well still be on here
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
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tobymanx
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| posted on 27/9/16 at 10:09 AM |
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I will get photos of all as instructed!
In the interim - I found this online before I bought the car - which comes from when it was sold you the previous owner:
http://www.kitcar-trader.co.uk/locost-for-sale/locost-1300-xflow
Kit Car newbie
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Irony
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| posted on 27/9/16 at 11:09 AM |
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http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=gal&user=BKLOCO
I don't know if its the same car but BKLOCO refers to it as the 'Flying Banana'
[Edited on 27/9/16 by Irony]
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tobymanx
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| posted on 27/9/16 at 11:55 AM |
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Parts of it look similar - and others don't
I suppose that's typical - subsequent owners add their "stamp"
Kit Car newbie
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benchmark51
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| posted on 27/9/16 at 07:06 PM |
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I have a cover on my locost that was originally for a mazda mx5. Elasticated front and rear and it fits perfectly.
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tobymanx
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 08:58 AM |
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Ok hopefully we have some pictures of the car, engine bay and rear axle to help identify precisely what it is!
Any input gratefully received!
Kit Car newbie
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big-vee-twin
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 10:25 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Irony
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=gal&user=BKLOCO
I don't know if its the same car but BKLOCO refers to it as the 'Flying Banana'
[Edited on 27/9/16 by Irony]
That car is a GTS Panther, this one is not, looks like an MK to me.
Duratec Engine is fitted, MS2 Extra V3 is assembled and tested, engine running, car now built. IVA passed 26/02/2016
http://www.triangleltd.com
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tobymanx
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 04:14 PM |
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Would anyone else like to educate me on what it might be - what the engine/axle etc look like or the size of cover required?
Kit Car newbie
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CosKev3
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 04:51 PM |
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It's a crossflow engine,and live rear axle.
Think you will need better /closer pics of parts of chassis etc to identify it.
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Mash
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 04:58 PM |
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Not an MK Indy nose and scuttle looks wrong for an MK too.
Nose looks like it's from a Cateringvan, mouth of mine was slightly lopsided on one side if you studied it carefully and that looks the same
unless it's the angle of the picture.
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benchmark51
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 05:25 PM |
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Looks pretty straight forward. From your pics, it looks built from a donor escort 1.3, inertia starter so may be earlier one. Does it have 4 gears?
Handbrake also escort, rear axle/brakes at a guess may be escort too. Front hubs/brakes probably cortina with transit van track rod end as top
wishbone link. I wouldn't start buying anything for it til someone has a good look over it first. I wouldn't buy anything
Westfield/Caterham as their stuff can be very expensive. Keep the pictures coming.
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 07:24 PM |
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I know the IOM have different systems,
if I look up LHN148P, it lists it as escort,last taxed (gb) 1989
Vehicle details
Vehicle make FORD
Date of first registration 21 November 1975
Year of manufacture 1975
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1298cc
CO₂Emissions Not available
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Not taxed
Vehicle colour BLACK
Vehicle type approval Not available
Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY
edit: Welcome!, also hn reg is Darlington.
[Edited on 28/9/16 by gremlin1234]
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RoadkillUK
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 07:37 PM |
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Does it have a VIN number on the chassis at all. It looks like it's never been SVA/IVA'd and still registered as the donor car, which is
not good.
Roadkill - Lee
www.bradford7.co.uk
Latest Picture (14 Sept 2014)
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 08:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by RoadkillUK
Does it have a VIN number on the chassis at all. It looks like it's never been SVA/IVA'd and still registered as the donor car, which is
not good.
its a car in the isle of man, (not GB/UK/NI) which he says
code:
I know on the logbook it says it's a Locost 7 and it was built in 2005.
heres some IOM info that may help
https://www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/drivers-and-vehicles/vehicle-registration-and-licensing/vehicle-examination/
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RoadkillUK
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| posted on 28/9/16 at 08:31 PM |
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Good, I missed that it was on the Isle of Man, I was expecting the worst there.
Roadkill - Lee
www.bradford7.co.uk
Latest Picture (14 Sept 2014)
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CosKev3
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 07:01 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by RoadkillUK
Good, I missed that it was on the Isle of Man, I was expecting the worst there.
It states in the OP's first post he has the logbook and it's a Locost built in 2005!
Stop the scare mongering!
[Edited on 29/9/16 by CosKev3]
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tobymanx
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 08:16 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by benchmark51
Looks pretty straight forward. From your pics, it looks built from a donor escort 1.3, inertia starter so may be earlier one. Does it have 4 gears?
Handbrake also escort, rear axle/brakes at a guess may be escort too. Front hubs/brakes probably cortina with transit van track rod end as top
wishbone link. I wouldn't start buying anything for it til someone has a good look over it first. I wouldn't buy anything
Westfield/Caterham as their stuff can be very expensive. Keep the pictures coming.
I think you're right Ford derived 1.3 was what I was told. It does have a 4 speed box but...
Original spec was:
Race prepared but never raced.
High lift cam
High ratio back axle
4speed straight cut quaife
Racing bucket seats
4 point racing harness.
K+N filters
Lightweight compomotive alloys
4 into 1 exhaust.
Dual brake bias
It certainly sounds like straight cut gears, I've never had a quaife gearbox before but they're supposed to be quite good, right?
Kit Car newbie
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tobymanx
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 08:18 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by CosKev3
quote:
Originally posted by RoadkillUK
Good, I missed that it was on the Isle of Man, I was expecting the worst there.
It states in the OP's first post he has the logbook and it's a Locost built in 2005!
Stop the scare mongering!
[Edited on 29/9/16 by CosKev3]
Ha! I'm not really upto speed with that kind of stuff as we have different rules here in the IOM - Hopefully no problems re registration though.
Kit Car newbie
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tobymanx
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 08:23 AM |
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Does anyone want to have a guess at if a Westfield or Caterham cover would fit best?
a tiny amount of research on my part found this (on a Subaru forum):
For Caterhams:
Overall length:
Roadsport / Classic: 3380mm
Superlights: 3100mm (no spare wheel you see!!)
SV (fatboys version): 3530mm
Overall Width:
Roadsport / Classic / Superlight: 1575mm
SV (fatboys version): 1685mm
All Westfields seem to be one size:
Overall length: 3540mm
Overall width: 1560mm
If it really is that standard I'll just get my tape measure out!
Kit Car newbie
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benchmark51
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 08:49 AM |
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I have heard that quaife is good, but have no experience of them personally. Gearbox expert needed here.
As your new to this, you need to decide what you want the car for. A road car with a few comforts(radio, heater ect) or a track car, lightened and
tuned to the hilt. Or maybe something in between? It is so easy to spend money on stuff you find you don't actually
need.
Mine was built as a 1300 xflow, 4 speeds, no roof or screen and it was great, but I found long drives missing that extra gear so in went a type 9
gearbox. Got fed up with eating flies so on went a screen. A heavy downpour had me getting free colonic irrigation so I made drain holes in the floor
and got a roof. Struggled to keep up with other sevens sometimes, so in went the 2L pinto,FR32 cam, light flyweel and twin dellorto's. Not the
fastest upgrade by a long shot but quick enough for my purpose.
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tobymanx
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 09:15 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by benchmark51
I have heard that quaife is good, but have no experience of them personally. Gearbox expert needed here.
As your new to this, you need to decide what you want the car for. A road car with a few comforts(radio, heater ect) or a track car, lightened and
tuned to the hilt. Or maybe something in between? It is so easy to spend money on stuff you find you don't actually
need.
Mine was built as a 1300 xflow, 4 speeds, no roof or screen and it was great, but I found long drives missing that extra gear so in went a type 9
gearbox. Got fed up with eating flies so on went a screen. A heavy downpour had me getting free colonic irrigation so I made drain holes in the floor
and got a roof. Struggled to keep up with other sevens sometimes, so in went the 2L pinto,FR32 cam, light flyweel and twin dellorto's. Not the
fastest upgrade by a long shot but quick enough for my purpose.
You're dead right - I think I want a quick/fun road car that won't disgrace itself at a track day.
But first things first - need to spend some time and miles in it and enjoy it, and find out what it actually is before any upgrades can make sense.
I'd have to say though - it's not quick - nowhere near as quick as I expected - at a ballpark I'd say it probably has about 60bhp.
Does that sound about right for a 1.3 with high lift cams, decent exhaust and intake?
Previous owner weighed it at circa 750kg.
Kit Car newbie
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benchmark51
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 09:55 AM |
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Yes, it is quite heavy. Mine as a xflow weighed 630kg, with me in it, full fuel tank, spare wheel and a tool bag. Was quite nippy, could just hit
100mph but could do it uphill as well. The advantage was good handling, but could be easily caught on a straight by 'Mavis in a Corsa'.
Some fun derived from 'old fellas' waving and clapping their hands as you drive by and schoolkids screaming their approval.
I made the decision to stay 'old school' and not go the ECU route and the pinto is a good old engine for that. I have a Ford ST170 car sat
here as I was going to use the engine, but haven't got round to it. At 65 I probably won't either.
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Mash
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| posted on 29/9/16 at 01:11 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by benchmark51At 65 I probably won't either.
You're only as old as you feel Mate
! hit 65 at the beginning of the month, and I'm still acting like a 25 year old As it happens my MK is pinto powered too
sorry tobymanx nice looking motor though
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