kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 02:25 PM |
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Locost newbie
Im finally coming of age when insurance no longer becomes such a bind and would love a Locost to call my own.
From what ive heard and witnessed first hand, the driving sensation from those machines are second to none - and before having to settle down, id love
to experience that thrill!
Im a 21 yr old with one yrs ncb (wasnt driving much during uni, so ive missed out on those yrs for ncb  ) and having been quoted £500 fully comp for
a locost with 2L engine....thought id take the plunge!
Now i've gotta be honest, im no mechanic, but ive dabbled with cars (changing gearboxes, replacing driveshafts and propshafts, rads, full ehaust
systems, brakes...) so im looking at unfinished projects that just need the finishing touches and already SVA tested.
I currently drive a Peugeot 306 TD, which im hoping to keep for when the weather is just down right lousy!
I just wanted to ask your opinions and advice as current owners, as to what i should really be taking into cosideration before parting cash.
Ive been looking at a few Locost' with 2L pinto engines, but ive also come across a few with a 1.6 x-flow engine - which i read somewhere
wasn't as good?
Are there any pearls of wisdom you could offer?! 
[Edited on 5/10/06 by kit_car_kid06]
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dave-69isit
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 02:32 PM |
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welcome
welcome to the madhouse who says xflow are no good good start point can allways up grade were are you based
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MattCraneCustoms
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 02:33 PM |
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Welcome to the nut house. Plenty of people will be along to offer their advice. Basically regarding the engines:
X-flow came first, around 30 years old??
then came the pinto, in early sierras and the like, then you have CVH engines, and then onto the zetec (I Think thats right!!). I'm 19 building
a 2l Zetec from scratch, I don't know how wise this is but I'll soon find out. Plenty of kits are available on ebay, and I think there was
one for sale on here a couple of days back, maybe have a look through the forum for sale section?
Regards and good luck,
Matt
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zxrlocost
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 02:51 PM |
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hi mate ring adrian flux Im 22 I had one years no claims BUT had never claimed still been driving for 5 years
MY r1 Indy cost me 400 quid to insure
PS they dont use no claims discount on kit cars
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PLEASE NOTE: This user is a trader who has not signed up for the LocostBuilders registration scheme. If this post is advertising a commercial product or service, please report it by clicking here.
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kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 02:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MattCraneCustoms
I'm 19 building a 2l Zetec from scratch, I don't know how wise this is but I'll soon find out. Plenty of kits are available on ebay,
and I think there was one for sale on here a couple of days back, maybe have a look through the forum for sale section?
Regards and good luck,
Matt
Crikey! 19 and building your own?! Thats one thing i doubt id be able to do, unfortunately. I would really love it, but not sure i have the skills and
knowledge to pull it off.
I take it you guys all have your own garages?
Do these cars require much maintenance, once they'r on the road?
(e.g. the mazda rx7 needs an engine rebuild every 6000 miles)
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kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 02:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by zxrlocost
hi mate ring adrian flux Im 22 I had one years no claims BUT had never claimed still been driving for 5 years
MY r1 Indy cost me 400 quid to insure
PS they dont use no claims discount on kit cars
Adrian Flux were the company who quoted me £500 - was dead chuffed!
Didnt realise about the NCB not used on kit cars?? Whys that?
I only asked for a quote just for a laugh to see how stupidly expensive it would be - ive always presumed insuring a kit car would cost the earth?!
[Edited on 5/10/06 by kit_car_kid06]
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Marcus
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 04:06 PM |
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Kit car insurance is very cheap - I'm currently paying £100 fully comp on my crossflow engined car (ok, I'm an old git). If you're
currently driving a Pug diesel, I suggest you get out in someones car (if you're round Yorkshire I'll give you a ride in mine). Even a
1300 crossflow will scare the bejesus out of you!
A 'book' build (IMHO) has the right proportions for a 7 type - some look too bulky. Again, you need to see some to make up your mind - the
differences can be quite subtle.
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
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russbost
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 04:19 PM |
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Flux will usually offer a better deal if you tell them you've been quoted less elsewhere.
You need to be a little wary of part finished projects, particularly if they are claiming to have been sva'd already - if it's sva'd
why's it unfinished?
Completed cars can be picked up for around £2500 for something a little rough around the edges, & don't forget tere are other, similar mid
engined vehicles out there - OK i'm biased!! & even stranger, but very cheap & quick creations such as the Bobcat etc. Beauty is in the
eye of the beholder, so you may not want exactly the same as others.
Welcome to the looney bin & good luck with whatever you buy or build.
I no longer run Furore Products or Furore Cars Ltd, but would still highly recommend them for Acewell dashes, projector headlights, dominator
headlights, indicators, mirrors etc, best prices in the UK! Take a look at http://www.furoreproducts.co.uk/ or find more parts on Ebay, user names
furoreltd & furoreproducts, discounts available for LCB users.
Don't forget Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses, made to your exact requirements in any of around 16 colours.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/furoreproducts/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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marcjagman
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 04:24 PM |
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Personally I think the cross flow is better. Lighter, free revving,basic as a knife and fork but above all cheap and easy to tune, but no doubt
someone will have a completely different opinion.
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Simon
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 07:26 PM |
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Hey Noob,
If you can do simple mechanical stuff like you've described, you can build a car!
I'd be tempted to stay away from someone else's half finished efforts, as there may be a good reason they're trying to move it
on!
If you buy a full kit, it's just a matter of reading the manual and gradually adding bits and pieces. Your build time will very much depend on
you budget. Loadsamoney = very complete kit, and assemble in a weekend. Buying bits as and when finances allow tends to slow things down.
Most of the 7 type manufacturers are quite reputable, some with excellent, some not so, after sales, though products are good (Watch out for a certain
one though - you'll have to search for it. Involved a sherrif iirc).
Some use live axles, some de Dion, some IRS. Each have their merits and those on here will tell you their favs and the reasons. Engine choices vary
hugely from bike engines through to some quite silly stuff
If you've got the book, you could build the whole lot from scratch - including bodywork, this will possibly be the cheapest route, if you take
out the cost of buying things like welders, which will still be useful after the build.
Whatever you decide, we're all here to help, and will if we can
Maybe!
ATB
Simon
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DIY Si
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| posted on 5/10/06 at 07:32 PM |
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Insurance isn't as much as you might think for these things. I'm 22 and my Indy Bird costs £470. A lot depends upon milage per year. NCB
isn't normally used, as most assume the car is your 2nd car, and they get used so much less than your tin top will be.
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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kit_car_kid06
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 posted on 5/10/06 at 11:20 PM |
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Thanks everyone for your advise - keep it coming!
Dont get me wrong Simon, i would LOVE to build my own car, and im sure that i could muddle through if i followed the manual!
Thing is, you guys know what your talking about, and when it comes to things like fuel systems or electrics - im stumped!
Also, i havent gotta clue what the best engine would be to buy to put into my locost!
Is it essential to store a car like this in a garage? My only thought would be that the material of the hood could crack, but would anything more
sinister happen? i.e. more body or chassis related?
Or are these stored purely to safe temptation from vandals?!
So this is what im after? I think rather than hound you with questions, i'll go out and buy this at the weekend!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Your-Sports-Little-Pounds/dp/1859606369/ref=pd_sxp_f_i/026-5949100-2001224?ie=UTF8
Thanks guys! Your very helpful!
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Marcus
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 08:39 AM |
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That's what we mean when we say a 'book build'. There are a few inconsistancies in the book, and it's not meant as a build
manual, more a rough idea of what's needed. It's going cheap 'cos the new version is due out early next year, using Sierra
components rather than mkll Escort.
Building a car is fairly straightforward, you seem to have a reasonable mechanical knowledge - that's all you need (and a lot of patience!)
The fuel and electrics are pretty much as per donor car - just make a note of where everything goes.
Build your own - you'll never be more proud when you pass SVA!
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
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kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 09:19 AM |
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Its having the room to do it too - i dont have enough garage room at the moment
How expensive is it to build a car? I know the book is titled "How to build a car for £250" (or words to that effect) but im guessing that
book was published a while ago?
Ive watched builds on the Discovery channel which exceeded £10,000!
If i were to build, i was thinking of getting a £3,000 loan. Would this just about cover the cost of building (with a few £200 dips into the wages
occasionally)?
Ive not come across an actual kit on sale as of yet, but apparently the chassis would cost a grand alone?
Do you recommend any resources you'd suggest as helpful in order to research kits available? Ive dropped onto the Luego website but there doesnt
seem to be a price for a kit?
As a newer version is due out of the 'book', would you recommend i held off from buying the current publication as it is out of date?
Or for just over a tenner is it still worth a flick through?
Is there a manual available for the novice builder, or do these not exist?
[Edited on 6/10/06 by kit_car_kid06]
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Hellfire
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 12:02 PM |
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We've now built 2 MK Indys and had no experience building cars beforehand. Have a read of our website and see just how easy it is to put one
together yourself.
Normally at this point, I would tell you to forget about car engines and stick a bike engine in it but it looks like you're on a tight budget,
so I'll say, forget about car engines and save up a bit more cash to enable you to buy a cheap bike engine and then stick that in it.
I reckon to get a decent MK Indy on the road, you're looking at about 4 to 5K. Having said that though, it really depends how much time
you've got to build one and how resourceful you are. The longer you have, the more bargains you're gonna come across and therefore the
cheaper it will be in the long run.
Whereabouts in the country do you live?
Phil
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kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 12:08 PM |
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Im from Telford, Shropshire (West Mids)
Wouldnt a bike engine be harder to fit to such car? With a car transmission you got gears to play with, but with a bike you gotta tackle with the one
up and 3 down and all that malarky - which id imagine would be harder to implement into stick shift?
Think il take a look at your website
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Hellfire
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 12:12 PM |
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Bike engines are much, much easier to fit. You also get 6 gears and a sequential shift box as standard, not to mention the awesome acceleration and
superb soundtrack to go with it. 
Phil
There are a couple of members on here who live in Shropshire - OX and richijenkin to name but two. Drop them a U2U, you never know, they may live
local to you and be willing to take you for a spin (Quite literally )
[Edited on 6-10-06 by Hellfire]
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kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 12:40 PM |
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No way! Rich jenkin works at the same place as me! Thought id seen him! red kit car with (i think) chequered flag detail?
Is it worth me buying the "how to build...." book? or is this a little outta date now?
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Hellfire
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 02:16 PM |
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That sounds like him. Small world isn't it.
Forgive me if I'm wrong but from your opening post, I take it that you don't have any welding experience. If that's the case, I
wouldn't even bother buying the old or new books. Sure, you could learn how to weld and then build your own chassis but the initial cost of the
equipment, coupled with the lack of space, is far from ideal and it may well end up costing you more in the long run, not to mention the additional
build time.
If I were you, I'd look at getting a chassis thats already fabricated but then I'm not you. If you really want to go down the route of
building your own chassis just for the experience, then go for it. You'll then be able to boast about it forever and pretend you're a real
kit car builder but then you'll have a stigma forever about the word 'kit'
Phil
[Edited on 6-10-06 by Hellfire]
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chockymonster
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 03:16 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by kit_car_kid06
Do these cars require much maintenance, once they'r on the road?
(e.g. the mazda rx7 needs an engine rebuild every 6000 miles)
They don't need maintenance, they need love and affection
The rx7 engine rebuild is every 60k btw
PLEASE NOTE - Responses on Forum Threads may contain Sarcasm and may not be suitable for the hard of Thinking.
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kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 03:17 PM |
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ho no no! I wouldnt waste my time and money attempting to buy a chassis, i would have to buy one.
Would that restrict what engine i could use or what bodywork could be fitted, or are the chassis' pretty universal in that respect these days?
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Peteff
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 03:20 PM |
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Is it worth me buying the "how to build...." book? or is this a little outta date now?
I'll sell you my second edition for £10 including post if you want one perfect condition.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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kit_car_kid06
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 03:48 PM |
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Second edition being the old one?
I can buy a crisp new book for about that price anyway though cant i?!
I cant get enough of that new book smell!
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Peteff
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 04:37 PM |
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Second edition being the later one. First=old second=later
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Hellfire
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| posted on 6/10/06 at 04:41 PM |
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Forget about books. Most kit manufacturers will make the engine bay of your chassis to suit whatever bike engine you decide to use They can even do
the engine bay to fit car engines, although I can't understand why - all that unnecessary weight.
Have a look at the manufacturers websites and see which one best suits your needs and your budget.
Links below, in no particular order.
MK Sportscars
MNRacing
MAC #1 Motorsports
GTS Tuning
Stuart-Taylor Motorsport
RAW Engineering
Should be enough links there to do a bit of research
Phil
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