Hi People.
I'm building a locost from the Ron Champion manual. I have found a peugot 205 gti from a friend that i can get for 30 quid. Being the first
time i have built one of these, i am concerned about it being front wheel drive. Will this be a problem? Or should i find another donor vehicle.
Please help, it's a problem. Cheers
Andy
nothing is impossible, but think you should be looking for summat else, apart from the engine/wheels there aint much on it you can use even then you would need to mate the engine to a rwd gearbox, unless of course your putting the engine in the rear ?? it can be done.
the problem is finding a rwd gearbox/bellhousing to suit the engine. I don't know of one (others might), another option is to make up either a
bellhousing or adapter plate to fit to another gearbox eg ford type9
hope this helps...
Ned.
quote:
Originally posted by andy2_uk
Hi People.
I'm building a locost from the Ron Champion manual. I have found a peugot 205 gti from a friend that i can get for 30 quid. Being the first time i have built one of these, i am concerned about it being front wheel drive. Will this be a problem? Or should i find another donor vehicle. Please help, it's a problem. Cheers
Andy
as its your 1st "go" at one, and if its going to be a CEC (car engined car) (all will become clear on that one later) then its worth trying
to search out a manual Cortina, that will have everything you need to build the car including rear axle, it don't have to be escort, it will have
the front hubs you need too.........
one other bit of advice too, use the "book" as a guide, not gospel, it aint 100% right as you will find, never fear to ask anything onn
here, you can sift thru the replys and decide which is the best, if any advice for your build, good luck and welcome......... 
if you're anywhere near leeds, get down premier motor auctions on a thursday evening, 6 o'clock onwards, banger night. sierras and all sorts for peanuts. not much chance of escorts or cortinas there though...
if you try and build a locst from a 205 you will kick yourself for your stupidity in willingly making your life much harder than it needs to be.
Sierra 2 litre are free and a much better proposition.
As the others have said, an old cortina will give you a big start!
atb
steve
Andy
When I started I wanted to use a Peugeot Mi16 engine (and still do really).
The all alloy Pug engines would be ideal for 7 style cars IMHO! They are light, revvy and more powerful as standard than a lot of other engines.
e.g. 1.9 Pug Mi16 @ 150-60bhp Vs. 2.0 Pinto @100-115bhp
Problems:
1. The problem as Ned says is mating it to a rear wheel drive gearbox.
A. The LDV vans use a Pug diesel motor which has the same bolt pattern as the Mi16 and GTi engines. This is mated to a RWD g/box, so might be an
option.
2. The Pug engines are usually installed at an angle (i.e. not vertical) and the exhaust manifold would be on the drivers side in a locost. This
would make it akward to get the manifold and steering column not to clash.
A. Make a very fancy manifold or a LHD locost???
3. The Pug engines mounts/mount positions do not lend themselves to a straightforward longitudinal set up.
A. Probably requires chassis mods to accomodate suitable engine mounting points.
Don't let me put you off tho' it would be a cracking car if you can do it!
Cheers
Nick
i was thinking about the M16 yesterday when i read about it on a web site. My exhaust is on the drivers side so i have problems anyway! would be a good engine if the diesel gearbox has the right ratios? suppose you could pick a diff to suit...