albertz
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 08:32 PM |
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Serious guidance needed....
This is my first post in a while, as my Locost has been gathering dust and generally getting in the way for the last year or so...read on!
I am in a horrible situation at the moment with regards to my Locost.
Background:
I built my Locost 4AGE the summer before last and it was SVA'd in May 2005. It has covered about 500 miles since completion and is in very good
nick in my opinion.
Problem:
The problem is that the original engine was a Toyota 4AGE (TVIS) version and everything was wired for that engine. After a few hundred miles the
engine started showing serious signs of wear and it became apparent why i got the engine for free. Living 10 miles from John O'Groats the
countryside is not exactly littered with decomposing Toyotas and i could not find an exact replacement. Therefore i got a newer non TVIS version and
installed that. Naturally the wiring is different and the ECU etc do not match up. Having exhausted my non-existent electrical skills i managed to
botch the thing together and make it start. Since then though it does not want to start and i know (99% certain) that my electrical botching is to
blame. The real problem is that i am about to build another house next year and will be doing most of the work myself and will not have time to sort
the car out, i dont have masses of money to throw at the car either (consequence of building the house). However, i am really disappointed with myself
for getting into this situation and allowing almost 1 years hard work building the car plus probably £3K go to waste as it lies uncared for in my
garage.
Request:
I need some advice as to what i should do. If i thought i could get some decent money for it i would sell it, but being a Locost that is not running
then it will be scrap metal price if i am lucky.
I want to either get the Toyota sorted or move away towards a more commonly available engine such as a Zetec etc.
Please give me your suggestions, cos at the moment i am close to discarding hope of ever getting out in it again. I am totally disillusioned that
there are no real electrical experts in my area willing or able to help me and there is not even a rolling road or main dealer within 120 miles!
Any help appreciated. Sorry for the long email.
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JoelP
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 08:38 PM |
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out of curiosity, what would you sell it for?
sorry if that sounds like a vulture! 
[Edited on 8/12/06 by JoelP]
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ruskino80
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 08:39 PM |
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why not try and source the appropiate wiring loom etc chuck another couple of days at it-and enjoy it,on a summers evening after working on the house
all day what better way to unwind than to take a drive in your hand built car?
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ch1ll1
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 08:43 PM |
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have you tried 24/7 spares on the net?
might not be the cheapest but they should find one
cheers paul
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albertz
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 08:44 PM |
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Regarding the wiring loom, thats just the thing i am a mechanical engineer by profession and cannot get into the electrical side of things at
all.....it really bugs me, cos most other things i can adapt to or understand but electrics just doesn't work with me!!!
If it could just throw another loom in then i would have by now, sorry if thats sounds a bit lame, but its the facts!
I am in a quandry because whatever i do is going to involve electrics at varying levels and the guy that helped me with this initially is far too busy
with his own business to waste time with my car.....
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wilkingj
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 08:44 PM |
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Did the (New) engine run OK before you put it in the Locost?. If it did, and as you say its the wrong ECU and / or your wiring.
That shouldnt be too hard to fix.
I am assuming the new engine is Fuel injected.
Have you considered using Megasquirt?
Or converting the engine to bike carbs and using Megajolt for the sparks.
Its just a thought. If it ran OK before you wired it into the Locost, these are options worth thinking about.
Why change a perfectly good (if it is) engine for another, it wil cost you the best part of a grand to go Zetec, think about the changes, is the
exhaust on the same side etc, as you will end up doing bodywork, gearbox and exhaust changes which will run up the bills, and / or increase the
labour time.
Sounds to me the Megasquirt route could be cheapest and least work.
Just my 2d worth.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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albertz
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 08:52 PM |
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Rayward from this site built me a megasquirt about a year ago, but i ended up selling it. I cant actually remember my reason, but i am sure it was
electrical based..!!
Regarding the engine it has run in my Locost and i have driven it with the new engine once, but i was sucking air in past the throttle body, once i
fixed that leak it hasn't run since. To be honest it didnt run well with the air leak, as you would expect. But i have spent quite a lot of time
trying to suss it out at the time and eventually gave up to concentrate on other things. Now i am conscious that i am going to be flat out on the
house and that i wotn have time to dedicate to it after the New Year.
I like the thought of it being available for a blast next year even if i dont have time to use it.
Regarding selling it, i sincerely doubt that anyone would be willing to make a serious offer for the car. I mean what would it be worth in its current
state?? Viewing would not really be practical for most people due to my location.
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stevec
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| posted on 8/12/06 at 10:45 PM |
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All I can say is don't give up, It will come to you in good time. The pressure of the new house build is probably clouding your thinking a
bit.
Keep at it.
All the best.
Steve.
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zetec7
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| posted on 9/12/06 at 03:03 AM |
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...and if you decide to go Zetec, I can advise of a truely SIMPLE ignition system (3 wires....one power, one ground, and a tacho lead), for a
carburated Zetec, that's available for cheap, & requires NO progaramming. And it holds a land speed record on a Zetec 2.0. Would that do
you?
http://www.freewebs.com/zetec7/
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