mrmustang
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 06:26 PM |
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Help for a new Locust owner in the USA
Recently purchased a Locust through a third party here in the US. They had no idea how to identify what the car has as far as bits and pieces. Hoping
that I can learn a bit more about my car (anyone recognize the UK plate) before I tear into it. Pictures and what little I know about the car can be
found at the following url:
Locust in the USA
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bill S.
 
Rescued attachment lotus1.jpg
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zilspeed
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 06:51 PM |
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I'll be the one that say LocOst, not LocUst.....
Well - someone had to.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 06:59 PM |
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Indeed Locost, not Locust (locusts were wooden bodied lotus 7 'replicas' .
Engine is probably a ford crossflow (probably 1300cc or 1600cc), and running gear is probably all MK2 escort. (without pictures of under the bonnet
its hard to tell).
If it was built by Locost Cars Ltd, then I believe that was Ron Champions company, which essetially became Lolocost? (I may well be wrong on that one,
somone may be able to back me up or otherwise)
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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mrmustang
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 07:08 PM |
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Name so noted and now changed on my web site. It is a 1300cc Crossflow (pinto here in the states) "Kent" motor with a single barrel carb
on it.From the UK based Escorts I've seen (having been to London a time or two over the past 40 years), yes, the rear end looks like that out of
a Mk I or Mk II, to check the gearbox, I'll have to wait to get it up on stands. At least it runs, and the lights work. Have to figure out a
better steering wheel (the current unit measures 9" across, just a little small for my tastes). Have not really had a chance to do much of
anything to it but take it off the trailer and load it into the unlit warehouse. Will be moving it to my home in the next few weeks, then taking far
more detailed pictures at that time.
Now, with that said, in the mean time, does anyone have any specs on the chassis? Perhaps someplace I can get an assembly manual? Wheel bolt pattern
and proper offsets? etc and so forth.
Thanks again for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Bill S.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 07:17 PM |
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The pinto and crossflow engines are different over here. Yours will be as you say a 1300 kent engine. The single barrel carb is downdraft i assume and
is probably a Weber DGAV. The back end will be live axle. The gearbox will probably be the 4 speed Type E (rocket) box, or it could equally be a Type
3 box.
You may find it difficult to get in and out with a larger wheel, unless of course it is removable.
Chassis will be 25mm steel box section (if i am correct in assuming it was built by RC's old company then it will be identical to the Book
chassis [see the main page for the link to amzon]). The book is also your assembly manual. Alternatively the car could have been a complete home build
in the spirit of locosts.
Wheel stud pattern will be ford PCD (108mm? cant remember). I cant remember what the offset for the wheels is either, but ET19 rings a bell.
Hope some of thats at least some help 
Cheers,
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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JoelP
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 07:27 PM |
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your reg plate, xwd821h, comes up on a uk database as a blue ford cortina 1.6 saloon. 10 former keepers, RHD, but no further details.
Due to its age i guess it never had the log book updated, and obviously its pre SVA. just built and then the donor plate transfered over.
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mrmustang
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 08:23 PM |
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So then this is not a 1300cc engine, but a 1600cc engine in my car???? I was told it was a 1300cc, but have not had time to look at the casting
numbers on it yet.
Thanks again for all of your assistance, it really is truly appreciated.
Bill S.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 11/4/05 at 08:27 PM |
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It could have been a 1600 donor, but had an engine swap to 1300 for some reason (racing or cheaper insurance maybe). As you say the engine number will
tell you what you need to know.
David 
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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billy
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 08:31 PM |
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Mmmmmmmm i like the way you say 25miles per gallon as bieng economical. most yank starter motors have more power than that locost
luego-lo-cost finished,vauxhall 16v 2.0,twin 45s de-dion rear set up
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flak monkey
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 08:33 PM |
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Yes...thats why petrol is 1/3rd the price over there...it all works out equal in the end as their cars use 3 times more than ours 
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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mrmustang
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 08:38 PM |
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Better than my 2K Ford Expedition with the 5.4L engine....That gets 9-11mpg, with gas prices on the rise here in the states (it was $1.49/US gallon,
now 2.15/US Gallon). Yes, I know, still not as expensive as an Imperial gallon of petrol, but it's high enough where it starts to hurt when you
get 30-65 gallons of fuel a week...
Bill S.
quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Yes...thats why petrol is 1/3rd the price over there...it all works out equal in the end as their cars use 3 times more than ours
David
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flak monkey
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 08:41 PM |
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Compare that to the average motor over here which prob does around 35mpg+....
In our diesel ford focus we get about 52mpg on a run.
I did the calcs the other day for prices and it worked out that a US gallon in the US was about $2.05 and a US gallon over here was £6.15 (eaxctly 3
times as much....)
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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mrmustang
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 08:44 PM |
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I wish they would offer a diesel Focus or better yet, a diesel Expedition (I tow my race car from track to track) here in the states. At least then I
could offset my fuel costs vs my daily commute.
Bill S.
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drmike54
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 08:48 PM |
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Hey another US Builder We need more of these cars in the US.
Started Welding the chassis!!!!
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mrmustang
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 08:58 PM |
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It's funny, last night I ran across the web site of the US distributor of the LoCost and found out I was not the only US LoCost owner/builder in
the world ........HHHHhhmmmmmmmmm, a Turbo Coupe motor in a LoCost, now that sounds like the makings of an extremely quick car.........
quote:
Originally posted by drmike54
Hey another US Builder We need more of these cars in the US.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 09:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Compare that to the average motor over here which prob does around 35mpg+....
In our diesel ford focus we get about 52mpg on a run.
I did the calcs the other day for prices and it worked out that a US gallon in the US was about $2.05 and a US gallon over here was £6.15 (eaxctly 3
times as much....)
David
That's odd because an imperial gallon is bigger than a US gallon and they "only" cost 4.546*0.89= £4.05 as near as. A US gallon
would cost 3.785*0.89 = £3.37 over here (all assuming a litre is 89p).
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flak monkey
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| posted on 14/4/05 at 09:25 PM |
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I know they are different...
Sorry the £ infront of the 6.15 should be a $....would make more sense wouldnt it
$2.05 vs $6.15 is what it should be
My bad
[Edited on 14/4/05 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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