Hi I just registered on this site today after deciding (am I mad) to build a Locust, just have to tell my long suffering girlfriend now!
I've also tried posting this msg twice now! I'm getting well annoyed so forgive the spelling and punctuation, but I am copy and pasting the
msg now!
Just had to ask these silly questions before I start, I have the Ron Chapman book and have decided this chasis size is not for me, as many people have
commented there are designs with more/better engine bay space, where can I obtain/buy these plans?
I would like to chop and change the engine as time and funds allow, probably going 1600 X-flow (form my now Zetec powered MK1 Escy), then possibly
Zetec or Cossy powered, not sure what sort of performance to expect though!! What do people think of the Locust GTS kit available from
www.gtscougar.freeserve.co.uk?
Which is best? in your opinions I don't expect you all to agree but comments would be welcome.
PioneerX (aka Simon) has some interesting images of very sporty Locosts does any one know if these are available in a pre fab kit? or better RES
images as I'd like to add my own slant on these very sporty body styles, and possibly build the body myself (with my local panel beater help of
course!).
Essentially I would like to build a relativly cheap but quality car that I can upgrade as time and funds allow, but I want rear wheel drive and a
large enough engine bay to allow me various engine options, from the offset. Eventually I want something fast fun and very unique almost space age
hover car meets F1, when I'm done and as my speciality is electrics expect it to have a few tricks, james bond stylee.
Just any help would be greatly recieved, thanx
Match109,
I assume you mean the image I have as my Avate. There is a slightly higher res image in the arcieve. If you interestered maybe the manufactuers
website has more photos you can work from.
http://www.donkervoort.nl/
Look at modling this from Fibreglass as this would be easier than panel beating from metal.
quote:
Originally posted by March109
commented there are designs with more/better engine bay space, where can I obtain/buy these plans
Hey thanx for the advice, any other comment on the rest of the msg would be great I know its long but I'm young!
Also reading the threads about the Sierra donor, and a evil little thought popped into my head, any one done a 4x4 locost? how possible is this?
What do you guys think?
two people are trying a 4 x 4 locost.
however, if you want to build in a sensible time, then keep it simple!
deviating from the design adds a LOT of time.
atb
steve
hey,
i have a GTS - started building in the summer, but dont get much done these days cuz of uni 200 miles away from home.
check out my photo archive if u want any pics - its up-to-date, updated it yesterday.
if you have any questions about the build, ill be more than happy to help if i can
tom
Ok 4 x 4 is out then!!
Sounds like fun though, any one had any experience of the GTS kits advertised on the main page (locustbuilders.co.uk) does it use the +4 chasis
I've heard so much about!
They don't seem to want to e-mail me! are they a reputable company? They don't have a corporate website but that doesn't neccesarilly
mean anything!
Hi tom - who did you buy your GTS from? is it the +4 chasis? what engine do you expect to use?
and never expect to go home uni is too fun! I still live with my uni mates in Swansea! home was Bournemouth, but even though I've finished my
degree I can't leave! and I have a very understanding boss who lets me sit bits and bobs in unused warehouse space!
March109,
I can recommend GTS, all my suspension parts (wishbones, coil-overs, rear links, Brakets) and my pedals are all GTS. They normally reply to the email
within about 48hours. I visited the 'factory' and everything is very professionally made. I was impressed.
Hi PioneerX
got any pics of the build? how far through are you? how many hours hav u put in so far?
cheers
By the way what day is it? Silly question I know but someone has played silly buggers in the office and every computer has a different idea! damn
computer!
March109,
Yes that seems like a very silly question. It's Thrusday 4th November 2004 (I think).
PerformanceLocost is my build photos website. I started in december last year and I'm over half
way through (Running car, but completing bodywork installation & wiring at the mo), however took a bit of a step back when I decided to ditch the
EFI and put in Carbs so engine is not running at the moment.
The Build photos dont show the carb's yet, thats coming on Novembers pictures.
As far as time goes I spend every other weekend doing it (no evenings), but I didnt work at all on the car from mid may to mid october as I have a
narrow boat and spent all my spare time out on that.
btw
make sure you use the term
locost
a locust is a different car, and its made of wood in the main
atb
steve
quote:
They don't seem to want to e-mail me! are they a reputable company? They don't have a corporate website but that doesn't neccesarilly mean anything!
Seabass,
I agree the quality of the GTS products has made them very busy, but they really are worth the wait, the wishbones I have a gorgious and the bushes
& brakets fit them perfectly.
I did like there 'win a kit' idea
Seabass
You obvoiusly mis read my msg! I did say "they do not have a corporate website", not "they do not have a website for their
company!"
Indeed yes www.GTScougar.freeserve.co.uk is a website deatailing the company.
But this is not a corporate website. A corporate website is typically a .com. co.uk .biz.uk but not always! you see these have to be registered
properly with nominet not through freeserve. and were originaly short and more memorable abbreviations for .company .company.unitedkingdon and
business.unitedkingdom before they became more affordable and hijacked by the home user!
But the statement is still true;
1. I have yet to recieve a e-mail back, - but I am prepared to wait!
2. Are they a reputable company, - I don't know? I expected ppl to give me examples not remark on my choice of grammer misrepresnting the meaning
of my msg,
3. they dont have a corporate website - as discussed above!
4. this doesn't neccesarily mean anything - this should have been a big clue to the spirit in which the paragraph was written.
I do understand the constraints one man businesses are under believe me! I have worked for many start-ups including my own! AS a business consultant
specialising in IT and web techniologies, amougst other things!
So Seabass I understand you believe they supply quality components, are you a customer? please tell me of your experience of them? Did they have the
parts you wanted? were they priced resonably? and how long was it from order to delivery? and did you find any advice they gave helpfull and/or clear?
On the subject of the date, some silly bugger decided late last nite to set all the computer clocks to different days!
That maybe why I'm in a silly mood today!
They are reputable. The owner (Darren) posts occaisionaly on these forums.
However, they seem to be a little understaffed at the mmoent for the amount of orders they are taking so can take a while to get a reply. I'd
suggest either ringing the main number and leaving a message if no reply or better still ring him on his mobile number. Both numbers on the website
under "Contact" at the top.
BTW, they do have a registered web address "http://www.gtstuning.co.uk/", but freeserve are hosting the page.
You haven't entered your location in your profile, but if you can make it to Exeter on the 20/21st of November, GTS will have a stand at
"The Great Western Kit and Sportscar Show" so you can speak to him and inspect the goods!
Hi
I'm based in Swansea but I'm reguarly in London, Bristol, Cheltenham and wherever else my clients can be found!
Holy moly,
March109: I'm sorry, I misunderstood that we were rigidly sticking to web nomenclature on the site and thought perhaps you hadn't seen the
GTS pages "deatailing" the company.
I haven't purchased any GTS parts, but I have seen them in the flesh and I know many people on here swear by them (PioneerX for one it seems).
Having built a Locost I'm now interested in building the 11 replica Darren has recently been promoting.
If I can help you with anything else please ask...
Cheers
[Edited on 4/11/04 by SeaBass]
Apology accepted, I'm having a good and bad day and probably should have just let it go!
I'm glad I found this site, but when I catch the halfwit who thought it was a good idea to mess with all the computers clocks I'm going to
clock him, (verbally u understand)!
I have just bought a pile of bits form GTS.
I like to spread my purchasing around to give everyone a small bit of business. Darren is not that easy to get hold of. Fixed & Mobile phone
numbers on his site.
He has two sites, and they are virtually mirrored sites which give an element of resillience. Hence the two Addresses.
Real friendly chap, takes all forms of money, including paypal, which is great. I phoned up today to enquire about my delivery (his emails were in
BTInternets Spam Trap!), only to find he had got in some bits in that he didnt have when I phoned before, and they were not on his website either. One
Email to me later and it was all paid... ALL while I was still on the phone!!. Wot Service!!!.
My chassis is a Luego (site sponsors) and their quality is excellent. Slightly pricey, but very good. Again nice people running the company.
Ask away on here....... Nearly a full house of comitted blokes, and a very small minority who should be "comitted"!
Sort your budget out, and take your time, and keep it simple.
Wilkinkj is right, keep it simple. As many of the people on here will agree, the more you deviate from the standard design the longer your build and usually more expencive too.
hi march109,
ive had my gts a few months, but not spent as long as id like/should have done, due to being at uni.
im well impressed with everything ive had, ive had a few small problems with some stuff, but after calling darren, he sends stuff out.
i had been looking for engine mounts and after going to a ford dealer (they wanted £20each for some mounting rubbers), darren sent some, and they
arrived a couple of days later, and darren only wants £6 for them!!
well impressed.
cant wait to go home next, ill hopefully get the engine running, but that wnt be till xmas
all the best,
tom
oops, sorry forgot to say, im putting a 1.8cvh sierra eng in, but hopefully upgading to a 2l zetec after a year of so (when i learn to drive the beast
properly!)
tom
I can recommend GTS, cos he doesn't live far from me
Very nice chap, he doesn't even mind me popping in from time to time and having a chat.
But he is busy, so if you dont get a reply from email, please ring him!
Plus i have bought many things from him and it's all good
[Edited on 8/11/04 by Ben_Copeland]