Hi.

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this but it seems the most appropriate place so I'll get stuck in.

I've just sold my westfield Se live axle car which had a 1700 xflow with twin 40s which I loved but struggled to fit in. I've got 'permission' from my wife to get stuck in to building a locost... I bought the book(s) years ago and keep making excuses not to start but now is the time.

I have no welding experience yet but am willing and genuinely want to learn how do weld. I have plenty of car maint skills mostly gained from maintaining my old tvr s3 (having removed the engine and gearbox in order to get the box reconditioned) and my old westfield se.

I'd like to build a car very much like the westfield I had but with a bit more legroom and possibly slightly wider. The issue I had with the westfield is that my left hand while on the wheel would foul against my left knee while cornering. I appreciate that I can position the pedals and wheel where I like on the locost but feel a bit more room would be nice. My westy was a post-lit narrow body car and presumably must be about the same size as the book chassis (please correct me if I'm wrong).

I'd like a live axle, a 5 speed gearbox, LSD and a zetec (either 1.8 or 2.0) engine. I'm currently planning to build my own throttle bodies using the article in practical performance something or other magazine and would very much like to build my own engine management system using the megasquirt gubbins I've heard so much about. The car will be used for fun on the roads (so must be SVA'able) and for drifting days and track days and if I really get keen maybe some sprinting.

Anyway, my main question is what chassis plans and which donor (I guess these questions are pretty much tied together). I was thinking of a capri LSD rear axle so are there any plans that would work with that or do I need to do some work modifying the book plans for myself. Is there really any need to go out and buy a single donor or, given that I won't be using the donor engine, can I simply go out and buy the components I need? I can see that if I bought a capri I'd get the axle, hubs and gearbox but given that the gearbox and axle will probably need rebuilding or at least some attention wouldn't it be a false economy to save money buying a rusty capri to dismantle rather than simply buying second hand or reconditioned parts? The other things putting me off buying a donor is that firstly I'd have to dismantle the donor on the drive which would take up space and generally get in the way (it's like butterflies - remember that? - at our place sometimes moving cars around to get kayaks and bikes out of garages/sheds) and secondly I'd have to store all the bits until I needed them. I'd also have to dispose of the stripped rusting hulk. If I bought the bits when I needed them I'd solve all these problems although I suspect it may cost me slightly more (not much more though, surely? especially as I plan to buy the engine seperately).

Sorry for the long post and I very much look forward to any opinions anyone may have and am happy to have my preconceptions of what is sensible and reasonable shot down

All the best,

Mark

Firstly, welcome to the madhouse!

Your ideas sound fine. I plan to play with megasquirt at some point myself.

As far as the donor bits go- getting a donor as it's advantages and disadvantages as you mention. You mention the Capri hubs but these aren't any good to you AFAIK- you'll need Cortina fronts.
The Capri axle has a LSD in the 2.8 version (IIRC) but I'm pretty sure you can get LSD kits for MK2 Escort axles although I doubt they're cheap!

Have you thought about using a Sierra donor? With a cheap kit from GTS you can have a De Dion back end which is meant to be a pretty good setup. You can then use the Sierra gearbox mated to your Zetec. The back end of a 4x4 Sierra is LSD too.

Hope that helps,

James

P.S. Where in Berkshire are you?

[Edited on 28/7/04 by James]

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Originally posted by James
Firstly, welcome to the madhouse!

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Your ideas sound fine. I plan to play with megasquirt at some point myself.

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As far as the donor bits go- getting a donor as it's advantages and disadvantages as you mention. You mention the Capri hubs but these aren't any good to you AFAIK- you'll need Cortina fronts.
The Capri axle has a LSD in the 2.8 version (IIRC) but I'm pretty sure you can get LSD kits for MK2 Escort axles although I doubt they're cheap!

Have you thought about using a Sierra donor? With a cheap kit from GTS you can have a De Dion back end which is meant to be a pretty good setup. You can then use the Sierra gearbox mated to your Zetec. The back end of a 4x4 Sierra is LSD too.

Hope that helps,

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P.S. Where in Berkshire are you?

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Would the "Locost Related" forum be a more appropriate place for this level of 'just starting out' questions?

Thanks,

Mark

Nah, I think Donor Cars is a good section for discussing which donor you want!

You can use spacers on the car- Jasper and Hicost both had them on theirs for awhile.
For a 'book' chassis the Escort axle is itself a little narrow (you tend to get the 'caravanning' look) which, along with their rarity is the reason that a Cortina donor is often suggested- it's more common than the Escort, the rear axle is wider (4" if I recall correctly) and you get the front hubs you need.
Problem is, I doubt you'll get the diff internals you're after!

If you're gonna widen the chassis then you're entering a whole extra world of pain and I suggest to tread (and research!) very carefully! My car is wider (and IRS) and all the fiddling about had cost me plenty of time. The 'standard' widening to go for is 4".

Before you start the chassis you should get a correct set of plans and cutting list as the book list is full of errors.

http://www.mcsorley.net is the place to go for this. It has +4" plans as well.

Anywya, I expect it's all clear as mud now so I'll stop writing!


James

P.S. I know it's 50miles or so but 1st Sunday of the month is you local Locostbuilders meet at Newlands Corner (just outside Guildford). You're very welcome to come along and ask these questions in person. That way you'll meet 20 other builders and we can give you 21 different opinions on how to go about doing it!

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Originally posted by James
Nah, I think Donor Cars is a good section for discussing which donor you want!

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P.S. I know it's 50miles or so but 1st Sunday of the month is you local Locostbuilders meet at Newlands Corner (just outside Guildford). You're very welcome to come along and ask these questions in person. That way you'll meet 20 other builders and we can give you 21 different opinions on how to go about doing it!

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Hi dern,

I am based just west of Newbury near Hungerford, a village called Great Shefford. If you want to come around and have a look at mine at any time you are welcome to.

Adam

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Originally posted by phelpsa
Hi dern,

I am based just west of Newbury near Hungerford, a village called Great Shefford. If you want to come around and have a look at mine at any time you are welcome to.

Adam

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I hate to give good Ideas after the fact, but did you ever think of widening the wesfield? at the same time that the car is in pieces you can widen the frame, switch to a live axle, and update to a Zetec, depending on how much you sold it for, and how much the locost will cost you could save some $$$

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Originally posted by derf
I hate to give good Ideas after the fact, but did you ever think of widening the wesfield? at the same time that the car is in pieces you can widen the frame, switch to a live axle, and update to a Zetec, depending on how much you sold it for, and how much the locost will cost you could save some $$$

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£5000 will be easy if your building your own chassis. I may even be nearer £3000 making my hillclimb car which has plenty of expensive, unnessecary (never been able to spell that word) parts for a road car.

Adam

P.S. Dern, I won't be at home on a weekend untill september.

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Originally posted by phelpsa
£5000 will be easy if your building your own chassis. I may even be nearer £3000 making my hillclimb car which has plenty of expensive, unnessecary (never been able to spell that word) parts for a road car.

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P.S. Dern, I won't be at home on a weekend untill september.

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Patience is the key (i've been going 18 months and I don't even have a rolling chassis).

Adam

Same here, 14 months or so, only just getting to rolling chassis stage.

You'll save a lot of time and hassle if you buy reconditioned parts - but they'll cost you a lot more. Our sierra 4x4 cost us £6.50, and sold the engine and gearbox for £100..

To get me going I bought a set of 13x7 Compomotive MS wheels which were the wrong PCD for £40. The guy I bought them off didn't realise ho sought after these wheels were so I got an absolute bargain, they were worth at least £200. I then ended up selling them for £120 to a guy who thought he'd had an absolute bargain. The ultimate of good luck.

The moral of the story, if you see something thats a bargain, snap it up straight away, there is money to be made.

I bought all my parts reconditioned, a lot easier.

Adam

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Originally posted by dern
...sort out an avatar...

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