Myself and my brother have decided that it is a good idea to attempt (and hopefully complete) a Locost car in the new year. Neither of us are exceptional mechanics but we are enthusiastic. Basically after a bit of a scout around we're having trouble finding a decent donor car. Has anyone any suggestions as to where to look for a markII Escort, or any other appropriate donor? Any help would be appreciated, especially if you were as inexperienced when you started with your car!

Also look out for a Cortina (3/4/5),

Maybe a sierra with GTS De dion.

Adam

hi there. welcome to the forum.

this quesiton comes up often. the search facility only works well for single words, but its worth using.

basically, if you are doing a complete scratch built locost, get a copy of the mcsorley plans and use a sierra donor.

any questions, just ask!

where are you based?

In Wrexham, North Wales (the one with the dying football club). Are there better plans than the Champion ones in the book, we really could do with an idiot proof guide, but don't want to start on a chassis before we know what car we'll be using as a donor

Thats Demon Tweeks area. That means you don't have to pay their horrendous P&P charges.

Adam

Hi, and welcome to the list!!

You are in the position myself and Roland were in 5 years ago! Dead keen, some, but not a lot of mechanical skill and a lack of donors!
I found an Escort donor from a guy on this list (remember me Jeff). They are getting rare but they're still out there. Try Practical classics magazine, they have a section free to good home! last time I looked there were 2 Escorts in.
I it's any encouragement, we have 2 cars on the road now and a few FUN miles under our belts.

Marcus

Welcome
you may consider picking a project that someone else has already done the leg work for you.

try one of these

they give you a head start

ebay 1

ebay 2

they are an option, and you could stand a better chance of finishing them.

This suggestion is not to try and knock you back, more to get you going quicker.

These ones on ebay will have been started by people just as keen.

And Good Luck

If you want a nice simple build, keep to the book as much as possible.

The options are a sierra rear end with the GTS DeDion tube, cheap and a good lightweight system

A Capri axle, which is the ideal width for a book chassis (better than the escort! - waits for derission)

You can use sierra front hubs, but they are very heavy, have dubious geometry, but are very available.

I have sierra engine and box, capri axle and cortina front end, but in hindsight, I would have used the GTS Sierra setup (it was not available when I started)


If you go the capri route, drop me a line, and I will give you all the info you need to make it as easy as possible.


Good luck with the build, another good tip is to get your main donor parts before you start building the chassis - I didn't and have paid the price

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Good luck with the build, another good tip is to get your main donor parts before you start building the chassis

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Escort is 48" and the Cortina is 52" (I think)

Adam

So th general opinion is to use a sierra donor? What engine size would be best, we don't want one so large that we have lots of power but no traction

2.0 pinto engined (early 2.0l).

Adam

Have been scouting around for a bit now, and think that a sierra donor is most likely. Was just wondering what year should it be? Don't want to end up with a car so complex I can't do anything with it.

My advice on donors is to keep hunting on ebay.

Found my mk2 escort 1300 ghia for £100 of ebay nice and local as well. price is not very locost but cheap for escort and right engine and carb for 750 racing.

For a simple engine any sierra on carbs, wont be to complex, year of sierra shon't be to important.

Word of advice when building car to book keep reading and rereading the book carfully as you build, if not there are some items that can cause problems. Tubes FU1/2 for a start.

quote:

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Originally posted by RobMan
Have been scouting around for a bit now, and think that a sierra donor is most likely. Was just wondering what year should it be? Don't want to end up with a car so complex I can't do anything with it.

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Ok, so will look out for a mid 80's Sierra, if anyone knows of one in North Wales.......
Just a quick question, there's a lot o talk about cortina front hubs. What's so good about them and why can't you use the ones from a sierra

You can use sierra uprights/hubs but they need the bottom tapper modified to use a suitable ball joint (siera ball joints are integral to the lower suspension) and you need a special addapter to use a ball joint at the top of the upright.

specialist locost companys will modify siera hubs and sell adapters, but by that stage the cost of a cortina upright doesn't seam quite so bad.

[Edited on 25/2/05 by clbarclay]