Hi all,

I hope I have posted this in the most relevant section, as it is a Locust 7 style build. As I am sure your all aware this is the ladder chassis with the aluminum skinned marine ply tub. I have just bought the car today and it has already started its journey to life and I hopefully will finish it now to my own spec.

The owner before me planned to use it for the 750 championship so went the 1300xflow route.

Here are some pics...









The car came advertised with the following -
* Escort Mark II live rear axel
* Sierra type 9 4 speed box
* Custom built and balenced prop shaft.
* Escort Mark II steering rack
* Escort Radiator
* Leather bucket seats
* Securon seat belt harnesses with quick release buckle
* Cortina uprights, hubs and calipers
* Small aluminium fuel tank
* 1300 XFlow engine
* Mountney leather steering wheel on a Sierra steering column
* 13 inch alloy wheels, spare wheel included
* Variety of dashboard gauges and switches
* Exhaust system


Some initial questions - I was considering going for a 1600xflow as I have previous experience with these but would I be able to change straight to a 5 speed type 9 box and then use a zetec lump? Would you then recommend upgrading from the front cortina calipers - anything in particular? I've heard 2.0 mondeo calipers fit with an aftermarket adapter kit to these hubs?

Hope you like me can see some potential in the old girl

Cheers

Hi and welcome.
The car mentioned here before, you may be interested to see?
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=115608

Good luck with the build

Edited to say well done for posting multipile pics on one post too

[Edited on 17/4/10 by ReMan]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Congratulations on your purchase,it looks a good starting point.
A zetec and a type 9 box is a good option,i have just gone this route myself.
By the way the box you have got is not a type 9,it only came in 5 speed form.
That said a sierra box is easy and cheap enough to source.

If you have any questions,just ask.Help is never far away on this forum

Andy

As the engine and box are already fitted, and summer is almost upon us, why not complete it as is, and get it on the road. It will still go very well with the 1300 in it. Then, you can upgrade to a 1600 oe Zetec for next winters project.

Unless you have lots of time and money, which most of us dont, then I would get it on the road, and plan ahead for the winter rebuild with the Zetec / 5 speed box. It would save a lot of unnecessary work.
I am thinking that you would finish it just as the summer weather finishes. Thus leaving you no time to enjoy it on the road.

Just my 2d's worth.

If you are a total newbie, try to get to the Stoneleigh show, in a couple of weeks time. Meet up with owners, and people off this forum. That would give you a big boost, in ideas, and enthusiasm.
ie go, and look at the owners clubs, and see what people have done to their cars.

The Manufacturers stands are nice to see, but they are selling kits, and you already have a 70% built car.

Luego Owners club will be there... Go see them, and they will point you in the right direction.

BTW you have a LocUst, not a LocOst (Ron Champion is the Locost man)

There is a LocUst Owners club and they will almost certainly be at Stoneleigh.
Still... we aint proud, and the Luego club are a friendly bunch and will put you right.
Do make an effort to go to the show, (Near Coventry) as you will see and learn a lot in a short while.


Finally... Welcome to the Mad House... but we are a good bunch!.

Oh and please put your rough location in your profile, it helps others when offering to help or buy / sell etc. Also others will notice you are local, and you can go for drives and drinkies etc etc. ie get into the local scene.


EDIT:

BTW, get a copy of the IVA manual, as it will need to pass an IVA to get it on the road (unless its already SVA'D)
Does it have a V5, and a proper registration? (Not the Donor cars V5 either)

[Edited on 17/4/2010 by wilkingj]

Hi all, thanks for the warm welcome and offer of advice.

I did wonder about the box when he said it was a 4 speed but advertised as a type 9. If I change to a type 9 box in the future to go possibly the zetec route would I need to alter the prop and diff presumably to suit?

Would this one (which is local ) fit the bill?
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=133789

I will consider all running gear options and as mentioned above, may stay with the 1300 xflow for now if I can get it running ok and concentrate on the main body and getting it road legal for this season.

I will look into attending stoneleigh as I agree I will no doubt absorb a lot in a short time there - although the wallet will probably end up considerably lighter!

I understand we've moved from the SVA to IVA now and I will obtain a copy to keep the build on track and within regs. Is this the latest version?
http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/repository/M1%20Inspection%20Manual%20May%2009.pdf

Regards
J

Hello and welcome!

First thing I would do is check everything is bolted together properly!!!

The guy who owned it on here was going to build a book chassis to transfer everything into and then sold it. He had it stripped to within an inch of its life and presumably put it back together to sell it on. He has cunningly deleted the photos of it stripped too so id say he has put it back together in a rush to flog it on.

Welcome to the site . Where abouts in Cambridgeshire are you ?, there are a few of us about the area

Thanks prawn I will be sure to give it a good look over, if anything I will be striping it down again myself and redoing some of it/checking it all for my own piece of mind.

I am just off the A1 near St.Neots, Cambs

quote:

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Originally posted by Wumps
Thanks prawn I will be sure to give it a good look over, if anything I will be striping it down again myself and redoing some of it/checking it all for my own piece of mind.

I am just off the A1 near St.Neots, Cambs

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Brilliant so there is a few local meets to attend already when I'm up and running

Anyone have any ideas about the gearbox link I posted above? Would I need to change the bell housing also to marry up to a zetec? Just a good opportunity to grab a part locally if I may need it for the build at some point.

The bellhousing on the T9 will bolt straight up to the 2.0 zetec - speak to deltron67 i think his name his - he has just finished the same conversion in one of these cars

I think the probshaft spline are different sizes for the 4 and 5 speed boxes.
You wont need to change the diff, just sort the propshaft, and Bailey Morris are just down the road for you. Its just a matter of how deep your pockets are, how much you want to spend. Hence my earlier comments on going with what you have. There is more than enough work to do to get on the road without making more work and expense.

SG7 club meet at Baldock once a month, on a Sunday morning in the pub on the road going south from Tescos to the A1.

I try to get over ther myself when I can.
I think it was last week or the one before.

Thanks Prawn thats good news.

So I could, if still available, get both the box and the prop then get the diff end of the prop altered as it is advertised as for sierra diff fitment and mine would need an end for mk2 escort diff fitment?

I know theres a lot to work to do before changing engine configurations really, I will just have to see how I get on. I am thinking though that if I am going to be redoing/touching up the body I want the tunnel to be changed now at thsi stage really to be able to fit the wider T9 box in the future.

Baldock is not far for me really

Ok...my Fury was a 4 speed 1300 crossflow when I bought it...now a 2.0 zetec 5 speed.

Yes - you'll need different prop as the boxes are a) different lengths and b) different splines

Both will bolt straight up to a Crossflow or zetec - they have a common bolt pattern so the bellhousing is the same (as is Pinto and CVH)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wumps
Thanks Prawn thats good news.

So I could, if still available, get both the box and the prop then get the diff end of the prop altered as it is advertised as for sierra diff fitment and mine would need an end for mk2 escort diff fitment?

I know theres a lot to work to do before changing engine configurations really, I will just have to see how I get on. I am thinking though that if I am going to be redoing/touching up the body I want the tunnel to be changed now at thsi stage really to be able to fit the wider T9 box in the future.

Baldock is not far for me really

---

I suspect the guy I bought it off may have advertised it wrong as a 1300 xflow, may well be a 1600 xflow.

Am I right in thinking that blocks with T10 on are 1300 and T12 stamped ones are 1600?

What is the best way to start with the brake and fuel lines? Have you guys bought and adapted off the shelf kits for the likes of escorts and sierra's or made you own lines up from scratch?

Cheers

Yeah was going to say, on that link its advertised as a 1600.. With regards to fuel and brake lines. I got some copper kits from Rally design which was pretty straightforward to bend and put in place. I have redone some of the bits in Kunifer as recommended. Otherwise, have a look at various build diaries such as Flak's. Was very useful on bits like fuel and brake lines! Good luck!

Hi, thanks for the info. Have you got a link as I have done a search for "Flak" and "Flak's" without joy.

Were the RD kits universal then? Like straights you just bend and put ends on yourself etc.

[Edited on 20/4/10 by Wumps]

This is flak's build website: http://gtslocost.locostsites.co.uk/

And yep the Rally design kits are universal.

The T numbers refer to the casting that was taken from the sand mould IIRC the longer numbers on the side of the block beginning BA etc give an indication as to the engine size . Forgotten exactly what's what but I'm sure someone will be along shortly that knows

Thanks guys you've been very helpful

I've bought new marine ply today as I'm going to start over and re-do areas I'm not happy with on the body tub.

I then plan to ali skin the inner bay area, or a cheaper alternative as ali is approx £140 a sheet! The cockpit inner sides and tunnel etc. will be carpeted with a carbon dash and tunnel top. The rear compartment area will remain bare unitl I've mounted the ali tank I have and designed and installed the rear hoop.

I am also looking to order and make a start on the fuel and brake lines, all non existent at present.