kevyo89
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| posted on 7/1/19 at 11:24 PM |
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Can I widen the front track on a Ron Champion Locost?
So I am just curious about whether the front track can be widened on the Ron Champion Locost - will the geometry be messed up if I made wishbones that
were 2" longer? I assume it would but I am keen to hear about how this can be done successfully and keeping some useable geometry.
The reason I ask is because I want to fit a 50-52" atlas axle and I assume the front will need to be widened appropriately.
Thanks in advance 
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mark chandler
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| posted on 7/1/19 at 11:35 PM |
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I widened mine by a couple of inches, car handles great.
 
Rescued attachment NSF lower wishbone 23 OCT 2005.JPG
Point the shock at the ball joint so you do not load it up reducing the risk of bending, I used old landrover steering arm tie rods for steel as
garages throw this stuff out when ball joints go as they can buy in new rods fitted with track rods for the same cost of a pair of track rod ends
without the grief of freeing them up, decent thick walled steel 
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big_wasa
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 06:06 AM |
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I added 4" to mine to match an atlas axle.
I had to move the steering rack a little to tune out as much bump steer as possible
Edit.
The early kit manufactures made the fronts even wider to match the sierra rear end.
[Edited on 8/1/19 by big_wasa]
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907
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 06:27 AM |
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My chassis is 4" wider to match the Sierra dif & drive shafts at the rear,
but in making the chassis wider this negates the need for wider wish bones.
Longer bones would need to be stronger.
Paul G
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AdamR20
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 08:22 AM |
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You can do that but there are a host of factors to consider if you want to do it properly, as touched upon by the posts above.
Personally I wouldn't bother, the only 'gain' worth having, if you like to go shopping in your car anyway, ia increased steering
lock.
[Edited on 8/1/19 by AdamR20]
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Charlie C
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 08:34 AM |
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The Haynes roadster front track matchs the rear Sierra axle track, it might be worth looking to see if the chassie is wider or the wishbones are
longer.
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kevyo89
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 01:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
I widened mine by a couple of inches, car handles great.
Rescued attachment NSF lower wishbone 23 OCT 2005.JPG
Point the shock at the ball joint so you do not load it up reducing the risk of bending, I used old landrover steering arm tie rods for steel as
garages throw this stuff out when ball joints go as they can buy in new rods fitted with track rods for the same cost of a pair of track rod ends
without the grief of freeing them up, decent thick walled steel
Thanks mate. Is this on a Ron Champion (book-spec) locost? Can you explain further what you mean by 'pointing the shock at the ball
joint'? Do you just mean reposition the mount for the bottom of the shock to be close to the ball joint?
Did you just go by the wishbone specs within the Ron Champion book albeit with an extra tow inches onto the length of the arms at the end that mounts
to the chassis?
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kevyo89
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 01:41 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
I added 4" to mine to match an atlas axle.
I had to move the steering rack a little to tune out as much bump steer as possible
Edit.
The early kit manufactures made the fronts even wider to match the sierra rear end.
[Edited on 8/1/19 by big_wasa]
In what way did you move the steering rack?
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kevyo89
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 01:44 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by AdamR20
You can do that but there are a host of factors to consider if you want to do it properly, as touched upon by the posts above.
Personally I wouldn't bother, the only 'gain' worth having, if you like to go shopping in your car anyway, ia increased steering
lock.
[Edited on 8/1/19 by AdamR20]
I know what you're saying but I really like the look of the larger Haynes cars - I picked up an unfinished locost project with the chassis
largely finished so I can't start from scratch. I have seen the arms lengthened before on other book-spec locosts but I just wasn't sure
how exactly this should be done.
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kevyo89
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 02:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Charlie C
The Haynes roadster front track matchs the rear Sierra axle track, it might be worth looking to see if the chassie is wider or the wishbones are
longer.
I wonder if the Haynes arms would fit the Ron Champion Locost?
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procomp
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 05:21 PM |
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It Depends on what exactly your trying to achieve. But if you take the Locost Race championship cars where we push them as far as we can go within the
regulations the first thing you would do is Make the wishbones as long as possible then fit +1" spacers then fit 0 ofset rims.
The basic problem is the car has the wrong track wheelbase ratios giving inherent under-steer so wider front track helps to dial this out. Then with
correct ratio damper valving you can achieve just about any bias of handling you need neutral or under / over steer. the scrub is horrendous but the
Cortina geometry is appealing anyhow compared to the Sierra upright and doesn't really show as any worse than std to the feel.
At the rear just run +1" spacers and 0 ofset rims.
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kevyo89
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 05:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by procomp
It Depends on what exactly your trying to achieve. But if you take the Locost Race championship cars where we push them as far as we can go within the
regulations the first thing you would do is Make the wishbones as long as possible then fit +1" spacers then fit 0 ofset rims.
The basic problem is the car has the wrong track wheelbase ratios giving inherent under-steer so wider front track helps to dial this out. Then with
correct ratio damper valving you can achieve just about any bias of handling you need neutral or under / over steer. the scrub is horrendous but the
Cortina geometry is appealing anyhow compared to the Sierra upright and doesn't really show as any worse than std to the feel.
At the rear just run +1" spacers and 0 ofset rims.
Procomp, thanks for your reply. I have just sent you a PM.
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steve m
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| posted on 8/1/19 at 06:40 PM |
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My home built locost has 4" narrower front track than the rear, and ive never had an issue in the 19 years its been on the road
steve
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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GR124
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| posted on 30/4/19 at 05:01 AM |
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I built a "book Chassis" (track car only) once I knew what the rear track width was I made the front track at 50mm wider, 25mm each side.
It turns in sooo good. I know there are other contributing factors. But I knew the general design should have a wider front track.
To answer the initial question, yes you can widen Rons design. Correct me if I'm wrong but Rons design is based on the old escort diffs, which
are quite narrow. My subaru diff, MX5 axles and ET-0 8" wide wheels makes it seem wide.
[Edited on 30/4/19 by GR124]
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