Alez
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 01:31 PM |
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Which is my kit?
Hi All!
I'm starting to like the idea of a Locost daily driver with the following setup:
-Built from a kit (I'd buy a kit in the UK and have it built here in Spain)
-De Dion + LSD, say 15" wheels
-Full weather gear + heater + wipers
-Around 180-200 bph + reliable engine
-Around 650-700 kg or less with no spare wheel
-Normal seatbelt instead of harness, a stereo, a small boot and stuff like that
My current Locost is very different from this (it's a dry weather only BEC) and I'm not familiar enough with the different kit
manufacturers (GTS, Luego, Formula 27, Mac #1, Birkin, MK, YCK, MNR, Tiger, missing any?) to know which ones would suit my project best in terms of
difficulty and cost.
Also I am clueless as for what engine would suit me best in terms of cost and availability of a good chassis to take it. Ford Zetecs and Duratecs seem
very popular but I don't know how they compare to other solutions in terms of cost:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ford_engines
Also I'd like to know if it's a beter choice for my project to use a stock V6 or a preparation of a smaller engine.
I'm equally keen on the different types of engines (variable / fixed valve timing, atmosferic / turbo, high revs jap / conventional), I like
them all, so I'd favour the cheap options as long as I get my bhp target. In other words, I don't plan to use all that power too often,
plus I'm not after an ultra-light Locost either am I?
Thoughts please??
Cheers,
Alex
[Edited on 9/2/06 by Alez]
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ned
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 02:16 PM |
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Alex,
I would personally look at luego looking at your requirements.
I would think the veloicty with a zetec or duratec and full weather gear would fit the bill.
Not the cheapest but probably one of the easier to assemble kits, plenty of backup on the phone and they supply full weather gear which as far as
I'm aware is what many other manufcaturers don't.
Westfield would be another option, but more expensive.
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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ditchlewis
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 02:17 PM |
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How about a westfield se, they have a 190bhp ford duratec.
Ditch
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Kissy
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 03:11 PM |
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Forget F27, antiquated design, not sure of current company status, think it's owned by YKC. Anyway FORGET F27!
Think BHP/Ton, power delivery, and whether it will handle and transfer the power usably to the ground.
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Alez
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 03:25 PM |
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Cheers guys, good advices
Ned, according to the Luego website, there are 3 different cars available: Viento (large), Velocity Xt and Locost (book).
The Velocity Xt "uses the IRS rear end from the Sierra". From what I've been reading in this forum in the past, I thought this was
the main reason why Robin Hood cars were sh1t3.. I had the idea that mating a Sierra rear end and a Seven type chassis was a bit of a monstrosity 
Now I read your post and also that "this is one of the best performing and handling sports cars on the market" (Luego website) and wonder
how this has been achieved by Luego from an apparently similar concept than the Robin Hood uses. BTW the Velocity uses Sierra front uprights too.
Cheers,
Alex
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Alez
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 03:35 PM |
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Or maybe I could buy a cheap book Locost (such as Conrodkid's here, 2500 GBP), buy
all the weather gear from Luego and have the engine replaced with a Cosworth turbo and the weather gear installed, together with the other bits
(heater, wipers and so on)?
Although having said that, he is selling it to build a Zetec himself, there must be a reason for it.
Is the 200 bhp Cossworth turbo engine a good choice today? Is it a straight replacement?
Cheers,
Alex
[Edited on 9/2/06 by Alez]
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donut
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 03:38 PM |
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For a reliable daily driver do you need 180 - 200bhp? I would have thought that 130 from something like a Zetec would be more than enough.
You can then have your 500bhp Locost as a fun toy!!
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
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ned
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 03:44 PM |
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Alex,
The Luego Velocity is much like the MK Indy in that they both use the rear axle from a sierra. By rear axle I mean the dif, driveshafts and hubs.
The reference you make to robin hood is probably the fact that, like tiger they used the entire sierra rear trailing arms which are large, heavy, ugly
and not ideal geometry wise on a locost.
The luego, mk and other similar cars use their own design of double wishbone suspension which is far superior to the original trailing arm as used on
the sierra and robin hood.
Hope this clarifies things a little.
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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Jasper
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 03:54 PM |
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Hey Alex - how you doing .....
Don't just think Seven - how about a nice full bodied car with great weather protection and doors! Ideal for daily driving and the ladies like
nice doors to open
Worth looking at a part built or secondhand Stylus or Fisher. You can get a decent SVA'd Stylus for around £3-5 with a crap old Pinto or Xflow,
then put a decent lump in.
And don't forget the Jap engines, lots of cheap power if you can sort out the electrics.
BTW - if you want to see one of the best ever bands live in your home town next week then go check out Bauhaus for some classic Goth/Punk - I'm
gutted 'cos I missed them in London last week - they are truely awesome:
Here's the details:
Bauhaus
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DaveFJ
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 03:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ned
Alex,
The Luego Velocity is much like the MK Indy in that they both use the rear axle from a sierra. By rear axle I mean the dif, driveshafts and hubs.
The reference you make to robin hood is probably the fact that, like tiger they used the entire sierra rear trailing arms which are large, heavy, ugly
and not ideal geometry wise on a locost.
The luego, mk and other similar cars use their own design of double wishbone suspension which is far superior to the original trailing arm as used on
the sierra and robin hood.
Hope this clarifies things a little.
Ned.
To clarify slightly further, The Tiger Cat uses the entire rear assembly from a Sierra. Other models, including the Avon, use just the diff and shafts
the same as Mk et al......
[Edited on 9/2/06 by DaveFJ]
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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Alez
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| posted on 9/2/06 at 04:00 PM |
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Donut, I'm after a high performance daily driver to take to the highway. I would buy a second hand Honda NSX (as good on the highway as it is on
the roads) if I could afford it.
Ned and Dave, it's perfectly clear now, thanks!
Hey Jasper! Good advice, thanks. I didn't know you could buy one of those so cheap. Although Locosts are cheaper and more standard parts
available I think.
Cheers,
Alex
[Edited on 10/2/06 by Alez]
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scotmac
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| posted on 18/2/06 at 08:37 AM |
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Note, the RobinHood L/W only uses the sierra diff, halfshaft/driveaxles and hubs, w/ a tubular welded IRS....NOT the entire sierra rear-assembly.
Also, they are planning to release a similarly equiped 2b in the near future.
[Edited on 18/2/06 by scotmac]
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ady8077
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| posted on 18/2/06 at 06:21 PM |
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Hi Alex
Have you been for a drive in any kits?
I had a passenger ride in a few sevens before deciding on my Stylus, around the twisty country roads the sevens were great but on the dual carrage
ways i didn't like the wind bufferting around the screen
If you fancy a trip Totalkitcar have organised an action day at Oulton park in March, you can have passenger rides in about 40 different cars
http://www.totalkitcar.com/tkc_article_1077.php
Adrian
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