by "LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
Published 01/31/2017 at 13:05
by "LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
Published 01/31/2017 at 13:05
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STARS: 3
Hey all. Long time reader of Jalopnik and lurker of Oppo. Debated for a while on if i wanted to write about my experiences and have finally decided to just ask you all if you are interested in the journey I am on. I imagine there have been at least of few of you who have thought about or pondered the idea of building a locost. Well I have determined that I am crazy enough to actually give it a shot as the picture probably shows. If you guys are interested in hearing about my build so far and as it progresses i would be glad to share and as any questions anyone may be wondering to the best of my ability. Cyuh!
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
01/31/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 0
I want to do this as well i got welders and crap and 1" box tubing is cheap. I think I actually foound a locost build book with all the pans on the intersnetss.
"just-a-scratch" (just-a-scratch)
01/31/2017 at 16:55, STARS: 0
YES! Give us some updates on that when you can. I’m currently in process of expanding the garage as the first step of my own car build.
"Jerry Harding" (jerrylh3)
01/31/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 0
By all means, do tell. Build stories are fun. Build stories of cars built from scratch are even better.
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 20:07, STARS: 0
If you want a physical book look around online I found mine from a used book seller over in the UK that shipped a great condition book to my house for $12 and it has been very useful and was truly the tipping point for starting the project but more on that in the Pt.1/catch-up post I am going to hopefully post in a bit. Thank you for the interest have been debating this for a bit.
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 20:09, STARS: 0
Are you building a “locost” or something even more unique?!?!?! MUST KNOW DETAILS!!!!! Yea about the garage expanding bit....its quicker just to kick a car out....poor jeep.
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
01/31/2017 at 20:10, STARS: 0
hmm last I looked it seems the books are out of print and people want tons of money for them.
I just remembered I think I used my university print credit at the end of the semester and printed out all the plans! I need to find that.
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 20:10, STARS: 0
Thanks for the interest! Was hesitant to fill a slot with what may turn into my boring ramblings about decisions I will eventually have to make further down the road for the build but for now I will try to stay only at the current steps!
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 20:31, STARS: 0
I will do some digging in my interwebs history...dark place...and see if i can find the site i used but it was only back in August or so when i ordered mine.
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 20:35, STARS: 0
abebooks.com
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
01/31/2017 at 22:17, STARS: 0
cool thanks i found the files its the haynes build your own sportscar book
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 22:25, STARS: 0
Somehow I missed or glanced over the haynes remake of the car! If I were to start over i would consider that over the original book. From what i gather it is more inline with modern donor cars available.
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
01/31/2017 at 22:35, STARS: 0
this site is a good resource and has plans and cut lists and crap
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 22:56, STARS: 0
That is a good resource! bookmark that! That last drawing could’ve save me from a cut and re-weld! The original book is great but it misses on some minor details here and there and some of the drawings in the book do contradict what is written in the paragraphs so you can spend half the day figuring out which to listen to. The cut list is a good starting point but i don’t know how many donors will fit a true “book chassis”, maybe a miata? (always the answer) but good luck getting one of those for a decent price just the rip the engine and trans out of! (Plus then the “book chassis” needs to be modified for the IRS in the rear. You just can’t win!) But HEY! any bit of info helps!
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
01/31/2017 at 23:10, STARS: 0
Its been a long time since I was doing crap loads of research on building one. I do remember reading that the book and actual chassis differs as you said. I amd torn between wanting to build one like a modern caterham and building a close lotus type car or just adapting whatever cheap donor car.
BTW what do you have in the chassis so far? I can’t imagine it costs much but been a while since i bought tubing.
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 23:26, STARS: 1
Initial tubing was ~$300 which included all the tubes if i didn’t mess anything up for the chassis and transmission tunnel according to the book plus 2" in height. Donor car was $750 delivered to my side yard buy the owner which helped a bunch and was worth a bit of money in my eyes. I had to source a manual transmission which I forget the actual number for the cost for a junkyard to pull it and ship to to me but if your donor has you transmission of choice than there is cost savings there. I also could have saved? money by using a 5.0L t-5 transmission but that requires input shaft swaps and such which seemed to add to the headache so I paid what I imagine is slightly more for the transmission already set up to go with the engine. I had to re-order a tube or 3 because either my or the book measurements were off here or there and i also bought plate steel at that time (plate steel is by and far more expensive than tube apparently!) The plate i bought is just for odds and ends and i needed it for the upper supports where the roll bar loop where eventually connect to. That is another $170 or so if memory serves. I have receipts in a folder in the other room for registration purposes if you want nitty gritty. Overall I have a bit under $2,000 into it so far but that includes 80% of the drive-train and chassis. Wheels/tires and plate metal for the floor pan/fire wall/rear bulkhead/body panels are the last big expenditures i foresee. Overall i feel i can finish it for ~$5000 realistically but who knows what might come up or I might feel like splurging on to be happier with the overall outcome.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
02/01/2017 at 10:18, STARS: 0
Yes! Looking forward to seeing your progress.
"just-a-scratch" (just-a-scratch)
02/01/2017 at 10:55, STARS: 0
My welding skills don’t exist yet, so a Locost is probably not the best idea now. I’m thinking about an Exocet. It’s not totally decided, but I’m really leaning that direction now. I thought about going super budget lightweight with something like the Vettekart, but I’m not sure I would ever get the weight balance & handling issues sorted out.
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
02/01/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 0
tbh my “welding skills” didn’t/don’t really exist when i started. I got some scrap metal at a local supplier and got to the point where i could run a decent bead the showed good solid penetration through the metal and then I went about tac welding the frame together. I have just a basic flux core only welder so nothing is “pretty” but it is super simple to operate and gets the job done! Only prior welding experience was using my fathers stick welder on a few odds and ends...o and the one time i bent the lower control arm bracket on my Jeep before I had to drive it half way across the country! I am taking the whole project at my pace and learning as i go. Couldn’t be happier at my decision but totally understand everyone who goes a different route. If I had money then I would have probably bought a Caterham kit and bolted it together but only because I would’ve let those additional funds scare me out of the opportunity to learn this ability.
"just-a-scratch" (just-a-scratch)
02/01/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 0
I have been planning on a 240V outlet in the new garage space, specifically for a welder. I haven’t figured out what would be the best starting point for that though. Flux core, MIG, stick, TIG, or oxy-acetylene, I don’t know which would be best for me to start with. It sounds like you’re having success with a pretty simple setup. I have to admit I’m curious if I’m up to the TIG challenge. It would allow a lot of options.
"LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
02/01/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 0
I have the 240V in the garage from the previous owner but my little flux core welder is 110v as it has plenty of juice to handle the thickness of metal that this job requires. (16ga steel makes up 95% of the job) Everything I have read says to start on a MIG because it is simple but wont allow you to develop some bad habits that flux core can allow. I simply did not want to deal with the argon gas bottle so went with the crazy simple flux core. Stick welding works best for thicker steel and such unless you are really skilled with it then it becomes more useful all around. One day I plan to get into proper MIG welding and learn how to make a true beautiful weld but for now I am just making sure my welds turn two pieces of metal into one!