Locost Lotus 7 projects

"Hermann" (hermann)
08/12/2013 at 18:40 • Filed to: BMW, Lotus, Locost

Has anyone seen/heard of one of these things (I didn't even know these existed until a few hours ago)? I think it's a great idea if you already have a nice donor.

Here's the thing:
Me and a friend we've come across a E36 325i sedan that has been sitting under a tree for around 10 years now. The previous owner has past away and his son let it rot (at least that's the story I've heard). It has been drained and otherwise it's sitting there.

I haven't seen the car but my friend has and took some pictures (More SR20 tomorrow, if you want). The engine, tranny (it's an auto, unfortunately) and pretty much the whole powertrain are in good conditions while the body is all rusty, the seats have rotten and it looks like someone tried to rip open the door panels for some reason.

The owner's asking the equivalent of US$1500, which may sound CP, but some might know I live in Brazil. And for this price you can barely get a used motorbike in decent conditions here. For a E36 325i you'll have to reach for at least US$8,000. As a good Jalop, Opponaut and Mechanical Engineering student, I am in a constant search of a good project that even if it takes years, it can match my dreams. I am constantly searching for nice barn finds, good engines and stuff I could hoard until I get to wrench them. And to this date, the best I could find was a US$3000 Chevy Opala Coupé with no rust but a broken engine and a US$3500 Chevy Vortec 4.3 engine + tranny taken from a totaled Blazer. That would be an awesome project. But this only shows what a find this BMW is, for US$1500.

It's a M50 engine in supposedly decent conditions. I have garage and equipment to weld and wrench. There are lots of Locost projects around, and I still have years of engineering ahead. So, even if it takes years, I could wait. Can you guys please convince me not to do it?

DISCUSSION (21)

Telumektar > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 18:48

No.

Do it.

Hermann > Telumektar
08/12/2013 at 18:53

Geez! Haven't seen you around in a while!
Should I do it, even though it's an auto?

Updated with pictures, for everyone's viewing pleasures.

Telumektar > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 18:58

Heh, you can always make a swap, this stuff takes time after all.

I was searching for a nice Locost-7 build, this one is good, the guy made the frame and all the bodywork and is currently in the process of twin-charging the car's original 1.6 (from a Miata). Crazy.

http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtop…

Those locostusa.com forums are full of info.

I've been reading stuff but I'm not posting much over here.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 19:14

If you want low cost, I would advise against any thing with a computer. But, if you feel like dicking around with that, and IF the motor is not seized, then that's not a terrible choice of a motor.

NaturallyAspirated > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 19:33

If I had a garage, I probably would have turned my totalled NA Miata into a Locost. I'd be a little hesitant about a German car with an automatic.

Hermann > Telumektar
08/12/2013 at 19:57

Thanks for the info. I will sweep through some of these forums when I can.

I found a blog of a guy in my city building one. He's using a VW AP1800 as donor, though. Not nearly as badass as my idea, ahahah.

Hermann > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/12/2013 at 20:01

Yeah, I'd prefer something without computers, but the only engines without them I can find are either ancient rusty VW1800 and VW Bug engines.

It excited me because the M50 is a beautiful engine with a big aftermarket and the entire car in the standing conditions is cheaper than many rusty engines I've seen for sale around.

Hermann > NaturallyAspirated
08/12/2013 at 20:02

I'd happily turn many other things into a locost, but this has been the best choice I've found. The other good one was the Vortec 4.3, which was also an Auto.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 20:03

If you can get it to turn over, go for it.

Telumektar > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 20:05

I6 FTW

Hermann > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/12/2013 at 20:05

Cross your fingers!

Well, cross them on saturday. I won't have time during the week.

Hermann > Telumektar
08/12/2013 at 20:07

I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Ah, the possibilities!

SteyrTMP > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 20:43

You rang?

Kinja'd!!!

(BTW... it's a 1.8, and the twin-charging was just a thought... most likely not going to happen. The Super 16G is enough to get around 400whp if I really pushed, but 300whp at a 1500lb curb weight is my goal)

Hermann > SteyrTMP
08/12/2013 at 20:45

Okay... you, sir, have gotten my serious attention. My boxers are wet now. What a beautiful thing!

Did you weld the frame yourself?

SteyrTMP > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 20:57

Yes. I have learned to MIG and TIG on that car... I reduced the factory harness from 140ish wires to less than 40, and it's about 8 feet shorter. My dad helped me build a MegaSquirt III ECU. Just about everything is fabbed. The scuttle is one of the only things I haven't made... I regret it once in a while. I can't wait to have the fenders on... it will look totally different. (BTW, these are old pictures, they got touched up and tweaked since... still not 100% finished, but just need some grinding here and there. Eventually, two LED round taillights will go in each, just under the overhang.)

Kinja'd!!!

SteyrTMP > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 21:08

Go ahead and join the LocostUSA forum. Definately worth it, there's a lot of information there, even if not posted. I know most of the guys there, and they know me. I'll do whatever I can do to help. I've been working 50+ hours a week, and been pretty busy; I don't even get to finish Jalop/Oppo some nights.

Once you join, feel free to email me through there. I'm a little leery at posting my email on here, and as far as I know, there is no way of adding your email, or PMs for that matter, to a profile here, unlike most BBS boards.

SteyrTMP > Hermann
08/12/2013 at 21:11

And, just to REALLY get you started... here's this before I crash for the night:

Kinja'd!!!

(Sadly, I didn't find out about this until I had already welded in the floor pan. Otherwise... Either way, I'm guessing you can figure where I got the idea for my back fenders...)

Hermann > SteyrTMP
08/13/2013 at 17:45

Honestly, it looks kinda weird. I prefer the traditional look. But it's still an amazing piece of work! Thanks!

Hermann > SteyrTMP
08/13/2013 at 17:47

Thank you! Thank you very much!

I'll certainly join. But I will only lurk for a time, while I prepare to start. I'm super busy with both engineering and I'm also gettin married in february, so that's also a lot of stuff to get busy with (especially moneywise).

But thanks for the support. I'll look for you when I join.

SteyrTMP > Hermann
08/14/2013 at 19:48

I hate the Kamm back they have on theirs. I'd definately put a sloped back, and a ducktail, a lot like the 911.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Hermann
08/01/2020 at 22:58

On BMW 3-series? The door panels are always ripped up because the window regulators have a half-life of a Kanye tweet.