LocostUSA.com

Thanks for the comments guys. A flying locost? Hasn't that been done on Mythbusters with Buster at the wheel? The demolition has slowed down becuase I'm working and staying away from home during the week. This does give me time to read the posts and topics here though. Yes I will most likely over build the frame, but I don't mind erroring on the side of overbuilding instead of not. One thing I have noticed before the demo, I took this 3300+ pound car with a high output 302 (5.0L) and by applying slight pressure on the brake and the same on the gas, the rear tires create an amazing amount of blue/gray smoke. I've had 302's in boogey vans (that should time stamp me) and cars that were carbed and they didn't perform anything like this...I'm impressed. Now I'm using this power in a platform that may weigh a little more than 1/2 the OEM weight, this L.S.O. might make me feel 20 years old again. That will give the grand kids something to talk about.

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

You saying you had that boogie fever? I bet you had a pair of angel flights too

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"There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ..." Randall Garrett

Why yes I did but not that brand name. Bicycle chain was tough on them. Also had the side zip up boots with the 2 1\2" heels.

That was quite a few haircuts ago.

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

Diff ratio is 2.73:1

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

Finished demolition this past weekend. Had to use the red handle wrench below to access the cruise control vac actuator.
Lots of wiring macaroni that will have to be sorted through.

Wonder what Henry would have thought of all this?
Next will be to strip the components off the eng. Split it from the trans and get them on the build table for frame measurements.
Working and staying away from home during the week kind of slows the build down.

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

That is a lot of wires. I suddenly feel inferior. My wiring harness is puny.

I know this is not building updates but I have to get the eng/trans split and cleaned up to be able to put them on the build table so that I can take some measurements for the frame build. So that's what I did today.

Stripped the eng down to the point where an old carb guy like me recognises the block. Took the eng and trans outside and washed 24 years of grime off. The eng height from bottom of oil pan to top of air plennum is 28", length from back of block to WP flange is 29", width from spark plug end to spark plug end is 20" (no ex man). I will swap out the long oil filter for the shorter version, this will solve the problem of the filter sticking way out.
Turning around in the shop I looked under my bench and realized that there was a complete Locost under there - somewhere.

I've been struggling with what to do with the OEM spindles for lower BJ's, I think I've reached a solution that will work for me. I want to use the same lower BJ setup that I used on the Chevette build but the tapered hole is too large. I will fab up a threaded insert with the properly tapered hole for the lower BJ that will screw in to the bottom of the spindle once the hole is drilled and tapped (no welding). I will post fab pics. Will fab the top BJ adapter to accept the same TRE that I used on the Chevette build. I will also post pics of this fab.
Going to city tomorrow morning to pick up steel for the build.

On a side note I now know I've been out of the auto repair industry too long. Would you believe there is no speedo cable to disconnect at the instrument cluster??? When the ell did that happen?????

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

Sitting in a hotel room wishing I was building = sucks to be me......

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

I know how you feel. Fortunately, I do not have to travel so much anymore.

The speedo cables went away on Fords around the mid-80s. The gears in the tailhousing and on the sensor stayed the same.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12

I told my wifey I wasn't going to start the build till it snowed........as I stood in the shop this morning, I was smiling.

Last weekend I started fabbing my top BJ adapters. Finished them up this morning. Very happy with them. There is room to add the front fender mount tubing to this when the time comes. Tapered hole is reamed to 7*. The top hole is threaded 7\16 NF.

Installed the adapters on a spindle to check the fit and take some measurements (these are rough measurements, not exact).


Pulled out the build table and dusted it off. I had to widen the rear of it 3" and added 4" to the front of it. Set the table in place and leveled it.

Marked my datum line on the table and said to myself "self, it's time to start the build". Brought in some 1 1/4" - .100" sq tubing and after some figurin', I cut some steel.

After checking eng/trans placement I cut 2 "C" cross tubes, one will go across the indent in the oil pan and one will go across the front of the pan (of course the pan will be higher than the front tube). If anything, I may place the pan 1" lower than the frame with a skid plate to protect it.

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

Here is an idea if you would like to reduce the kpa further and don't mind using a standard spherical. This should allow you to make the kpa whatever you need it to be.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12

Yo Perry-
Holy Crap-Oley, Batman! IT SNOWED THERE??? Geeeeze... How's your pet penguin doing? We had a cold day here, I had to change from shorts to jeans... It was only 64F...

OK, enough gloating...

That engine looks familiar... Good powerplant! I like the narrow V for a build like ours, even if it does make it kind of a tall package.

Sounds like you're using the ol' double sump Ford pan. Be sure to allow a way to change the oil in BOTH places. Or, you can do like most people and just never change the little front one... I've got a full belly pan on mine, going to go with holes in it so as to reach the plugs. Might be messy, but it'll have to do.

Depending on the headers you plan to use, the motor mounts and downpipes like to get in each other's way a little bit on the 302. You've probably already planned around that, but I'd recommend getting the headers before you fab the motor mounts. (unlike SOME builders you know... )

Frame layout is lookin' good. Keep us posted on your progress and STAY WARM!!!
Regards-
JD Kemp

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Soooo, the 5.0L is a tall engine. Set the eng\trans on the lower frame to take some measurements.


Cut and glued some more steel tonight.

Now to spend the next 5 days working away from home instead of building. But on a lighter note - you have to work to play

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

Thanks JD - BTW wifey doesn't call it my pet penguin, she calls it "the duke". And yes, judging by the way "the duke" is looking, it's pretty darn cold out.

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

And there we go... STRAIGHT into the gutter... Knew I liked you.
Yep, good thing we're 2100+ miles apart. Cap'n and coffee is the only way to face Disney World, but overall I prefer Hornitos.


JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom