LocostUSA.com

I love the bling factor that will come from starting my Locost with this key.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914

Sweetness! I didn't know they made turbo keys! But I'd rather have one that says "Ferrari" . It'd be almost as cool as the glow in the dark key that came with my 97 Neon ACR.

_________________
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

Something to keep in mind if you do pick up an xr4ti, is the wiring harness.
On the turbo coupe, the engine harness also contains the abs, ride control, lighting etc... On the xr4ti, the engine harness is only engine. About all you have to do is plug in the ecm, add a power and ground and you are about ready to go. They are great for 2.3turbo swaps.

You will love the 2.3t engine and they take mods fairly easy. I autocrossed a Turbocoupe for 2 years. I had a big valve head built with a front mount saab 9000 intercooler and a t3-t4 hybrid turbo. Gutted intake plenum and aftermarket turbo exhaust manifold with a factory Ford Ranger roller cam. I ran 24lbs boost on a stock 120,000 mile plus bottom end. I never dynoed it, but it made the big car roll. You have to try real real hard to break one of these engines. In regular driving, I could get 30mpg on the hwy. I am actually looking for one now as a decent daily driver.

Gene

_________________
1987 Fiero Caddy V-8 Powered
1994 Vulcan 1500 2 wheeler
SHO Powered Locost coming to a street near you Summer 2009 uhh 2012/2013????.
http://www.scrabblegod.com/locost

And if I'm not mistaken you can get at twin cam Volvo head and bolt it up for mad powa! btw Gene, if you see one of those with straight valves come along let me know! (I have a 240 that wants it)

_________________
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

IndyJoe,
Very nice! I'll be watching your build closely.

SamM

_________________
1964 Lotus Seven Replica

I use SolidWorks everyday at work, and I have license at home too, so I wanted to model up the entire build in 3D before I cut any steel. Kinda like Jim McSorley. Speaking of which, I mus tip my hat to Jim. I e-mailed him to request his 3D model of the T-5 tranny he had, and he sent me his entire engine assembly along with the transmission. That's his engine shown in the chassis in progress below. Now that I have the engine out of the Tbird, I can take my own messurements and place things in the model.

I'm in AWE of the CAD work Andrew Moore has done in his build log, and I'm going for similar.

Note: this model is with INCH size square tubing. The major dimensions are pulled from the Chriss Gibbs book. I will make this entire model available to the Locost community, once it's complete.

-Indy "Computer Aided" Joe

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914

Yes, you can get your subframe into your wifes minivan.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914

I picked up my suspension pieces tonight. They're from an late 80's Merkur XR4Ti. I got everything I needed for $150 and never turned a wrench on the car. The guy had it all pulled off for me. That was kinda cool.

Here's what I got:

Front spindles with brakes
Steering Rack with ends
Master cylinder and brake proportioning valve
Parking brake handle and cables
Complete Rear subframe assembly with center diff and axles
Steering column
Four stock Merkur wheels with tires (that won't hold air)
And a box of bolts the guy thru in.

They're a bit dirty and rusty, but I can clean them up.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914

That motor is pretty tall even without the turbo crossover pipe. Is it too tall for the Gibbs frame?

_________________
"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. "
Mac McCleary

Tim,

It's the exact engine that Gibbs used in the book, only this one's Turbo, and he used the N/A version. So it'll fit in there as long as i don't screw something up. I plan to later on build a custom upper intake manifold that's rotated 90deg to point towards the front of the car, and route the boosted air to an intercooler up front and back around. That'll eliminate the tall cross-over on top of the valve cover.

He did shorten the oil pan by 1-1/4" (30mm) to help out with over all height.

-Indy "How low can ya go?" Joe

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914

Ahh, that explains a lot.

Are you planning on Mustang II spindles/brakes. If not, what is the plan for the rear end?

Those donors are cheap in my area. It might be a good option. There may be another T-Bird build on the way.

I look forward to seeing your build progress.

_________________
"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. "
Mac McCleary

i thought that he used a 1.6???

another reason it is awesome to be American, our cars have the big power>>>

Scrubbles,

You're mostly correct, and I over simplified it when I said it was "exactly" the same engine that Gibbs used in his book. I'm accurate when refering to the external of the engine. Gibbs ( based in England ) used the European Ford Sierra as his donor car. We (USA) had the same vehicle available here but it was called the Merkur XR4Ti. The Sierra had the "Pinto" engine in it which came in three different displacements: 1.3L - 1.6L - & 2.0L. I'm not sure which displacement Gibbs used for his prototype. But externally all the engines are the same. Now here in the states we got the same engine, but with MORE displacement. We got it with 2.3L, and this engine is called the "Lima" engine ( because it was built in Lima, OH). Since the engine should bolt up the same, for practical purposes let's just say it's the same engine.





Agreed, and not only did we get more displacement, we got the TURBO version too ! Hurray ! ! Now we're having fun.

Check out this link for more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine

-Indy "Lima Turbo" Joe

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914

Unfortunately, you're wrong, the real Pinto just looks like the Lima, that is where the similarity ends.

_________________
SteveL
Too many toys to list...

Steve,

Can you elaborate. I know your into the European Fords, I saw you and Fourthmeal chatting about his Capri.

My information was based on what I read on Wikipedia. I've never lived in England, nor have I ever owned a european spec Ford. But I do have some of their drive-line components sitting in my garage.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914