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Chet just saw your post on the sway bar. I have a Miata bar setting around in the garage just begging for me to do that. Do you have any better pics of the attachment to the "A" arm? Is the upper or lower arm? Russ

Hey Russ. Hope things have been well for you. I get compliments on the plaque all the time.

The swaybar link attaches to the lower arm, alongside the coilover. All I did was cut the factory endlink in half and stuck the cut ends into a tube (and welded them there) that I cut to the proper length to clear the upper arm. Really a pretty simple ordeal. Below is a pic of the attachment tacked into place.

Tks, Chet. Did you cut the width of the bar any? Russ

Nope, but I'm running pretty much stock Miata track width.

Another "mod" I'm executing along the way to the repaint is the seating position. My high in the saddle (for autocross visibility) seating postion is not good for highway travel, so I've decided to lower the seats a bit. I wanted to preserve the Miata factory seat sliders since Jack will be using the car for a demonstrator and will need to accomodate different drivers. This meant I had to notch the seat a bit. No worries, that's a "dead" area of the seat anyway.

Pics say it all:

Jack,
I'm 250 miles north of there. I may try to swing down if I get a chance.

SamM

Well Chet, I've got to ask the inevetible question...... Will you build again??? Another Locost? Something Else? You were such an avid builder, I can't imagine just quitting................... What's the plan???????

Oh I'm sure I'll build again. Who knows when, perhaps when my boys are older.






Today I was finally able to get started with the paint. What an ordeal stripping the POR15 turned out to be. It took me days to get that frame stripped bare. I was laying on the Rust Bullet, moving right along to my second coat of the underside when it became obvious I don't have enough paint. That stuff doesn't go as far as the POR15. I'll be ordering another quart tomorrow.

I spent the better part of the day fabricating a new set of front fender stays. Anyone who has completed one of these cars with cycle fenders and driven it much will tell you this is one of the more difficult pieces to get right. You'd be amazed at the amount of flex you get when you hit even a small bump in the road. (since they travel with the wheel they take a beating) My first version barely survived my trip to Lexington and back last year. Since Jack is going to be driving the car across the continent I knew he would need something better. The ones I made today are incredibly solid, made out of 16g 3/4" tube and 1/8" steel. Someday when I get time I'll do a write up on how to make them since the Miata upright is so popular and it may save some folks a good bit of work. They are pretty simple once you figure out the angles and such. Tomorrow I need to finish up the car assembly since Jack will be here to pick it up on Tuesday.

no joke about how much of a beating cycle fender mounts take. it took me 3 versions to end up with something that works...

Wow, that frame is looking great!

Yep, I'm here now and seeing it with my own eyes, it's looking quite nice. We'll have completed ready-to-roll photos in a day or two.

Well it's in Jack's hands now, and in a way for the next couple weeks he's in it's hands as he drives it from WV to FL to Oregon. I enjoyed building the car, and I don't regret selling it. The real rewards for my work were the things I learned and the friends I made while building it, the car is just a by-product of the experience. I made some memories with it and took lots of pictures, so no matter who has the car I will always have those and they are plenty enough for me. Someday when my boys are old enough to help I may build another. (surely out of 3 boys I will have at least one interested in cars ) In the meantime I hope Jack enjoys it while he has it, and that whoever has it after that enjoys it. I had fun building it and I look forward to my nest build, whenever that is. Until then thanks to the many members of this forum who helped me along the way, I couldn't have done it without you guys.

I finally made a post in the "completed builds section", there are more pics there.

I can report that Jack made it to Morgantown Friday evening. He contacted me this morning to let me know he was going to be in my neck of the woods. My daughter and I met up with him at the local Sheetz. We decided that a good dinner was in order for an out of town traveler. Jack offered us a test drive and we could not refuse. All I can say is, what a blast! Chet built one great little car. My hat is off to him. Great job, Chet! This is the first Locost that I have ever driven or even really seen for that matter. My car is still just a frame, so I don't have much to go on. This puts it all into perspective for me. I was a little surprised at the size. The car is VERY small! I'm not sure what I have got myself into but I like it! Of course, it's all Jack's fault. He got me into this after I read about his car (MAX) and now he's let me drive one. Seriously, I can't blame him. Just kidding!

Hey Jack! Please report on the trip and let us know how it goes and that you make it home safely!

SamM



At first, I wasn't sure I'd fit! Diet time!


Hey Jack! Is all that gonna fit in there?

Wow that is a real eye opener to see the car i traffic. Drive safe home Jack.

(Any ear protection touring cross country?)

Thanks. When I saw Sam and Caitlin (sp?) driving to the restaurant I noted that indeed, it looks pretty dang small...though when you consider the cage, it's really a bit bigger than a Miata.

No, it shifts real smooth, the gears are...oh, EAR protection. Sorry, didn't hear you the first time.

Yes, ear plugs...and eye protection (goggles) and head protection (helmet) and face protection (bandana) and so forth.

Say, did y'all note the wind wing on the left side of the windshield? It's in the second photo from the top in SamM's post near the bottom of Page 31. It works lovely.