I have been lurking since last November when I joined the Locost forum. I have always liked the Seven and have owned 3 early Elans. As a side note - the last one I converted to LHD, installed a 4AGE and did a frame up rebuild. I lived in SoCal at the time and sold the car after enjoying it for a few years. I moved to Port Angeles, Wa. and was contacted by the new owner who lives just across the Strait in Vancouver, B.C. Kart racing has been my passion for about 10 years but that has pretty well burnt itself out.
So now ---- I started to design a middy with inspiration from Midlana (Jim Langan lives nearby - beta builder), LaBala and tons of info from this forum. I bought an MR2 Mk1 for a donor. I am using Wishbone for susp. calcs and started there as I feel the vehicle should be designed around the suspension. I am old school - sketches and good old drawing board. And many more sketches - many solutions are based on "what fits and looks good".
I have previously designed and built 2 - Formula V's and 2 - A Sports Racer cars - see my website for a couple of them. The last ASR had an aluminum monocoque with a stressed SBC, Hewland LG500 gearbox and Gurney Eagle uprights. The tub was made from .063 6061T4 - overkill strength wise but also a little heavy. I like the larger safety factor. I am comfortable with monocoque/tub style so that is what I am using on the new project - front and rear steel tubing subframes carrying the engine and suspension with the tub for me and a possible passenger. The seats will be built into the tub.
I settled on a 3" RC at the rear that stays with the chassis and a 1" RC at the front that also stays with the chassis. 3" of bump front and rear with 1" droop front and 2" at the rear (spring rate dependent).
I started actual construction in July and now - mid Sept. the front and rear subframes are done and the suspension is completed and am now working on the pedals.
Rear suspension is based on the MR2 upright. I actually used the rubber bushed mounting for the lower radius rod. Upper radius rod with upper control arm. Push rod suspension using R1 shocks (from RacerDan) and fabricated rocker arms. The rocker arms use caged needle bearings on VW wrist pins. Do you know how much money the bearing surfaces cost for the needle bearings??- a lot! I happened to have 4 used wrist pins so I put them to good locost use.
I struggled with the front suspension and finally decided on Chevette front spindles. I am using VW upper ball joints from a Bug and Chevette lower ball joints. A rodend is attached to the arm on top (instead of below) with Speedway 1/2" shock mount adapters. Pull rod suspension is from the upper ball joint carrier to the rocker arm on the lower front sub frame. The shocks are mounted horizontally across the lower sides of the front subframe.
Rear brakes are standard MR2. I cut the rotors off the Chevette rotor/hub assemblies to allow use of the MR2 vented front rotors and calipers. I will make caliper adaptors for the front. The Chevette spindles are front steer while the MR2 is rear steer.
I started out with a Miata rack but am using a Triumph Herald/Spitfire rack due to packaging, light weight and slightly faster ratio.
Body design is still up in the air - I have sections of one of Jack McCornack's Catfish noses and like the styling of the British Aviator type seven. Time will tell!!
Fuel injection will use a Megasquirt II and ITB's from a 750 Yamaha - manifold was the first project completed.
I have been signing on with Kartracer47 but moving on I will go with my initials - JR
On to pictures --------------OOPS - start at the bottom of the pictures and work up- my mistake. JR
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I have a bit of an objection to used car prices here. Maybe you can explain them? But the prices here are ridiculous across the board in Port Angeles for used cars compared to Texas or Colorado.
