LocostUSA.com

Long time lurker, first time poster. I've been building a Midlana for the past few months, and collecting parts for about a year now. I have a more thorough build log running over on the Midlana forum, but thought I would start one over here too. The more feedback, and eyes looking for stuff I overlooked the better!

These first few posts will bring the build up to date, and I will add more as I continue. This is what it should look like when I am done:



Back at the beginning of 2013 I bought a wrecked 2005 SRT-4 for my engine donor.



Once I got the wreck home I got it running and drove around the block a few times to make sure everything was working. I then hit the engine with marine fogging oil to keep it fresh during storage, changed the oil and pulled the engine.



Next I pulled off the oil pan of my engine, Nice and clean inside, not bad for 100,000 miles. I yanked the balance shaft assembly and built a windage tray to take its place. I made plans if anybody wants to copy it.

I then moved on to building up a megasquirt 2 for the car. I had never done any circuit board work, but enjoyed it. I first built a JimStim "simulator" kit that will allow me to test out the megasquirt and to give me some soldering practice. I built the megasquirt to run the stock wasted spark coil setup and two banks of two injectors. I also added a circuit for a knock sensor, tach output, shift light and launch control.



Once the Megasquirt was finished I finished cleaning and detailing the engine. I also replaced the timing belt, water pump and tensioners.



I also repaired the worn down clutch fork with $4 of stainless bolts (vs well over $100 for a new fork).



Before I bolted up the engine and transmission I weighed them. Engine: 375 lbs, transmission: 165 lbs. Both weights include everything needed to run including oil.

At the beginning of December the build book arrived and I started on the frame. First up was the floor.



Next was the roll cage and front of the chassis:





As I go my welding skills are improving with my swap meet special "Power MIG"

The front of the chassis was finished:



Then it was on to the rear:



I also got my radiator and fiberglass nose piece:

The back structure of the chassis was finished and the engine is mounted.

Suspension subframe:


All braced up:


Transmission mount made with bits of the stock mount:



Engine Mount:



I am now working on a torque mount for the engine. Here is where I am at today:

Here is an overview of the chassis as it looks now:



And a few paint drawings of styling options for the rear. Feel free to weigh in!

Option A:


Option B:


Option C:

Nice! Kewl to see a Midlana proj starting welcome to the forums, sweet donor choice

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The B-3 build log: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=13941 unfortunately, all the pictures were lost in the massive server crash

The beginnings of the Jag Special,
https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19012
Again, all pictures were lost.

What's a "marine fogging oil"?

Yeah, I know. You write all that and all I ask is about "marine fogging oil". But I understood the rest.

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mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

Nice work! I'd take Option B personally.

One little thing: A lot of your welds look good, but some of them look cold, and more worrying some of them look very porous. If you get a bad or questionable weld, now is the time to cut it out and try again. It isn't worth it to spray it with paint and hope it's ok.

Great to see someone actually using one of the most under-rated engines in the world, 300hp available with only minor changes on an unopened, stock engine and 400+ reliably with only exhaust and turbo changes.

SRSLY. I know, right? those are solid machines.

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The B-3 build log: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=13941 unfortunately, all the pictures were lost in the massive server crash

The beginnings of the Jag Special,
https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19012
Again, all pictures were lost.

Thanks for the welcome.

Marine fogging oil is intended to protect engine internals during storage. Usually used on seasonal power toys like boats, atvs etc. Here is the stuff I used (guess they just call it fogging oil):



At this point most of the chassis is just tacked together. Other than the floor tubes and any joints that are inaccessible due to added tubes you can pretty much see every full weld on the car in those pictures, although not in great detail. Before I started welding on the car I made some test coupons and cut them to check for penetration and porosity and they looked good. I have been welding off and on for about 15 years, but this is by far the biggest welding project I have tacked. I am pretty confident in the welds, but are there any in particular that concern you? I can post a better picture of them.

Why does nobody use these engines in Locosts? You can adapt them to RWD.

Your welding looks very good to me. MIG and photographs don't necessarily go well together.

As far as I can tell, it boils down to "Its a Dodge, ewww! They're primitive crap. All they make are truck engines and, um, Hemis!"

All those years of K-car and Omni derivatives have left a bad taste.

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The B-3 build log: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=13941 unfortunately, all the pictures were lost in the massive server crash

The beginnings of the Jag Special,
https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19012
Again, all pictures were lost.

That's why I picked it, it's primitive and easy to control via megasquirt! I must hang out in a different automotive circle, everybody seems to love turbo dodges, especially the old ones from the K car era.