LocostUSA.com

For those of you who've built your own frame, how long did it take you? Both man hours and how many months / years?

Well winddude, that's a tough question to answer because there are a lot of variables involved.
How much time can you dedicate to fabrication each week/month? What level are a persons fabrication skills? What kind of tooling does the shop have? What does a persons budget allow to spend monthly/annually on the build?
Bottom line is that it depends on the individual, there is no specific timeline required, that's what makes this hobby so rewarding.

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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

There, that's about right.

It took me about a month working 2-3 hours a night, 4 nights a week to get the perimeter of my frame, upper and lower, built and tacked. It's the details that eat up time...

Years ago, several builders said it took a long weekend. That being said, it was basic frame only. No suspension or suspension pickup points etc. I'm not even sure if included the tunnel. I would think that the basic frame would consist of <5% of a total building effort, not including the time it takes to evaluate choices, make decisions and source the necessary parts. Then there is the additional time spent surfing on this site. Of course those estimates exclude Perry, a.k.a."Horchoha".

I usually estimate the time it takes to do something, double it and then double it again.

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Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

In that case, I'll be 40 before I have a legal & running Locost.

I think that still puts you well ahead of many of the builders on here.

If you build strictly to a particular plan (Champion, Haynes, etc.) that will help conserve time, because the details are so well documented in books, websites and build logs. Most of us do not, and it all costs time to figure out our particular adaptations then fabricate them.

If you're lucky enough to have a dedicated space to do your build, it won't matter as much because you can work on it when time permits, without a serious deadline. Depending on your fabrication and welding skills, you might go slowly at first, but build speed as experience and confidence grow.

I'd encourage you to at least try. That said, there are probably 2 individuals on this site who would build you a chassis if you decide to farm it out, and are willing to pay for it.

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

There are reasons (excuses) that I won't go into here... But coming up on 7.5 years, and the frame is still almost 'half' done.

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-Justin

Also follow my build on blogspot, tumblr, or instagram and twitter (GarageOdyssey)

Thanks for your feedback, but as much as I wanted to build a goblin I don't think I can dedicate the time and I know my engineering brain will want to change things, and push things to the limit. Plus I'm a bit tight on room, and it was seemingly hard to come by a good miata donor, I had had my eyes open for several months.

I found a cobalt SS donor, so I've opted to build a df goblin. Cheers.