LocostUSA.com

Just think of a BEC as a fussy supermodel girlfriend who's a head case with expensive tastes, and you'll be close. It all depends if you feel the benefits outweigh the ongoing issues.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/

My engine choice came from wanting a North American, single donor build. That meant a rear drive car and we haven't had much to choose from in the last 10-15 that's within budget (< $1,000). I decided on a SN95 Mustang because I could use everything, they were cheap, and best of all, well suited.

I had a 5.0L H.O. convertible with a T5 and 8.8" limited slip rear axle sitting right next to a 3.8L V6 model with a T5 and 7.5" rear end and compared everything between them for about an hour. It just became obvious to me the V6 driveline was much better suited (IMHO) to a 7 type chassis and that's the way I went. I also had two previous Ford vehicles with the 3.8L V6 and knew it was a very capable engine.

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

I used an engine hoist from Princess Auto, worked great!

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Trochu Motor League

You clearly would have come to a different conclusion had you spent 70 minutes instead of 60. You missed some great points......

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Trochu Motor League

I think you've missed the point. He isn't building it for you.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12

Exactly.

Al

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Super Seven 3.4

Hence the " ", tough crowd....

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Trochu Motor League

No offense taken. You have every right to be completely wrong.

Cheers,

P.S. Yes, I'm being funny

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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

That's the best advice on this thread, IMO, and extraordinarily important if one wants to make the transition from dreamer to builder. When I was in the Av Biz, a colleague described a guy who said he was deciding between buying one of our aircraft or one of our competitors, "...but I noticed he was carrying a Trade-A-Plane [that's like an aviation Hemming's] with ads circled for a Piper Cub, a P-51, and a Lear Jet..." and we both chuckled knowingly.I decided what engine for MAX by calculating my cruise-at-55 horsepower needs (estimating size and drag coefficient from book readin'), doubling it for hills (estimating weight from these forums), doubling it again for acceleration (estimating mass would be equal to weight) and came up with 28 to 32 hp. From there it was google in a search for the best compromise between cost weight efficiency availability among small diesels...and I chose diesel because diesel is denser than gasoline and I knew "100 MPG" would be the magic word.

[EDIT--PS, I'm not ragging on the OP, who may be A) early in the decision stage, or B) has made his engine decision already and is curious how we made ours. Still, my "...if one wants to make to make the transition from dreamer to builder" comment sounds a little pompous.]

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Locost builder and adventurer, and founder (but no longer owner) of Kinetic Vehicles

Didn't really want bonkers power. Ended up with a Volvo B230F normally aspirated. with a cam and a couple small mods I'm at about 125 WHP or 150 crank. solid rear axle. The motor has a very smooth torque curve and pulls strong from about 2200 -6K. If I need another 100HP . I can bolt a B230FT on there.

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Volvo 240/P1800 Based Locost
2004 Aprilia Mille Factory
1988 Volvo 240 5 Speed ( For Sale)
2002 Toyota Tacoma
1999 BMW M3

I chose mine based on a few design parameters (aluminum engine, ~200hp), aftermarket support, reliability, availability, and price. Basically it came down to either a Mazda KL V6 or a Honda H22. A wrecked prelude came up for cheap and by the time I finished parting it out my drivetrain only cost $100.

Ohhh, I'd forgotten about the Mazda KL. It sounds wicked, but doesn't really put out that much power and on the UK forum they've determined how to mate it to a Miata transmission.

I've driven & raced multiple different engined 7s and it just came down to the fact that some engines make too much torque down too low for my right foot. It tends to twitch when I get anxious and if it makes the back end twitch too then I look like a worse driver than I really am.

Plus there's the fact that I like something to happen up high, not just have it poke along like a straight 6 or even fall off like many other engines.

BTW I have automotive ADD and at certain times of the day, month, how many beers you've drunk, I find you can make a case for just about any engine and I want to try them all. Oh lookee, a squirrel

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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.

I had the donor already sitting in my driveway, under a steadily deteriorating Nelson-Rigg motorcycle cover.

I just built the weight down to where I was pretty confident I'd have betwen 15-20 lbs per HP. that's plenty lively, and quicker than any of my "real" sports cars (Triumph spitfire, Fiat 850, or alky race kart for that matter).

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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.

well, that's certainly what YOU think

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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.

I picked my engine (Kubota D1105) because my trike single seater should be easier to get down the road than Jacks max, max moves out just fine, so theoretically I should get better mileage than Jack under the same conditions and left room for larger engines or turbo if necessary.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12