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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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 Post subject: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 16, 2023, 10:19 pm 
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Joined: December 24, 2007, 5:11 am
Posts: 1307
Location: Seattle area
In as much as the state of Washington won 't issue a drivers's license to people that don't see very well (me) I enlisted a neighbor to drive me to the post office and grocer. He really likes driving the Locost.

Was a gorgeous day. Car ran quite well except the clunking in the rear end is back with a vengeance. Thought I had it cornered but sounds like it has spread. Only u-joints are on the drive shaft,l the axles are CV joints. They rattle not clunk. Have some adaptors to bridge between the Toyota rear pumpkin and Miata axles that tend to work themselves loose and then there are all those crappy bushings in the IRS. Should have replaced them all way back when. Miata forum says the noseist culprit there is probably the stabo;izer ber.

Going to dig into it a little at a time. Want to know what the cause actually is.

Steering is still heavy but with the tire size on the front that was expected. Needs more castor. That will be simple but major undertaking. May need new upper control arms. As has been said many times. these little beauties are never 'finished'.

Cheers
all!

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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 1:37 am 
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Joined: March 19, 2011, 10:22 am
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Location: Holden, Alberta, Canada
Great that you can get out for a run Larry, good for you! (and your neighbor).
I know I make any excuse to take the 7 out for a rip, the main excuse is that it gets the best gas mileage of all my vehicles :lol:

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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
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle


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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 2:25 am 
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Joined: April 26, 2008, 6:06 pm
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Location: Under the weather. (Seattle)
Glad to hear you're still getting it out there, even if you're flying right seat. :cheers:

Let me know if you need any help 'testing' those rear suspension repairs. :drive:
I know you've always brought it up as a negative, but from what I recall, the steering wasn't bad at all. Not much self-centering, so probably not great for drifting, but light and precise at speed.

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"Orville Wright did not have a pilots license." - Gordon MacKenzie


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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 12:38 pm 
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Joined: July 7, 2011, 12:17 am
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Location: Oregon City, OR
Glad to hear you got out and cleared some cobwebs. I'm planning to make it up your way this summer so hopefully our schedules will align.

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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 2:57 pm 
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Joined: December 24, 2007, 5:11 am
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Location: Seattle area
Perry, Justin, and Ron,

Thanks gentlemen for the kind words and encouragement. The noise from the rear seems to be getting worse. Also really noticeable with 2 on board. Jerry H drove it last year and was sure it was u-joint noise. On this recent drive I did hear a hollow clunk on accelerating from stop and occasional gear change that sounded a lot like an echo in the drive tube. But I know the bushings are not in the best shape. So Justin if your offer extends to some diagnostics that would be great!

Would love to have a face to face with you Ron. There are a small group of us hee that like to gather every now and then. Your visit would be a good reason to issue the gather call. No telling what we can come up with. Might even correspond with JPS Europa's visit from the distant east.

Till then

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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 3:42 pm 
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Joined: October 23, 2010, 2:40 am
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Larry, glad you and your locost got out to enjoy this weather. Stop on by the next time and say hello. Sorry your eyes are still an issue, but your ears must be working well to pick up this subtlety: "... a hollow clunk ... that sounded a lot like an echo in the drive tube." :lol:

I'm happy to host a gathering and all the better if Ron, Paul or ? are in town. Maybe I'll have made more progress on re-assembly by then.

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Cheers, Tom

My Car9 build: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=14613
"It's the construction of the car-the sheer lunacy and joy of making diverse parts come together and work as one-that counts."

Ultima Spyder, Northstar 4.0, Porsche G50/52


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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 3:57 pm 
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Hi Tom!

Glad to see you on the board. I was thinking it would be nice to get together to look your Car9 over again. Always pick up a tip or two there.

The clunking and clanging in the rear are at least 3 different sounds. All seem to be coming from slightly different locals. The primary pieces are well aged but not necessarily aged well. Just like me - old. The drive shaft and u-joint are new parts so I don't suspect them. Perhaps some slack in the 1983 diff or 1989 transmission. Could be either or even both I'm guessing.

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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 5:03 pm 
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Joined: July 7, 2011, 12:17 am
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Location: Oregon City, OR
Tom's place it is ;)

Since the site isn't always reliable I'll send you both my email and we'll figure out a date that works for everyone.

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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 6:43 pm 
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Joined: March 19, 2011, 10:22 am
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Location: Holden, Alberta, Canada
benny_toe wrote:
The noise from the rear seems to be getting worse.
By golly, you know, as I get older the same thing is happening to me!

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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
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle


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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 7:02 pm 
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Joined: December 24, 2007, 5:11 am
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Perry,

I might be able to fix mine by refreshing a few parts. Would that work for you? If so where do you get them there parts?

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Larry in Seattle


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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 7:44 pm 
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Location: Under the weather. (Seattle)
benny_toe wrote:
So Justin if your offer extends to some diagnostics that would be great!
Absolutely. :zoom:

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-Justin

"Orville Wright did not have a pilots license." - Gordon MacKenzie


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 Post subject: Re: Nice day for a ride.
PostPosted: May 17, 2023, 10:27 pm 
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Joined: October 24, 2008, 2:13 pm
Posts: 5326
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA
Hang in there, Larry.

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


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