LocostUSA.com

After 5 long years, I'm finally starting my build. Over the last few years I managed to pick up an engine, axle and transmission fairly cheap. Recently finished my build table and bought a Lincoln MIG welder. My goal is to stay as close as possible to the style of the 60's series 2 model. I had originally planned on using a 2.0 Zetec and a T-5, but the costs were just too great. I ran across one heck of a deal on a Pinto drivetrain that I couldn't pass up.

Ford 1.6L w/ 711M block - $150
Ford of Germany - 4 speed manual transmission - $120
82 2wd S-10 7.5" rear axle, $100

I believe someone on the list has the bell housing you need for sale.

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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.

Have you got a set of plans?

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The Lethal Locost
The Lethal Locost 2 - Even More Lethalerer

I was able to pick up the Ron Champion book before it went out of print a few year back. Not planning on deviating from the book frame much but there are slight modifications I'll be making. One for example, is the cockpit tubes N1/N2 will not be parallel with the ground. They will be tubular and have a slight angle to them. Going with the traditional clam shell fenders and british racing green.

Carguy123, thanks for the heads up on the bellhousing. Looks like I missed a steal, someone else picked it up.

Welcome to the group. That's a fine looking build table you've built. Nice and sturdy, it will hold a complete car believe it or not, please add some lengthwise and crosswise angular bracing.

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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

There is another Gentlemen by the Name of Mike, Building a S2 Seven out in OR.
Bend, OR I believe.. You can find him on usa7s under the user name "notakit"

I am up in WA, Working on my 2nd S2/S3 Seven ( first was sold incomplete ), Been collecting parts about as long as you ( 5-6 years ) going zetec / type 9 / pinto bell / Cortina axle.. No clue when I will start again as I need to reach my health goals first... But there are lot of great people here to ask questions of.

Another thing you can do to make the Book Chassis more Lotus Like is what "SkinnyG" did and move the Scuttle back a few inches and use a S2 nose really helps the overall proportions with bonnet length vs cockpit length..

Look Forward to following your build.
Sending you a PM as well.

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......

Not much to update, been really busy with many other things. Spent a majority of last month deer and elk hunting. This month has been work, family, job #2, and my project Jeep I'm working on. If anyone else is a Jeep nut, see below.

http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?99800-Ewan-s-79-CJ-5-restoration-project

I ended up buying the wrong size blade for my miter saw so I wouldn't have been able to start cutting anyways.

Progress!

Spent about 30 minutes tonight cutting a couple tubes and tack welding them together. I bought a Tenryu 8 1/4" 48 tooth blade on the recommendation of an older post by dodgedartgt. Very pleased how easily it cuts, I second the recommendation. PRF-21048BWK



I would have kept going tonight but my wife couldn't keep her hands off my new welder. I think I may just resort to cutting tubes and she can weld for me.

Newlyweds?

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

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

Would it be wrong for me to inquire whether this is "stick" welding"?

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Geek49203 aka
Tim Wohlford
Louisville, KY
Hayes front, S10 +2 rear, Lalo body.

LOL! Not newly weds, in fact we just had our 7th anniversary. Wife says she can welder better than me and she is right! I spent some time last night cutting some more tubes and playing around with the MIG. I picked up a Lincoln Handy MIG at Home Depot for $300. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it though all welding has been flux up to this point. I'm hoping to have my bottle of gas today so I can start doing some real welding this weekend.

Tacked some more lower tubes in place. I wanted to finish the bottom section this weekend but I need my MIG bottle / gas. It apparently is my christmas present, it can wait a few days.

Celebrated New Years eve with compound angles....what a PITA. Was up until 12:30am trying to get the angles just right.

I posi'd my GM 7.5 from an S-10. I'm pretty sure you'll want to do that too. Contact me and I'll tell you what I know, ie, where I got my rebuilt Eaton, etc.

I will also show you how I built the panhard bar mount, etc. -- you're free to do your own thing, but seeing how others do this isn't all bad.

BTW, a disk brake conversion kit for that S10 axle is around $300. I don't think we'd ever see any performance difference unless we raced them, but the disks would look a lot cooler!

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Geek49203 aka
Tim Wohlford
Louisville, KY
Hayes front, S10 +2 rear, Lalo body.

I had been thinking about using a posi-traction but didn't settle on anything yet. A buddy of mine highly recommends Eaton as well. I also had some ideas on how to do the panhard bar but would gladly accept any ideas. I'm staying with drums in the rear, the 7 will be light enough disc/drums should be fine. I'd rather put the money towards a traction device anyways.