LocostUSA.com

Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
It is currently March 28, 2024, 8:26 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 37 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 10:42 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Welcome to my Build Log.

I plan to keep this thing simple. And this is my first scratch build, so I wanted to follow a recipe, others have called it "cook book" building. Oh, and by the way, I'm very frugal -read cheap SOB- so this thing will be a low budget build, and therefore it will take me awhile to finish.

Alright, now here's the build specifics:

My donor car is a 1987 Thunderbid TurboCoupe, Five speed manual (Borg Warner T-5). The car comes with an 8.8 Solid Rear Axle with disk brakes. I bought the car off of Craigslist and drove it home. It was important to me to get a car that I KNOW runs to start with. Only after I bought the car, did I discover that the passenger side rear axle shaft was bend. ( oh so that's why the car wobbles down the road while squeaking ! ! ! Grrrrrr !!!! ) And I found out from Jim (locostV8) that the front spindles are less than ideal with the strut replacement adapter. So I started looking into getting a Merkur for it's suspension pieces and going with the Haynes Roadster (that's what they call the Chris Gibbs car.... aka the 'new book' frame)

Below are the pics the car was advertised with, followed by some of my own shots.

Oh, and I love it when the other builders put a lot of pictures in their build logs, so that will be my course of action too. Pictures really do say a 1000 words and maybe looking at some of my pics will help you as much as the pics of other builders have helped me.

-Indy " I'm a builder now " Joe


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Last edited by IndyJoe on February 16, 2016, 8:35 am, edited 3 times in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Donor Pics
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 10:45 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Here are some more donor pics


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: more pics
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 10:46 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
pics


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Build SCORES ! !
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 10:50 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Being on a TIGHT budget motivates you to scronge for deals. And these two are some good ones.

I got the Hobart Handler 135 MIG with the bottle and gages you see for $150 bucks off Craigslist.

I got the engine hoist shown ( and an engine stand ) for only $65 off C-list too. Note: the engine hoist needed one of the casters replaced... no big deal to a Locoster.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Last edited by IndyJoe on November 25, 2008, 9:46 am, edited 2 times in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject:
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:08 pm 
Offline
Always Moore!
User avatar

Joined: November 9, 2007, 3:40 pm
Posts: 4074
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Looks like you're off to a good start.

That donor appears to be in pretty solid shape aside from the front grill and axle. Any chance of reselling parts?

_________________
-Andrew
Build Log
Youtube


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Yeah & thanks
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:12 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Andrew, Thanks for the sticky.

I've sold $120 worth of stuff already. I think I'll be able to get about half the cost of the donor back with selling parts, maybe more.

-IndyJoe

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Last edited by IndyJoe on November 24, 2008, 11:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: nightmare
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:14 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
My biggest fear with the entire build is the ELECTRICAL. You might even say it's my Nightmare.

See Pic below.....

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Last edited by IndyJoe on August 12, 2016, 11:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Stripping
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:16 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Stripping the Donor is Easier when you've got help. . . . .


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: pulling the engine
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:20 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
And I got the engine pulled out too. I had to go REAL high with it, since I don't have a proper 'leveling bar' that I see most other builders using.

And yeah I shouldn't have put the hook in there where the turbo down pipe goes . . . but when you read the next post you'll understand why.

-Indy " I got her outta there " Joe


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Last edited by IndyJoe on November 25, 2008, 9:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:25 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Yeah.. . . . .
.
.
.
.

OK, so maybe this IS a heavy engine. When I started to pull up on this thing, the rear engine lifting tab broke off. Sheared the metal right around the bolt.

BOY ! was I glad that didn't happen with the assembly up in the air. The good Lord was watchin' out for me.

-Indy "thank you God" Joe


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Going to School
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:28 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Ok, So now I have to get the tank on the welder filled up and actually learn to weld. Maybe I'll take a class here locally or something. Some of the guys I work with are professional welders, maybe they'll give me some pointers.....

-Indy "let's make sparks" Joe

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: leveling
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:41 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Here's the engine out and poor man's leveling system.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Toast
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:44 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Yeah,

The Clutch Pressure Plate is Toast. It's got some BAD scortch marks on it. So this will be one item that I need to replace with new. By the way. I plan to put the engine in just like it is, and get the car drivable, then look into performance mods. ( gotta have something to do during the winter here in Indianapolis )

-Indy "that clutch is toast" Joe


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Fun
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:49 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
It sure was fun cutting the front end of the car off. It was so liberating and had a 'Duke's of Hazard' feel to it.

-Indy "feelin' like a red neck" Joe


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Heat
PostPosted: November 24, 2008, 11:51 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm
Posts: 191
Location: Indianapolis, IN
This will keep me warm in the garage this winter. I think every Midwesterner / Northerner should have one. It's a Kerosene Heater for those of you in the South.


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

_________________
Starting a Scratch Build - ThunderBird Turbo Coupe Donor Car - being dismantled
Build Log Started: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4914


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 37 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
POWERED_BY