LocostUSA.com

A bit of an update.

I finally got all of the brackets/mounts welded to the frame (i'm sure I'll find some I missed) so I painted the frame. I used Rust Bullet. I gotta say it sprayed on real nice and covered well I think I only used about a pint for the whole frame; two coats plus a bit of touch up. The only con is that it doesn't come off of anything and it stinks.


I then put the bottom on with adhesive and rivets


Clean/rebuild the brakes, steering, put the wheels back on...Anyway, it rolls again


Next up clean/rebuild/paint the engine

I'm a bit further along. I have had an issue with the throw out bearing lever being, well, where my throttle pedal should be. It took a while but I found an annular hydraulic TOB that almost fit. I had to have the input shaft sleeve turned down for it to fi t but now it's in place (and hopefully working).



Also got the engine rebuilt and the tranny cleaned up and painted.




Now it's time to install the halfshafts, drive shaft route the brake/fuel lines.

I paused a bit for the summer. It's just too hot in my shop even with A/C. When I started back to work a couple of weeks ago I realized how much work there is to do.

I was able to finish all of the plumbing for the fuel system. I also got the brakes lines, pedals, pedal stops and brake switch installed. I ran a 9 conductor 14 awg cable to the back for the lights and fuel pump. I'll run a cable up each side in the front for the lights and radiator fan.

I finished up the radiator shroud finished up. I'm thinking I'll need as much cooling as I can get for this engine once the turbo spools up. Much of my work has actually been research on what I can delete on this engine. There are water lines for the turbo, oil cooler and even the intake to 'pre-heat' the a/f mixture (not needed down here). There are vacuum lines running everywhere but those are easy to deal with. The biggest challenge may be crankcase ventilation, wow, is that screwed up, the stock system is closed and feeds the intake with the oil and nastiness from the crankcase.

I'm waiting on my driveshaft, then I can get the diff and halfshafts back in. I will say it was much easier to route the fuel, brake and wiring without the diff in place. One strange items on the Haynes roadster is the way the parking brake cables route. The book method stinks, once I figure a better way to do it I'll post







For those of you that wonder how I'm going to see over that crossover intake, I say, that is only there until I get the engine going. After I get the engine started, and maybe drive a bit, I'll change it out for a custom intake and intercooler.

Very nice job, Tim, very methodical and with great attention to detail.

Looks awfully close to being a runner!

Tim, Great to see you are still at it, looks real good.
Al

Yo, Tim-
Good looking build! It does look like it's almost time for a test drive... Purty close anyway....

Where in Florida are you? I'm in Tallahassee, up Nawth...

JDK

Wow! Is this an art piece or do you plan on driving it. Niiiiiice! Russ

GonzoRacer wrote:Where in Florida are you? I'm in Tallahassee, up Nawth...

I'm in O'town

I gotta say, if I would have thrown the engine and tranny in the way I got it I could be up and running but where's the fun in that!

Famous last words:

I think I have finally made the last bracket for the car.

I am onto the wiring. I am hoping it is less of a task than it appears. There are a lot of wire there, it's been a long time since I laced and terminated any amount of cables. Now I just put them on paper and leave it to someone else to make it look pretty. I suppose it will be like everything else on the project; slow and steady.

The shop is too messy for pics, maybe I'll get a chance for a little cleanup and update the photos.

Tim,

I don't know what your wiring plans are but from what you've said in your last post, it sounds like you have a bit of experience in wiring. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say military or commercial aviation. Maybe military shipboard. Anyways, I'm a 15 year Avionics Tech in the Navy based out of Jacksonville and in my hangar bay is a 4' x 4' x 4' box on a pallet stuffed to the gills with aerospace grade wire, cabling, connectors and clamps that have been removed from our aircraft due to modification. A portion of the wire is Kapton which is "ahem" not desirable to say the least but there is a large portion of more modern stuff in lengths longer than you would need for a Locost. I've been slowly picking through it pulling out the good stuff simply because it's all going to be discarded and would be a shame to not take advantage of perfectly good, though used, high dollar aerospace grade connectors and such. I'm looking at a 61 pin bulkhead connector and its mating cannon plug with EMI backshields on my desk which I just plucked out of the box earlier tonight. I'm pretty sure that it's going to become my engine wiring harness main bulkhead disconnect. 61 conductors should be plenty for a modern EFI 4 cyl eh?

Anyways long story short. If this sort of stuff is up your alley, let me know and I'd be glad to gather some stuff for you. I make fair regular trips to the Orlando area and could meet up up and drop some stuff off. I also wouldn't mind taking a look at your build. It looks fantastic so far...... pretty much exactly what I have planned once I've knocked down my honeydo list a bit more.

Cheers,

Great job Tim, I have followed your build from the start. I am also at the wiring stage and I think you will find that once you actually start to wire the car it is pretty straight forward.

Al

Digital, nope not an avionics guy but I have done many hush, hush government jobs (hope I don't have to kill ya), but thanks for the offer.

I got more done than anticipated today. By next weekend I am hoping to turn the key and at least hear the fuel pump. I don't want to get my hopes up too high and say it will be running by then, I'd rather not jinx things.

Raceral, I have been watching your build as well and it looks great.

Shop is still too messy for photos.

Tim,
I was wondering something about tools the other day. I have been looking for good clamps to hold my tubing in place so I can tack it together without it moving on me. Got any Ideas where I can find the Binford brand clamps?

P.S. Very nice build you got going there. That thing is gonna be one clean looking car when you finnish. Please keep the pics comming OK. Love your build!

Mark.

Great job Tim, If you don't mind me asking..... How big are you? . I'm asking because I'm trying to get a feel for how roomy this frame is for bigger drivers. PM me the answer if you want. Thanks,
Jeff

Woohooo! It's Alive!

Boy, does that engine paint stink.

Video to follow.