LocostUSA.com

Hi Guys, hope all is well with everyone.

I am a new member here, finding this great forums after doing some tubular frame research for my min-engine build project.
I would like to build "Atomic" the A-toms cousin and would certainly appreciate any advice as I go along. A friend of mine has built a Locust7 here and he will be helping along too.

I have seen great and impressive examples from a few members here and would love to achieve just part of that, these guys are talented.
I have a fully equipped home/hobby garage, including, arc, mig and tig welding machines, I gave away my plasma cutter. I have a small lathe and milling machine too along with a hydraulic pipe bender.

I will be using an aluminum Suzuki 1600cc 16 valve slant 4 cylinder engine (from a van) with a 5 speed manual cable shift gearbox. I will be using the front suspension from the said van and the rear suspension and RWD drive line from a Suzuki SUV.

I am now at the stage of looking at other examples and what worked for the guys here and of course seeking information on dimensions etc. I would like advice from you guys and would appreciate any applicable input anyone has.

Thanks guys and looking forward helping and being helped here.
Cheers.

Welcome!

That's an interesting sounding donor setup you're starting with. I don't have any particular words of wisdom, other than I hope you are able to progress faster than I have.

_________________
-Justin

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

Thanks for the kind words Driven5.

I will post pics as we build.
I hope you can make some progress with your project. Its sad to see a few enthusiasts who abandon thier projects or sell them incomplete.

Keep pushing the project, make it happen.

Have a great day and thanks for the reply.

These two things will be somewhat at odds with each other, meaning that the suspension drives the chassis design, at least in those areas. I'm not familiar with van suspension but if it's anything but double A-arm, will require a custom chassis to suit. Point being, while looking at other designs will be helpful, you'll be on your own around the suspension pick-up points.

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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/

Welcome to the site, looks like you have a plan.
Why don't you tell a bit about yourself?

_________________
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

Hi KB58

It's the front suspension is not a double A-arm design so yes, we will build the chassis to suit the suspension.

Thanks for the input and reply, much appreciated.
Have a great day.

Thanks Perry. Man you know all about me, go check your latest build log posts.

For the other members viewing this, I am Raf a car fanatic who has been working and loving cars since I was 10 along with my dad. I started racing in my late teens and hope to get more track time in before I expire.

I was born in the Caribbean, moved to Canada for most of my adult life and moved back to the Caribbean, still spending tons of time and cash on car projects, including the other hobbies.

It's a very expensive hobby here, taxes on auto realities stuff, electrical and electronics high and so are import duties, you have to be resourceful to get by here.

I am restoring, rebuilding, improving and modifying a 1997 Land Rover Defender, a 1999 Suzuki Jimny, a 1968 VW Dune Buggy and now starting to build the Atomic. I have to pick up a BMW e30 to build a track car out it of as well.

So that's it in a nutshell, after all, nuts do come in nut shells

Hey Raf good to hear from you. I assume you're still in Barbados. Is your shop set up in your house garage?
You'll find a bunch of great guys on this site with tons of knowledge.
Looking forward to lots of build pictures!

_________________
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

Hi Perry, great finding you here. Yes I am still in the tropics but busy as ever. The guys at the club ask about you from time to time, hoping that you visit again sometime.

Indeed a lot of talented and knowledgeable guys here including yourself, nice to see of many projects and great examples of all sorts.

Yes working from the home garage, but the Defender, tons of parts and equipment have me needing more space still though it's a large 3 car garage Lol. When I have the Jimny running at a half decent stage I will switch to the Defender so I can get that moving too while working on Atomic.

Will post pics as we make progress. Happy we linked again, you have done some amazing work. Give the wife my regards please.

Cheers.

Hi Guys,

Hope all is well with everyone. I suffered a forever life changing blow and devastating tragedy in my family last year, which took a toll on my life and time. My surviving daughter is pushing me to continue my life's plans and to pursue my dreams as part of life's process, not healing process because we won't heal from this.

So I am getting back to this project, as I am so strongly encouraged by my kid especially since she is deeply in to cars as well, you know because of who. She is 19 and drives a fairly new Corolla with a 6 speed manual transmission which she likes.

I have done more research and decided to go with the more common A-Tom build than re-inventing the wheel, no pun intended.
I have acquired a Honda K20A2 200HP stock engine today with the harness, ECU and cluster, also a carbon fiber wing from a DF Goblin, a great start I guess, engine and wing

I will be picking up a roll bending multipurpose machine soon and some jig making accessories. I have to get a gearbox/manual transmission for the engine. There is a 5 and 6 speed tranny which will bolt up to this engine, not sure if the 6 speed ratios are shorter and more favorable for better acceleration as opposed to the 5 speed. Having 200HP stock with which I can add some bolt on bits to gain some more power, maybe I should get the lighter and more common 5 speed gear box instead.

I think I will build as much as I can including swing arms etc.

I am always open to advice and input from you guys. Perry reminded me that some guys on this site who built a few of these already and might have great advice and knowledge regarding this build.

Hope everyone is plugging away at their projects and making headway.

Have a great weekend guys and take care...be safe.

Atta boy Raf, good on you, let it be a healing process.

_________________
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

Hi Perry,

Thanks man, hope you guys are having a great time on your trip.

Cheers.

I don't know why you gave it away, but plasma cutters won't work at all unless the air pressure is spot-on. There is an adjustable air gap inside but that should not be changed trying to get the machine to work.

Start a build page with pics and specific questions if you have any.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
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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

Hi, my Esab plasma cutter actually worked very well, I had no issues at all with it. I gave it to a friend of mine who had a ton of auto body work and fabrication to do 5 years ago. I was not using it at all at the time so I gave it to him. I will import another one but luckily I have some friends with a big boys toy garage which is equipped with a 4X6 CNC plasma cutter. I have full access to it but I will get a portable one soon.

I will start a build page and will definitely have questions for sure, hopefully not redundant ones

Thanks for your reply and advice.

Have a great day.