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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 3:21 pm 
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Hey Gang,
I've been noodling quite some time on what to build next. I've been all over the map; another Locost, another A Mod, a scratch build Formual 500, a reverse trike, you name it and it's gone through my mind.

Well a couple of days ago I was surfing the web looking at car stuff and sitting beside Baby Girl (who is 28 now. Where did the time go?) when I went past a 27 Ford Roadster. She says wow that's cool, why don't you build one of those? It's not like anything you've done before.
Attachment:
27 roadster.png


SO I started thinking. I've always liked the early Fords and once almost bought a T Bucket. I skipped on the T because the seating was horrible and the steering column felt like it belonged in a school bus. But why not build a Roadster, something in the 27-31 era depending on how stupidly expensive different fiberglass bodies are?

Then i thought, I don't want to do something like every other Roadster I've seen. Skip the V8 and auto trans. Why not go somewhere between a Locost ad a traditional hot rod.

Here is where my brain is now and PLEASE tell me if I'm nuts!
Buy a $hitbox running and driving Miata. Saved the roller skate, wiring, and maybe the gas tank. Sell everything else to recover some money for the build.

Roadster would be as follows
Miata power. Inline 4 1.6 or 1.8 I don't care which.
5 speed trans
LSD IRS maybe in the full rear subframe because it's SO EASY to incorporate into a ladder frame.

Ladder frame from 1 1/2 x3 or 2x3 11 ga or heavier steel. Loosely modeled after either a 27 T chassis or 31 chassis.
Rear lick up to get it close to the ground.

Now the crazy bit where I need your advice.
Independent Front Suspension using plasma cut steel plate welded to the ladder frame roughly replicating what I did on the last Locost geometry.

Integrate headlight mounts into the new subframe kick ups to make the whole bit a little more cohesive.
Use Miata rack and pinion and small hotrod style coilover shocks similar to the Mustang II setup rodders use.

Miata column with a better steering wheel. or an aftermarket tilt column. I want a lower more comfortable and better seating setup. May still be a bench seat, but may be buckets.

Then a dropped floor to get way down in the car.

One last thing... Alternative body instead of early Ford is 32 Austin Bantam...

Attachment:
Austin Bantam Body 011.jpg


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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 4:22 pm 
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Be sure to check out a similar body type that's named something like "Track T". It could almost be sat over a Locost frame, so you get the light weight of one with the look of the other.

Here's one but there are a bunch of variations,

Image

And another
Image

And one more:
Image

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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 4:58 pm 
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Track Ts are neat and a Miata drivetrain, complete with rear subframe would do well. You could assemble a frame using modified 32 Ford rails like one of the photos above or just go tubes (square or round) all around and roll some aluminum rocker panels to give the body some extra depth so you are hunkered down in the cockpit.

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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 5:56 pm 
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The second pic is a 27 roadster with what looks like a 32 grill shell. Two of the glass houses I'm looking at offer a track t nose and one of them offers a glass hood in either 33 or 36 inches long to fit either their standard or +3 inch wider tub.

Then the options start to get expensive; opening doors, add $550 each, opening trunk add $400, or trunk with Dzus fasteners a budget at only $195.

I can simply plop down $3600 and have a ready to set on the frame complete glass body with a track T nose, hood, body with hinged and latched doors, hinged trunk, and floors installed.
I really like this company. The molds are kept in great shape and the glass comes out with a class A finish. A good many people run the bodies in gelcoat.

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OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216


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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 6:38 pm 
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TooBusy wrote:
...I really like this company...

What company is that?

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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 6:43 pm 
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I've always liked the Bantam. The Fords, in all forms, are just a bit too common IMO. Maybe not for today's young'un's. But it is your build. I'm sure it will turn out fine whichever way you decide to go. :cheers:

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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 6:53 pm 
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KB58 wrote:
TooBusy wrote:
...I really like this company...

What company is that?


ClassGlassPerformance

They're in Cumberland, Maryland, so I can drag my trailer up there and bring a body back home.

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OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216


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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 7:25 pm 
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That's worth a good amount right there, bringing it home yourself, plus you can inspect it before leaving.

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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 7:55 pm 
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I like Bantams too but they are much shorter and narrower than a miata. You could split the rear fenders to make them wide enough or use skinny wheels.

Have you seen this build?
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17167


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PostPosted: January 2, 2022, 10:19 pm 
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I know where there is a real steel Bantam roadster body that will be coming up as an estate sale item if you are interested.

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PostPosted: January 3, 2022, 12:43 am 
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I must say I really like the looks of the Bantam. Reminds me of the Topolino :wink:

RichardSIA wrote:
I know where there is a real steel Bantam roadster body that will be coming up as an estate sale item if you are interested.
Richard can you provide a bit more info on the body? Any chance of getting some pics or putting me in contact of the people that can provide pics. Thanks

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PostPosted: January 3, 2022, 1:07 pm 
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If you just want pics for fab work, I have many pics of original steel bantam parts/assemblies.

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Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
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


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PostPosted: January 3, 2022, 1:08 pm 
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Pics depend on my finding the widow in a good mood.
I think she is looking to sell in the spring, I can ask.
She also has a rough Devin Sprite I want but expect she will demand too much for it.

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PostPosted: January 3, 2022, 1:25 pm 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
I like Bantams too but they are much shorter and narrower than a miata. You could split the rear fenders to make them wide enough or use skinny wheels.

Have you seen this build?
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17167


I followed that build quite closely when he was doing it. There are a number of his ideas that I plan to "borrow" for this project.

I'm a more than a little concerned about the size of the Bantam. ClassGlass Bantam race body is bigger than a real Bantam, but still smaller than a stock 27 Roadster. That has me leaning toward the +3 27 Roadster body they offer. +3" on width, +8" in length compared to a real steel body. The extra length to the firewall should help with legroom and seating position.

In all honestly, the easiest / smartest build plan would be to use the 27 roadster body with a 20" 23T pickup bed. That way I'd have easy access to rear frame rails for rear diagonal legs to a SCCA legal roll bar. With that said, I still like the turtle deck way more than a pickup bed.

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Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216


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PostPosted: January 3, 2022, 1:27 pm 
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RichardSIA wrote:
I know where there is a real steel Bantam roadster body that will be coming up as an estate sale item if you are interested.


The real Bantam is just too small for what I want to do. The ClassGlass Bantam body is a good bit bigger than the real thing. Last time I sat in a Bantam I thought I was climbing into a shoe box.

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OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216


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