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Just an inkling of an idea at the moment, but thinking about a Locost (full DIY, including frame/chassis construction). Anyone do some kit car building? Anything you wish you knew beforehand? The Enemy's gate is down. | ||
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thin skin can't win |
Not as detailed as you may be looking for, but Road and Track has been doing a Caterham project for several months now. Some of the articles are pretty insightful and amusing. First article Another (2nd?) And another ("The frustration's baked in") You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02 | |||
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I got as far as the chassis, but then went off on my own trying to use a 73 BMW2002 drivetrain. Then I got too busy to complete. I still have the Miata uprights. At this point I want to start over It is always a factor of time and money. Am unemployed now. I want to do it, but may try for a more enclosed body. The haynes manual is a great reference. I would go bike engined though There is something good and motherly about Washington, the grand old benevolent National Asylum for the helpless. - Mark Twain The Gilded Age #CNNblackmail #CNNmemewar | |||
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I built a Caterham a couple years ago. If you are doing it because you like to work on cars and enjoy a challenge then it is worth it. If you are thinking it is a way to get a cool car on the cheap you will be disappointed. I can't speak for the Locost, but the Caterhams are a bit of a shock for most, even with a fairly modest HP build, (mine is only 230hp ish) with the low weight (mine is 1400# with a full tank of gas) the acceleration can best be described as brutal. They must be driven, there is no driver aid electronics, no anti lock brakes and the suspension even if set up for the "road" is far more at home on a race track. No paddle shifters, no doors, no roof, no cupholders, and the boot is a tiny space under the roll bar between the rear tires that won't hold much at all and is covered with a snap on tarp. If you are over 175 pounds get the wide body, if you are over 220 you wont fit in a seven at all. The pedal box is small, tenny runners may not even fit, I wear a 9.5 and pretty much have to wear driving slippers. With some practice you can get into the car without removing the steering wheel, but it requires some gymnastics. The car does not offer any compromise. It is an absolute joy to tear around twisty roads, but to get the biggest smiles it needs a race track. A Seven makes pretty much any other sports car besides an Atom feel like a suburban. I enjoyed building the car, did it over a winter, did not rush, had to have a helper a couple of times, ran into a few frustrating sections but on the whole it was easier than my other projects have been. It was nice to be working with all new parts for a change. | |||
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goodheart |
The Lotus Super Seven was my dream car right up until the time my next door neighbor, who owned a genuine Lotus, offered me a ride to the vintage car races at Sonoma Raceway. Brutal doesn't even begin to describe the ride. My neighbor had to sell his because he developed a detached retina....wonder what could have caused that? _________________________ “ What all the wise men promised has not happened, and what all the damned fools said would happen has come to pass.”— Lord Melbourne | |||
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I was really interested in doing a Caterham build, but their website is awful, and it seems like the kits are even $30k before you get started? Seems like Atom kit builds are starting to pop up so maybe I will go that direction in the future. "Sometimes Magic sounds like Tape" -- The Amazing Johnathan | |||
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I can only speak for the newer Caterhams, but I assure you that detached retinas are not an issue. The prices they list on the website tend to be on the optimistically low side and do not include a motor or tranny. | |||
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Thanks for this. The challenge & reward is part of the motivation for sure. In my mind, I'm thinking NA/NB Miata drivetrain, so it'd be in the mid-100 HP range for the 1.8l engines. Have seen a few in some reading using the NC 2.0l drivetrain as well. Seems having a full Miata donor would source a lot of the running gear; being so light, I'd think a manual steering rack would simplify things & take a tiny bit of drive loss from the engine (and more importantly remove a point of failure). I'm 6'0 & about 160-165lbs, so would need to research if a Book chassis would work, or if I'd need one of the upsized designs. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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| Thank you Very little  |
Figure out what you want to build, then scour the innerwebs for someone that bombed out on a project, you might pick it up for a deal, and get lucky if they bought some of the parts that don't come in the regular kit.... Think I'd build a Cobra Kit if I did one... | |||
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I've always been a fan of the Caterham/Lotus 7, but the Caterham kits are $$$ Stumbled onto Locost yesterday & down the rabbit hole I went. Personally, I'd prefer the Caterham to a Cobra. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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| Thank you Very little |
I Like the Lotus 7, and it would top my list however my size 14 feet and body size just doesn't work. If you're built like Tanner Foust or Richard Hammond they are great options. Cobras are not a lot better, but they are better size wise. I wonder how a Cobra with the 3.7 Ecoboost Turbo, or the smaller 4 Turbo would run... heres a bit of fun, Top Gear Builds a Caterham Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...g&ab_channel=TopGear | |||
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 I remember that episode. May have to browse the Locost/Caterham forums & try to find an owner in the Houston area for a fit test & to pick their brain on a build. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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| thin skin can't win |
Great idea, and won't be a long drive for you to their home in the Woodlands.  You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02 | |||
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Oh? You have a source? Email in my profile, if you have a lead. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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| thin skin can't win |
Sorry - no. Just speculating that the more Tony the neighborhoods, the more expensive toys in the garages. You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02 | |||
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Here is one based on Miata mechanicals http://manikllc.com/sport_miata.html No experience with company. Westfield kits used to be sold by Flying Miata. | |||
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of course when I build one on Caterham's configuration tool, it is 62k GBP..  "Sometimes Magic sounds like Tape" -- The Amazing Johnathan | |||
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620r with a full cage is a bold choice. You must be limber, and live close to a nice track. Certainly no compromise there. If you do build it report back when it is done, my guess is that it will be a handful, but rewarding. Unfortunately to get that car to the states and built you will certainly be north of 100k not counting your labor. | |||
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