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Locost bodywork
alistairolsen - 30/4/08 at 09:12 AM

Looking to purchase bodywork for a locost, now obviously all the branded kits offer different appearance, and more importantly cost!

In locost fashion I guess the rear tub should be done with aluminium as should the sides and bonnet and fit a universal scuttle and nosecone?

How hard is it to achieve decent shut lines like this? Do the grp bodies offer greater stiffness? More or less weight?

cheers

[Edited on 30/4/08 by alistairolsen]


worX - 30/4/08 at 09:21 AM

No the grp is for looks and is not necessary and just adds weight.

Go the way you said first and you will achieve better shut-lines then most!

The only thing you need to do, is to make you bonnet quite oversize before you bend it (round a gas bottle for welding) and then cut it to size on the car.
It's hard to make a perfect card template for a bonnet that acts the same way as the Ali...

Steve


alistairolsen - 30/4/08 at 09:53 AM

cool, I guess one of the ebay universal scuttles and a nosecone then? or are there cheaper places to source these?

Ive got front cycle wings, whereas best for stad width rears?

also, I hear some noses are a coupe of inches taller for pintos, any info on where to get these?

thanks


Mr Whippy - 30/4/08 at 10:11 AM

do a search on GTS before ordering

pintos will fit under standard scuttles and nose cones with side draft carbs, but my require a hole cut in the bonnet if your going to use a standard carb to allow for the air filter.


tegwin - 30/4/08 at 10:13 AM

lolocost parts....(Run by GBS) I believe...do some seriously cheap body parts....the finish and quality is not great, but if you are prepared to spend some time sorting them out, its not a bad buy!


alistairolsen - 30/4/08 at 10:15 AM

Its not for a pinto, its for a volvo t5 engine, and even jammed as far back as possible in the chassis I figure I need the extra height, and if not for the engine, to get the IC pipes over the rad....

How odd do the high noses look?


907 - 30/4/08 at 10:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
Looking to purchase bodywork for a locost, now obviously all the branded kits offer different appearance, and more importantly cost!

In locost fashion I guess the rear tub should be done with aluminium as should the sides and bonnet and fit a universal scuttle and nosecone?

How hard is it to achieve decent shut lines like this? Do the grp bodies offer greater stiffness? More or less weight?

cheers




I can answer a small part of your question.

When I compared the weight of a Lolocost fibreglass cycle wing (on the kitchen scales) with the
1.6mm ally ones that I made they were....


Exactly the same.


Don't you just hate it when that happens.


I suspect that thicker G/F is used for back ends though.

Paul G


Mr Whippy - 30/4/08 at 10:48 AM

quote:
Originally posted by alistairolsen
Its not for a pinto, its for a volvo t5 engine, and even jammed as far back as possible in the chassis I figure I need the extra height, and if not for the engine, to get the IC pipes over the rad....

How odd do the high noses look?



make a nice bonet bulge, I think it is tiger cars that do this and it looks quite cool

here's one -



[Edited on 30/4/08 by Mr Whippy]


alistairolsen - 30/4/08 at 11:12 AM

problem is I want to fit the golf rad that everyone uses in the std size cone, and then get 2 inch boost hoses over the top of it! If anyone has pics of rad clearance inside the std nosecone to convince me there is room then ill bake a bulge for the cam cover no worries!


Mr Whippy - 30/4/08 at 11:57 AM

seems an awful long hose run to the intercooler, can't you mount the cooler horizontally under the top of the bonnet and use a scoop to direct air through it? as per a scooby etc.


alistairolsen - 30/4/08 at 12:12 PM

that would be more height above the engine

tbh the pipe runs arent long enough to matter awfully, just a a question of being able to get them in!

any pics of insidea nosecone with a polo/golf rad?


Mr Whippy - 30/4/08 at 02:04 PM

What about on the side of the engine bay panel then opposite side to the exhaust, usually an empty bit in there. You'll get terrible turbo lag with those long hoses


alistairolsen - 30/4/08 at 02:23 PM

they really arent all that long by comparison to the fwd setup at all!


procomp - 30/4/08 at 02:40 PM

Hi this is a side view of a car on 13" wheels/tyres that has 1" 1/2 / 38mm taller nose bonnet and scuttle. This enables a zetec to be fitted with the sump flush with the base of the chassis. It should give you an idea of how it compares to std height. And also has the larger radiator than the std polo one. 25% more surface area i think.

Darryl's new LA gold sister car to steve's.
Darryl's new LA gold sister car to steve's.
[/img]

HTH cheers Matt

[Edited on 30/4/08 by procomp]


alistairolsen - 30/4/08 at 03:02 PM

cheers, doesnt look unnatractive, or out of proportion.

Where did the nose come from?

I asume the scuttle is identical, but the bonnet has less rake?


procomp - 30/4/08 at 05:12 PM

Hi the nose and scuttle have the extra height to maintain the std profile overall as such. The bodywork is our own for the LA range of cars.

Cheers Matt