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New guy with donor question
grantmac - 7/1/05 at 04:32 AM

Hello!
I've been looking around on this forum for about a day and a half now. Last week when I was working on my car I realized I wanted to build something completely from the ground up. I'd seen a Locost website before and I liked the principle of it. I've ordered the book, should be here in a few weeks.
I'm sort of an early RX-7 fan and so I had originally thought to use one of those as a donor. We are severely lacking in very suitable donors here in North America as everyone knows. Well I'd really prefer to avoid having to convert struts to uprights so my thoughts have turned elsewhere.
I've been looking at small pick-up trucks as they seem to have the right sort of set-up. Has anyone used anything besides an S10?
Thanks,
Grant


Mark18 - 7/1/05 at 06:37 PM

Mercur xr4ti is the same as a 4wd Sierra - perfect donor, other than that AFAIK an rx-7 makes a good donor with useable front uprights and a great engine for a Locost.

Mrak


grantmac - 7/1/05 at 08:23 PM

The engine, tranny and rear-end will probably be RX-7 no matter what. I know these engines and I love my RX-7, it's just oo heavy with poor front suspension. I'd prefer to avoid having to convert struts to uprights, although the 86-91 RX-7 has struts that bolt togather and so would work pretty well. I also want to avoid the uncommon 4x110 bolt pattern on most 1st gens.

Grant


JoelP - 7/1/05 at 08:43 PM

converting sierra/mercur hubs to upright is very easy, if that makes any difference - its just a 20gbp 'strut adapter'.


grantmac - 7/1/05 at 10:09 PM

Too bad the Merkur is a rather rare care overhere. We only got the XR4Ti which is somewhat hard to find. If I convert any strut I think it will be a 2nd generation RX-7 base model upright. I'm also looking at using an R6 rear shock with linkage or just at a lower angle for the shocks. Other than that the chassis will look rather similar to a book chassis, the body however will be more in-line with a full-bodied car.
Grant


krlthms - 8/1/05 at 07:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark18
Mercur xr4ti is the same as a 4wd Sierra - perfect donor, other than that AFAIK an rx-7 makes a good donor with useable front uprights and a great engine for a Locost.

Mrak


The Merkur xr4ti is 2WD.


kiwirex - 19/1/05 at 09:28 AM

Do you have these farty little japanese vans over there?

I'm planning on using uprights from a toyota townace.

a townace - for my uprights
a townace - for my uprights

(not this one though)

Most of them are twin wishbone, front steer. But most of them also have the steering knuckle way down low, so your rack has to go through the bottom rail, which isn't ideal.
Pretty sure townace has the steering knuckle half way up, like the cortina.

Cheers
- Greg H


Volvorsport - 19/1/05 at 12:55 PM

what about Rx7 twin turbo front uprights , and for that matter rear , all wishbones


grantmac - 21/1/05 at 05:27 AM

I just got The Book today so I'm gonna be reading for a while. Also going to be buying a house shortly so I'll have a place to start.
Looking more like I'm gonna use the toyota van front uprights and a corrolla SR-5 drivetrain, but later look at a GTS drivetrain once it's been on the road for a little while. I already have one rotary car and I think I'd like to go piston with this one.
Grant