LocostUSA.com

I recently went through the effort of shortening my midi. My car is a 442 locost with a Nissan vq30 grafted on the back. The first iteration of the car ended up with a 120" wheelbase. I cut 5" out of the rear subframe to get to a 115" wheel base. Looking at the car I might be able to cut another 5" out of it. It is a tremendous amount of work but somewhat possible. The question is should I and will it really make that much of a deference handling wise? The car front the rear tube forward is all 442 and the steering and everything else is already in place. If I did cut it where should I cut?




Evo

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My vq30 middy build http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4082

A shorter wheelbase makes a big difference in handling. I’d clear the path for the fuel tank to fit between the suspension pivots, then move the front end as-is to where the fuel tank just clears the radiator. Looks like you can get it under 100”.

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

In general terms shorter means can do tighter corners (more nimble) and longer means more stable at high speed so what's important to you?

I don't what the wheelbase of the LMPs and F1 cars are, but they are long.

But if you could put a long fuel tank in between the driver and passenger's feet that widens up in front. (or get an MR2 fuel tank) that will free up some room also.

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mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

Here is a perspective on turning in to a corner or parking spot my wife's Kia Rio has a wheel base of 101 inches while my dodge ram 2500 has a wheel base of 140 inches. She can park that little car into any spot while I have to ether do a Austin Powers it into a spot or park else where, parallel parking I need about a 25 foot long opening to make that happen in one swift movement the truck is around 20 to 21 feet long.

Looking at it more it looks like I can take about 10" out of the front and still have room for the fuel tank. I think the extra work will pay off in handling and looks.

Evo

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My vq30 middy build http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4082

try look wheeel base ratio. optimal range ~1.6
more than 1.6, stable in high speed,
lower than 1.6, at low speed good maneuver, but not so stable in high speed
https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&site=webhp&q=wheelbase+ratio&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiul5f5yeLJAhUHdCwKHYFJAbwQvwUIGigA&biw=1440&bih=733

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Never be afraid to do what you dont learn, remember: amateurs built the ark - Professionals built the Titanic.

Why not just weld on some new A-arm and rack brackets farther back? It looks like you could go quite a way before you ran into steering lock problems.

Drive it, see what different it makes, and then cut off whichever bits you don't need any more.

I drove it last when it had a wheelbase of 120" and it felt pretty good. Later I cut 5" out of the rear and tightened the package. I haven't driven it since but every time I look at it, it looks way too long. Plus cutting 10" out of it will free up more parking space. With the nose cone on I'll have almost 6.5' of car past the front windshield as it is.

Reason I'm cutting so much out of it is it started as a 442 that got turned midi mid way through.

Evo

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My vq30 middy build http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4082

Removed space behind tank also. Much better imho.

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

I agree that is the look I want and there is space to do it so this is a go ahead.


Thanks


Evo

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My vq30 middy build http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4082

Well, it's your car, but... changing such fundamental things at this point is like deciding there isn't enough steel in the foundation of the house you just built. Just leave it along and drive it for a while... but like I said, it's your car.

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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/

I went ahead and started with the cutting. I've got it down to 103.5in wheelbase. The car looks like a locost now. I still have a lot of work ahead of me but I figured out that I could turn the fuel tank to get the size I wanted without messing with the already built front suspension.


No pics yet as I'm still sorting it all out.


Evo

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My vq30 middy build http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4082

After a month or so of work the car is now 105" long. Much improved!


Evo

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My vq30 middy build http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4082

Looks like you're ready for some bodywork next! Or are you going to drive it raw for a while before finishing it up?

Still loads of work to be done before body work. It's all little stuff like mounting straps for the fuel tank, a cover/ upper firewall for the fuel tank, skrinking the wiring harness even more, lights, etc.


Evo

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My vq30 middy build http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4082