LocostUSA.com

Hello everyone! I am new to the site! I live in the Greater Boston area.

I am retired with a background in Engineering. I am just completing a restomod 67 Mustang coupe that now has a 87 5.0 w/Edlebrock& 600cfm Holley. It is backed up with a T5 w/Hydraulic clutch & I upgraded the steering to a Randel's Rack & Pinion poer steering. And to stop it I upgraded all 4 corners to 2010 Mustang GT disc with 17" Bullit wheels (to clear the brakes). Plus a Magnaflow 2 1//2" dual exhaust.

I have just acquired a partially built Locost 7 kit. The fellow who started the build had a history in 1/4 mile racing with SB & BB Mustangs. He decided to build a Locost 7 with a SBF/T5 configuration. He used chrome moly tubbing instead of the normal square tubing! Wanted to make sure the chassis could handle the power.

It uses Mustang II front spindles/disc brakes & manual R&P steering with a built Mustang 8.8 rear end (Moser axles, 4:10 posi & drum brakes).

He estimated he had over $5k in just parts & material! But he is moving to Maine and will be either an apt or his motorhome for more than a year before he gets a new home & shop built.

So I acquired it and have been gathering parts. I decided the SBF was a bit much for "this ol man" and have decided to install a 91 Mustang 2.3 8 plug EFI 4 cyl. As some of you know, here in MA the licensing process is tough. So I had come across a shop that had a "take out" to install a Coyote in the Mustang. It came with the motor (complete with all wiring, ECU and EFI/smog equipment) 4 spd auto trans & exhaust manifold, header pipe & CAT. All for $400! I heard it run. The only thing wrong with the motor was a leaking rear seal. The trans had already been rebuilt and it has a new water pump.

The car also came with new 15" wheels and Hanook tires. Brakes, spindles and rotors are also new. It has alum racing style seats with the upholstery. What you see in yellow is obviously carboard templates.

I have a set of aftermarket gauges and a T5-Z trans. to go behind the 2.3l. I will use a larger pilot bearing for the trans to motor. I even have a TCI shatter shield for it.

I know there are lots of "better" choices for a powertrain, but I wanted a streetable car that is not high strung. And for the price of admission for this motor, plus all the goodies I already have, it just made sense to me. No plans to race it.

So, along the way I will be seeking advice from all of you pros with these builds, if I may. Be gentle with me, I will try not to be too dense.

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Thom

Looks like a good start. I can vouch for $398 of his $5000 investment estimate -- them's a nose and scuttle from Yours Truly.

Welcome to the monkey house.

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Locost builder and adventurer, and founder (but no longer owner) of Kinetic Vehicles

Welcome. It looks like you've bought yourself a bargain and a nice project.

Those 2.3 engines can be developed a good amount if you decide you don't have the power you want, so don't worry about that. I'll be looking forward to your build log.

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

I am in Duxbury and have a completed build (Duxbury Hodgepodge) if you ever want to look at something.

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Parts left out cost nothing and cause no problems!!

That sounds like a great combination. Be sure to leave your self an inch of bonnet clearance to the top of the intake/throttle body. Some have rotated the upper intake to face forward. Then it could be cut down to lower the tb since the valve cover is in the way of doing that in the original config.

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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

Thanks JPS Europa! I may take you up on that! Always like to see who others have built theirs.

And I have already been thing about how I will modify the intake to not have it go over the top of the motor. Not only does it increase the height, but it just looks odd, and it places the intake path right over the hot exhaust manifold.

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Thom

You ever start a build log?
Making any progress?

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Trochu Motor League