LocostUSA.com

- 1600 lbs wet
- 33/67 F/R weight distribution
- Turbocharged FWD Honda K24 mounted mid-engine

I'll add more pictures as time goes on.

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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/

Boy, that is a lot heavier than I thought it was going to be. Great looking ride!!!!!!! Russ

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You meet the nicest people in a Locost Se7en.

So,what about the Book?

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American 7 5.0 T5
Lotus 15 ish?
914/H6

Yes it is, but take off 35 lbs for fuel, 15 lbs for coolant, and 6 lbs for oil... which is the weight most people like to throw around, and it's ~1550 lbs.

To get serious, go with thinner tubing, 15" wheels, no turbo, and a plastic fuel tank, and it could be 13XX lbs dry. Keep in mind its integral rollcage is adding its share, which most Locosts don't have. The complete drivetrain is 400 lbs, not counting turbo, but I've paid my dues with little engines and wanted something meaty... and boy did I get it.

What book?

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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/

How much more does it weight with 10 Lbs. of boost?

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American 7 5.0 T5
Lotus 15 ish?
914/H6

Around one ounce for the larger springs... or zero if I hook up the electronic boost control. I just want to first see how good traction is without going there just yet.

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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/

Kirt,

I am also very interested in how traction is for you with your motor in the back like that. There are not many of us in the 400+ club. My car is a mess to drive, so if yours is even decent with traction I will be very jealous.

J. R.

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Attention TURBO LOVERS, Great book -----> How to turbocharge and Tune your Engine
Sold: GT30/71R My00 S2k
My Car: Custom Build Lotus Super 7

Right now I've got the 3.9 lb wastegate springs in there, which results in 5 lbs of actual boost, and I have no idea what sort of power that equates to (the dyno run was done at 10 psi or so.) I'll get comfortable with the car and either swap in 9 lbs springs, or hook up the boost-by-gear. I'm actually a little reluctant to do the latter because solenoids aren't designed to operate on a PWM basis and will likely wear out quickly.

The above is a long way of saying that if I have "great traction", it doesn't really answer your question since boost is low. if 10 psi is 409 hp... what does half that give? Probably half the difference between it running NA and full boost, or maybe 310 hp? I've yet to floor in in first and second to see what happens.

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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/

That has been my rule of thumb. I figure ~80% which is ~325HP.

HP(na) * (14.7 + boost)/14.7 ~ HP under boost

or to change boost, new HP = old hp/(14.7+old boost)*(14.7+new boost)

It is fairly close for everything I have seen. (Unless you really go crazy). I have never done any of that, just read up a little bit.

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Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

Yup, ~325 hp

By that equation, it's ~243 hp NA... nice!

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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/

Well, according the the inernet (therefore it must be true) the K24A1 was 160HP and the K24A2 engine was 200HP stock, I know you are using the K24A2 head on the A1 block and thay you did some porting and who knows what else. Certainly the exhaust and intake were chsnged significantly. Did you overbore it? 240HP n/a may be optimistic but not unheard of for a 2.4L engine. But you'll never know... Ha... Ha... HA!

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Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

But he's got BOOST!! Now if he'd only add NOS he'd be the coolest kid on the block and have eleventy billion horsepower!

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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.

Update:
I'm still driving it without fenders, and still waiting to get pelted by rocks, but it simply isn't happening. I think it's because the wide track means that the rocks fly past without hitting me or bouncing in. Of course, all it'll take is getting pulled over once for driving without fenders, and being unable to convince the cop that, at <1500 lbs, it's legal.

That aside, I'm currently dealing with a clutch issue, where it shifts perfectly fine when cold, but as it warms up, it starts grinding when going into reverse. Wait 3-4 hours for it to cool off and it shifts perfectly fine. The problem is some combination of pilot bushing, clutch, or clutch pedal/master/slave cylinder. It's starting to look like the engine's going to have to come out to find out for sure, but I worry that I'll get in there and see nothing wrong. Would be good to have this fairly boxed-in before

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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/

Any thoughts on the high sides keeping rocks out? It seems that is where most enter my car.

I had the same issue with my car. Turns out the jam nut had loosened on the clutch master cylinder and I was unable to fully disengage the clutch. Its a long shot but worth mentioning.

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-Andrew
Build Log
Youtube

Hi Kurt,

We'll have to get together so I can give you copies of the photos from the Del Mar Nationals. There are 38 digital photos and the aggregate size is about 30MB. If you have a file upload account somewhere (Google or some other place) I can put them there for you.

Being a techno-geek myself, I find the details very interesting. Here are two that I like. They show better full size, but I had to reduce them to post here.

Bye the way, the unit on the passenger side of the front bay, sitting on the green sheet metal just behind the suspension, looks like the windshield wiper motor to me. Is that right? If so, how's it working being that far from the wipers?

Cheers,

Lonnie

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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