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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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PostPosted: November 29, 2009, 4:39 pm 
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Joined: November 21, 2009, 5:56 pm
Posts: 184
Location: Springfield, Illinois
I thought I would post some photos of my recently completed Locost.

It is built using Ron Champion's "BOOK" as a guide. I say that because you really can't build the car he describes anymore, at least not using the parts he says to use.

Mine uses a rear end from a Toyota Tercel AWD station wagon, the spindles, hubs and steering column from a (actually several) Miata(s) and the engine and transmission from a Triumph Spitfire.

The car was scratch built. I did buy Jack M.'s nose cone, scuttle and rear fenders, all of which were modified for this particular car. The project was started in early February, 2007 and was licensed for the road in November of 2009. It's not truly completed yet. I still need fenders on the front wheels, and need to do something for passenger comfort, like a foot rest. However the car is drivable as it is and I suspect I will be checking for what breaks in the near future.

It has been a really interesting project that has kept me occupied for the last couple of years.

Bill


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PostPosted: November 30, 2009, 10:53 pm 
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Joined: April 11, 2006, 10:27 pm
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Location: Murfreesboro TN
Nice job Bill. Nice and neat.
Where abouts in Illinois are you? I am in Bloomington.
:cheers:

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PostPosted: November 30, 2009, 11:29 pm 
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Congrats! It looks like you've put a lot of work into it. :cheers:

How do you like right hand drive, is it much of a problem?

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PostPosted: November 30, 2009, 11:36 pm 
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Joined: March 3, 2006, 10:48 pm
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Location: Shawnee, Ks
Welcome to the world of crazies. Great looking se7en. Trust me you will need front fenders. For passenger foot rest look at my post viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2033&hilit=+glove+box . There is going to be a Midwest Gathering in Minnesota in June or July 2010. Hope to see you there. Russ


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PostPosted: November 30, 2009, 11:40 pm 
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RHD ain't too bad. My se7en is also right hand drive. Passing a vehicle on the left is an issue on two lane roads but since my se7en only has 58 HP it is usually not a problem. Russ


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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 12:11 am 
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Location: Alberta, Canada
Fantastic! Looks great and congratulations on finishing.


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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 12:34 am 
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Way to show up and make us all look bad! :lol:

I started in the Spring of 2007 too and I'm still slaving away!

Nice work. I love the engine bay, very neat!

Congrats.

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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 12:39 am 
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Location: Lexington, KY
No fair, laying low in the hanger being all secret and then like WAPAM! LOOK I BUILT A LOCOST! ;-)

Nice work...a real clean looking build. Did you build the seats?

I've never seen a dash quite like that. Did that come from Jack?

-dave

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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 8:13 am 
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Location: Springfield, Illinois
dhempy wrote:
No fair, laying low in the hanger being all secret and then like WAPAM! LOOK I BUILT A LOCOST! ;-)

Nice work...a real clean looking build. Did you build the seats?

I've never seen a dash quite like that. Did that come from Jack?



Dave, I have been a lurker here from time to time, especially at the start of the project. Mainly, I have been on the Yahoo Locost North America forum.

I did build the seats. The car worked out to be too narrow on the driver's side to find a seat to fit. The bottom is a frame to hold a sheet of 1/2" plywood with a cushion glued to it. The back is from a Cessna 150 aircraft, modified to add a headrest. The seat backs were left over from a previous project and I finally found a use for them.

The basic scuttle did come from Jack, but I modified it quite a bit. There is a 1" diameter tube running across the car that supports the steering column and the instrument cluster. The scuttle was modified to surround this tube and the instrument cluster. I also extended the sides for cosmetic reasons. Illinois requires windshield wipers, so I had to incorporate those also.

Thanks for the complements.

Bill


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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 8:15 am 
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Joined: November 21, 2009, 5:56 pm
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Location: Springfield, Illinois
Thanks Graham. I'm in Springfield.


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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 8:18 am 
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Location: Springfield, Illinois
horizenjob wrote:
How do you like right hand drive, is it much of a problem?


The right hand drive has not been a problem so far. I've had no problem shifting with my left hand instead of the right. The only issue is getting back into the airport. It's a bit awkward to get my pass to the electronic gate actuator from the right side of the car.

Bill


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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 8:23 am 
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Location: Springfield, Illinois
trialsmangasgas wrote:
Trust me you will need front fenders. For passenger foot rest look at my post viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2033&hilit=+glove+box . There is going to be a Midwest Gathering in Minnesota in June or July 2010. Russ


Russ, I do have fenders for the front, I just haven't worked on building the brackets yet. I've got what I think are most of the materials, I just haven't done it.

BTW, I've seen your foot rest and had planned to copy the idea. Thanks for the 'permission'.

Coming to Minnesota would certainly be an adventure.

Thanks for the kind remarks.

Bill


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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 10:34 am 
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas
How comfy are the seats and what would you have done differently to them?

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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 11:30 am 
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Location: West Chicago,IL
Nice build. A little over 2 years? Pretty good!

Chuck

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PostPosted: December 1, 2009, 6:29 pm 
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Joined: September 17, 2008, 2:58 pm
Posts: 131
Remarkable 2 year project. Congratulations. The car really does have a neat and tidy quality. I'd be interested to see the chassis stripped down without bodywork. I see a bunch of bracing tubes that don't appear in the book design, or any upgraded cad design for that matter.


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