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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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PostPosted: August 21, 2017, 9:53 pm 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Hey! My name is Mike, first post for a long time reader, I'm excited to share my build and hopefully retain some momentum on the progress of this project. Long story short I was going to build a locost, acquired a bunch of miata parts and decided to graft the miata subframes into a W123 shell for some reason. Got the front subframe mounted and scrapped the project and started building a locost. I'll spend a few trying to sort out making my pictures work right now, I'm sure they wont work right away. I've added some pictures at the link below if you'd like to check it out in the meantime.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNluPxFYE5biQjSSEx4z4GUpdUzehAEB32WwM8xp2tvfxL5RkdUOwXM8Z1voRdepQ?key=WG5TSkctQTk5cDVIR1ZiRTNBTGV3enNMbkd0QWZR

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Me with the frame a little while back.

Below is the build table and laying out some of the lower tubes.

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I'll try to add a bit more to get this caught up to the current state over the next couple weeks. There wont be much progress until October, September is going to be really busy with other happenings.


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PostPosted: November 22, 2017, 2:41 am 
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Joined: February 29, 2008, 7:15 pm
Posts: 346
Location: Denver, Colorado
Great start! I'd like to see how the Vodou stuff comes along - what do you think of the plans so far?

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My Haynes/Miata build: http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3774


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PostPosted: November 22, 2017, 11:59 am 
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Joined: April 22, 2010, 4:43 pm
Posts: 432
Location: Livermore, Calif.
Really nice looking build table. I see you added a lower shelf - will come in handy for storing parts and stuff.

Good luck,
Roy


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PostPosted: January 30, 2018, 1:27 pm 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Thanks for the feedback!

Randy- I'm liking the plans so far, there are a couple errors in them but for the most part they're good! I like that they use Miata parts and that I don't have to design the whole thing from scratch.

Roy -Thank you, the shelf is super handy. Should have gone with larger diameter casters, maybe next time.

Sorry this project has been on hold for a little while but a couple updates are that the diff mount is done and the roll hoop mounts are done. I've got a pile of tubing to make control arms and a cage, that's the next step.


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PostPosted: February 8, 2018, 4:26 pm 
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Joined: February 29, 2008, 7:15 pm
Posts: 346
Location: Denver, Colorado
That's coming along nicely! It's interesting to compare the Saturn and Vodou. I just finished the diff mount in mine. I decided to go with Saturn stuff because it seemed more complete, but there were some things missing from those plans too. I completely changed the diff nose mount as well.

Keep posting - great work so far!

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PostPosted: February 28, 2018, 9:35 am 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Thanks Randy! Spent some time at work making control arm bushings over the weekend.

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Not really locost related but we got a little distracted making some strut mounts for the daily driver last week as well.

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PostPosted: March 2, 2018, 9:18 pm 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Finished up the crush sleeves for the bushings and started on control arm brackets this week! Should have the brackets finished up shortly here.

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also started some velocity stacks for an intake manifold project

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PostPosted: March 14, 2018, 10:43 pm 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Got a little distracted with a wheel bus for the daily driver last week so not much progress, I started on control arms yesterday, which turned into making this tube notcher. Should be able to start actually fabbing arms up soon!
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PostPosted: March 14, 2018, 11:33 pm 
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Joined: December 17, 2010, 1:24 pm
Posts: 1580
Location: Gainesville, Mo.
Very impressive looking piece of gear there! Impressive skills as well! My hat is off to you sir!!! :cheers:

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Mike - Read my story at http://twinlakesseven.blogspot.com/


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PostPosted: March 15, 2018, 1:35 am 
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Joined: March 19, 2011, 10:22 am
Posts: 2386
Location: Holden, Alberta, Canada
I concur, very impressive. When building a car, fabricating tools or jigs is a big part of the project. They may take time to build but they are well worth it when you see the results they produce.

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Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle


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PostPosted: March 16, 2018, 8:55 am 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Thanks for the encouragement! Yes that's for sure, making tools and jigs takes a long time. We'll get there, gonna try to get some more done on control arms this week, things are busy with some house projects right now.


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PostPosted: March 16, 2018, 9:59 am 
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Joined: February 8, 2014, 10:47 pm
Posts: 781
Location: Cornelius OR
I'm a big fan of home made tools, nice work!

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Speedy-Notcher-Tubing-End-Notcher,3482.html

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hck-sppipenotch

A little nicer one
http://www.baileigh.com/index.php/hole-saw-notcher-tn-210h

"Allways centered"
http://www.baileigh.com/index.php/tube-notcher-tn-250

Harbor Freight
https://www.harborfreight.com/pipe-tubing-notcher-42324.html

Many say the best and fastest joints are hand fit!

There are also notchers that are nibblers rather than saws.
Much faster to rough in with nibbler and finish with grinder.

https://lowbucktools.com/products/hydraulic-tubepipe-notcher

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PostPosted: March 16, 2018, 1:43 pm 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Thanks for those links! I haven't seen the nibbler style one before, that's really interesting. I looked at the various options, speedy notcher, baleigh tn200, jd2 beast, HF notcher, etc. I've spent a lot of time with the baleigh tn300, that's a beautiful piece of equipment. I've found the cheaper options to be too flexible at the shaft and in the tube clamping mechanism. I wanted to make sure it was rigid like the tn300 but still compact


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PostPosted: October 26, 2018, 1:36 pm 
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Joined: August 21, 2017, 7:49 pm
Posts: 21
Been making some progress on the table car lately. I made the rear arms a while ago but finally got around to mounting them, also got the front arms fabbed and mounted. Been working on making a good guess at rack width and position to keep bump steer to a minimum and I think I've got it close enough that we can shim it as needed to get the bump steer out.

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I've found almost every way to make these brackets incorrectly, finally have a few more good ones.
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Wally has been helping out some too
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My buddy Ron came up and helped get the front arms mounted, he helped a ton.
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Tom and I have been talking about suspension, sort of considering doing R6 shocks with bell cranks. I'm open to suggestions and other ideas if you have any!

Probably will make some dummy shocks out of square tube to hold the car up for now while I make motor mounts and the trans tunnel.


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PostPosted: October 26, 2018, 5:52 pm 
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Joined: October 24, 2008, 2:13 pm
Posts: 5326
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA
Nice work, and very interesting too.

Thanks for including Wally. The "helpful crew" seldom get the recognition they deserve.

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


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