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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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PostPosted: October 15, 2017, 11:01 pm 
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Joined: September 30, 2005, 1:28 am
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Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
The rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

I completed my first locost, "The Lethal Locost" back in 2006, when this board was brand new.

Then I got into a lowrider Nissan Hardbody in 2007, then a lowrider Squarebody Chevy in 2013.

I started building a "dimensionally correct" Lotus Super 7 in about 2010, but it waned when I had to bring this project (that I started in 2009) home from work in 2013 (with a 2-year pause in 2015 to build a 1065sqft workshop in my back yard).

The goal is to be Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge legal. I ~almost~ made it.

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Bought from some students who didn't listen, so it never ran

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Sold the drivetrain, cut the floor out, and built a frame

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Shoehorned in a V8

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Fabricated front suspension (four incarnations)

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Fabricated rear suspension (two incarnations)

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Patched some rust

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Fabricated a rad

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Wired the entire OEM fuel injection from a Firebird into the Firefly

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Fabricated a gas tank

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Paneled the interior

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Prettied up the inside

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PostPosted: October 16, 2017, 2:05 am 
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Joined: March 1, 2008, 8:42 am
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That is FANTASTIC!!!


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PostPosted: October 16, 2017, 7:55 am 
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We are Slotus!
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Joined: October 6, 2009, 9:29 am
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Location: Tallahassee, FL (The Center of the Known Universe)
Very cool, and very interesting! Tell us more (with pictures)!
:cheers:
JDK

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"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom


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PostPosted: October 16, 2017, 9:38 pm 
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Joined: September 30, 2005, 1:28 am
Posts: 1329
Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
What would you like to hear?

It's a completely stock 5.0L TBI Chevy, connected to a TH350 automatic with a DIY shift kit. The rear is a GM 7.5" narrowed 9", a Detroit TrueTrac is going in this week. 2.73 gears which is just fine with 22.5" tires. Fabricated headers through glasspacks to single tailpipe out the original opening.

I "finished" it for a tick over $2000US, but add another $400 for the LSD.

It took 8 years to build, though the first three years were slow going because it was only after hours at work, and then two years down to build my shop.

I have a "tach adapter" chip thingie that converts the 8 cyl tach pulses to 3 so the factory tach will work.

Chevette steering rack. Steering is heavy. It handles alright. It's a bit squirrelly shifting into 3rd at full throttle. Or 2nd, if I'm honest.

But, with this car completed (I had been planning it since the early 1990's), the Lethal Locost 2 will be back on the table to be completed. I'll be spending more time here.

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PostPosted: October 17, 2017, 10:45 am 
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Joined: October 10, 2010, 10:26 am
Posts: 2032
Location: Guadalupe, CA
A little hot hatch Firefly terror... I don't have the words to express how much I approve of this build :cheers:

--ccrunner

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"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 17, 2017, 12:07 pm 
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Joined: May 27, 2006, 9:46 pm
Posts: 1954
Location: BC, Canada. eh?
Good to see you back on the boards here, SG!! We didn't think you'd passed on...more like we thought you'd gone into hiding!!

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PostPosted: October 19, 2017, 2:11 pm 
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Joined: October 29, 2008, 5:53 pm
Posts: 62
Location: WA U.S.A
Sweet build, talk about a sleeper :D

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PostPosted: October 28, 2017, 12:18 pm 
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Joined: September 30, 2005, 1:28 am
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Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
I now have a Detroit TrueTrac limited slip installed. Have a list of things to complete over winter, including a battery box (to be drag legal, plus a bit more "please don't explode and shower acid all over me" safe), chasing an exhaust rattle, back up lights, neutral safety switch, rolling the fenders more, and all that.

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PostPosted: October 29, 2017, 1:10 am 
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Joined: March 30, 2011, 7:18 am
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Location: central Arkansas
Your seating position in the "maiden voyage" shot looks pretty normal. How much foot room did you wind up with?


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PostPosted: October 30, 2017, 8:17 pm 
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Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
With my left foot jammed into the dead pedal, I can actually apply the brake with the right foot. There is just enough room to apply the gas without applying the brake as well.

You do sit a little crooked, with your feet way off to the left, but you get used to it.

A set of new Bridgestone RE-71R's just showed up today :) :) :)

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PostPosted: February 14, 2018, 10:45 pm 
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Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
Um, sad news.....

Lethal Locost #2 is going on hold for another 3 to 5 years. I seem to have fallen in love with a '61 Chevy Apache that called my name.

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PostPosted: April 30, 2019, 10:48 am 
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Joined: September 30, 2005, 1:28 am
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Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
In case you have not seen it, the Firefly is now on Bring-A-Trailer, sporting a mild 350 now.

I "love" the car, but do not "want" the car.

Plus, like an artist, once the build is done, I need to move on to the next build.

Closes today at 2:55pst: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-pontiac-firefly/

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PostPosted: April 30, 2019, 6:06 pm 
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Joined: December 22, 2006, 2:05 pm
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I love it too and have enjoyed the build. Enjoyed the tbi tuning effort detail as well.
Looks like you doubled your money.
A labor of love = priceless. :cheers:

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PostPosted: May 1, 2019, 1:19 am 
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Joined: September 30, 2005, 1:28 am
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Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
I did better than I feared. It did come out ahead of the game.

And, having built it so cheap, it can sell cheap - the buyer feels like they win, and I feel like I win. Win!

Now I have a '61 Chevy Apache 10 to drive into the shop....

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PostPosted: May 1, 2019, 2:41 am 
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Joined: December 24, 2007, 5:11 am
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Location: Seattle area
Win, win, Greg!

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