LocostUSA.com

wow very good research! After taking out my T-56 from my Trans Am 3-4 times i never thought it was possible to do that. Must have been quite an undertaking for whoever designed it. Also works out nice that you can eliminate the CAGS and use the hole it was in seeing as how everyone deletes it anyways.

Ray,
Great work on that. Do you mind sharing where you picked all that up?

It seems like the last main hurlde is putting together a mid-engine shifter for that. I'm thinking you could do it with cables. The GT40 replica guys have made some nice mechanisms for the Audi box. I will see if I can dig up some information on that.

Ken

EDIT: Here is a link to the shifter mechanism I was thinking of:

http://www.lambolounge.com/Chassis/Tran ... hifter.asp

I've been out to the track as often as possible this year. I am still working on some issues with the tranny, but otherwise this thing is a blast. It does everything I wanted. It's usually the fastest car at the track (I went to a day with some dedicated open wheel cars that were faster); it's been dead nuts reliable; the wear items are doing great (tires and brakes); and it's an absolute thrill to drive.

Here are videos I have taken over the last couple of events:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDzHBFn5NJo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpdp4Wys70

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgTaU2mO24A

These videos were taken with the camera focus set on macro, so everything in front of the car is blurry. I was also still working on trans tuning issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPIZUi1GcIE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdHQ9LzoFQk

Watching those videos of you on the track makes an old man get his jollies!! Almost as good as sex. Go for it Guy.
TLS

Thanks. I should have more next week. I have 3 days of open track days this weekend at Calabogie and Mosport in Canada. It will be fun.

Ken

Hi Im new but was looking at your build looks great what rack is that you are using..Thanks Luke

Well, after much too long of a wait, I finally have a weight for the car.

Car alone:

Total: 2441
Front: 895 (37%)
Rear: 1546 (63%)

LF/RR: 1243 (51%)
LR/RF: 1198 (49%)

Right: 1221 (50%)
Left: 1220 (50%)



With driver:

Total: 2715
Front: 1053 (39%)
Rear: 1662 (61%)

LF/RR: 1390 (51%)
LR/RF: 1325 (49%)

Right: 1303 (48%)
Left: 1412 (52%)

The car is a little heavier than I was expecting, but I'm always the optimist. The most surprising thing is that the diagonal weight percentages stay the same with or without the driver. I really wasn't expecting that.

Ken

any idea for CoG height?

whats total height of the car? ride height?

I am planning on measureing the CG height by weighing the car again with the rear end lifted up. I'm guessing somewhere around 16-20 inches??? The car is about 43" tall and sits 4" off the ground.

Ken

yeah i am very curious - post up when you measure it. i am in the planning stages of a tube frame track car. also thinking of using vette transaxle but with engine up front. i am surprised by your weight - my bmw e36 (gutted, 10pt roll cage,no composite panels) weighs in at 2450lbs without me.

I have a number of things contributing to that weight. One is the turbocharger. Between the turbo, the wastegates, the BOV, the intercooler, and all the associated plumbing I bet I added 100 lbs. Also, the main chassis rails are not light. I used 1.5x3x.120 wall rectangular tubing. You could use smaller, but it's what was available at my local steel vendor. The Vette running gear is not light. The arm are AL, but they are big. The brakes are huge, almost 13" in diameter and 1.25" thick. The half-shafts are also pretty beefy. All in all, the car isn't as light as a Locost, but the running gear also has no issue at all living at the track.

Ken

plus 12x17 wheels/tires..

thanks for the info. in the dream/planning stages right now with house being built. we'll see how funds are when house is done in a couple months.

And for BB69's next build using existing chassis ...

Wow, great story here Guys on the "Norman Timbs Buick Special, I can barely believe it's a 1950's car! ...

http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?tit ... ck_Special

My GT3071R weighs 14 lbs by itself, and while I haven't weighed the other parts, no way they're 86 lbs. I agree that most all your weight is in the chassis, vette suspension, and wheels/tires. Being a V8 has a bit to do with it, too!

Wait... turbo... what turbo. I think you owe us some new pictures!

The turbo I am using is from a Duramax diesel. It's a variable geometry turbo and the housings are huge. It has to weigh 50-60 pounds by itself. I also have two wastegates, the BOV, an intercooler, a fan for the intercooler, and the associated plumbing and hardware.