LocostUSA.com

Hello! This is my first post, and I have been researching and reading for a while. I would like to build a Locost with Miata Independent Rear Suspension. I have the plan set for the Vodou design (hopefully the latest), and I like it a lot, but I can't find much about the company, and most importantly other builders who've ACTUALLY used these plans to build one. I bought Keith Tanners book, only to find out he BOUGHT his frame. Can anyone on LocostUSA give me insight on the Vodou plans that have actually used them to construct a Locost? Are there errors? Gotchas? Omissions? Is there a builders manual somewhere? If not, has anyone built an IRS Miata Locost from plans that are relatively complete? There must be builders out there happy with a frame design...

Warmest regards, Christian

Vodou is supposed to be based on the haynes book. The plans are just general guides.

You could use the subframe for the diff wing mounts and lcas or even the struts depending on your actual goals.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12

So few cars actually get completed in general, with those being from so many different donors and with different mods, that there probably aren't many common scenario examples to follow, but here are a few Vodou threads to check out:

https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=19352
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19008
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19249
https://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=16059
https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=14087

Also check out the Saturn plans, as I seem to recall there being a fair bit of documentation available on the net for them at one point... Even if not on this site:
https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15496
https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17008

_________________
-Justin

"Orville Wright did not have a pilots license." - Gordon MacKenzie

I built mine based on the Voodoo / Saturn plans, but only as a starting point. I made many changes and alterations as I went. I think the suspension design can use some improvement, but I was going to getting the car on the road more than for optimal suspension. You can easily get into analysis paralysis with suspension and not actually build a car.

The changes I made, off the top of my head,

1) on the suspension, I built using rod ends rather than bushings, but used their overall arm length dimensions.
2) I moved the scuttle back ~6" to close up the cockpit
3) laid out the inner rails to match my engine location rather than follow plans.
4) laid out the transmission tunnel to match my engine / trans location rather than follow plans.
5) many little things, like seat supports, triangulation, diff mount, I made my own design.

Overall, I don't remember any significant issues with the Voodoo plans, but with any plans on a car like this, you can't take the plans as gospel. You have to think about what your doing now and 10 steps down the road on how everything will go together. The plans are just a starting point, but for me figuring it all out was a lot of fun.

_________________
Build on

Chris
Build: NA Miata based +221 Se7en

My frame is built specifically for NA Miata IRS. I'm 6'-5" and fit comfortably. Use at your own risk ... viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17715

_________________
Peace, Ron

One of the two frames mentioned here is almost exactly the same as the haynes manual. The differences being in the rear suspension areas. Im tempted to say its the saturn plans, but its been a while since i worked on my frame.

From what i gather, the Talon motorsports TMXR frame is exactly built to haynes specs, and had a special diff cover to eliminate the wings from the miata unit.

Heres a shot of the rear arms of the talon frame