After several years of thorough enjoyment, it has come time to part with my Locost. I have driven the car very little this year. The Midwest Gathering in Onalaska was the one main event. I have come to realize that I enjoy the building part more than the driving part. I recently got back into the boating scene and I am also rebuilding a Cushman 3 wheeler. Too many interests/projects with too little time.
Simply stated, it is a rotary powered, book chassis, with a hinged hardtop. It is ready to drive away. The car became legal on Feb 14, 2011 and is currently titled and registered in Illinois as a 1960 Lotus Custom under the “custom vehicle” category. It is exempt from emission testing in Illinois. I have driven it about 6K miles since “new”. I have driven this car to many Midwest Gatherings. I would not hesitate to drive it anywhere today.
My complete build log is here if you have time to read:
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4145Finished build pics are here:
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=14598I built this car with the help of this group so I will post it here before listing other places. Price is $9450 .
I will also offer my custom built trailer for an additional price to the buyer. Of course, it too is titled and ready to go.
Now for the details.
DimensionsWheel base is 91-5/8”
Front track width is 53-1/2”
Rear track width is 53-1/2”
Weight is right at 1400 pounds without the hardtop, almost a perfect 50/50 balance.
FrameModified Champion book frame, with modifications in control arm pickup locations, foot-well area, offset driveshaft tunnel, engine compartment bracing, rear framework for the IRS......you know the deal....
The floor panel is 16 ga steel welded in place.
The roll bar is made of 1.5” dia x .095 wall inch HREW tubing, welded to the chassis.
Front SuspensionThe front suspension comprises of ’91 RX-7 spindles, Gaz adjustable shocks with 350 pound springs, upper and lower control arms 1” x .083” wall tubes with ½” heim joints at the chassis.
Steering rack is a ’91 RX-7 unit depowered and cut down ~8 inches.
Tires are Falken Azenis RT-615 205/50R15; match balanced on stock ’91 RX7 15x6 alloy wheels (14lbs-11oz)
Rear SuspensionThe rear suspension uses the ’91 RX-7 N/A 4.1:1 open diff and uprights.
The half-shafts were shortened 2 inches each.
Gaz adjustable shocks and 250 pound springs,
BodyThe body and tunnel are skinned in 0.040” aluminum as is the hood.
Pedal box area and scuttle are 18ga steel
Fiberglass front cycle fenders and rear fenders from CMC.
Nose from Kinetic with no mods.
EngineThe engine is a rebuilt normally aspirated 1.3L 6-port rotary from a ’91 RX-7
in stock 160HP form. No tricky street or bridge port.
Custom made intake manifold with 1996 Ford Taurus with TPS sensor.
Aux Port actuators are operated by a Ford Contour lumbar seat pump
The stock oil-metering pump was removed requiring premixing of oil and gas at 1oz / gal ratio
All this (and more) is controlled by a Megasquirt 3.0 with MSII processor.
Crank angle sensor is std RX-7 fare modified by removing the 2-tooth sensor and grinding 2 opposed teeth on the 24 tooth wheel.
Wideband O2 sensor is from 14point7 with digital display feeding an analog signal to the MS
Alternator was relocated to the side for clearance purposes.
Home made headers using the Racing Beat header plate and .120 wall steel tubing
Pre-silencer and Turbo muffler by Full Boar
CoolingCooling is the ubiquitous eBay Honda Civic dual row aluminum radiator and a 14” “pull” electric fan. The fan on/off is controlled via the MS controller.
Transmission’91 RX-7 N/A fitted with a Toyota right angle speedometer drive adapter.
Stock flywheel, clutch, slave cylinder etc.
A new, custom driveshaft was made by the local drive train shop.
BrakesPedal box was made mimicking the dimensions of the Wilwood hanging pedal box. It employs the stock ’91 RX-7 dual circuit master cylinder (depowered) with the stock proportioning valve and the clutch master.
All brake cylinders, lines and pads were either rebuilt or new. Moving is optional – safe braking is mandatory!
Front brakes are stock RX-7 4-pot aluminum calipers and vented disks.
’91 RX-7 rear calipers were modified for parking brake mechanism’s clearance to the frame. Parking brake system was custom made from parts of the ’91 RX-7.
InteriorEarly 90’s Pontiac Trans Sport (Olds Silhouette?) rear seats and headrests were highly modified.
Quick Release Steering wheel .
The Steering column incorporates the stock RX-7 tilt capability for comfort.
Gauge cluster is stock ‘91 RX-7.
Dash Idiot lights are from eBay. They are low fuel, low oil level, low oil pressure, emergency brake, and alternator.
Headlights are buckets and tripod lamps from Speedway.
Rear lights are Britax from Kinetic.
Reverse lights are old Lucas units modified with LED arrays.
All control switches (lighting, turn signal, emergency flasher, and wiper) are from the ’91 RX-7 donor.
Dual marine-grade power outlets for GPS, cell phone or???? (future electric heater?)
MGB wiper system with modified wiper arms wires directly to the RX-7 controls yielding fast, slow, single, and intermittent swipe operation.
3-point, inertia seatbelts
Passenger side of frame is insulated from the exhaust system.
FuelTank is a custom designed 12 gallon made from 18 ga steel, internally coated with Redkote.
Fuel Pump is stock ’91 RX-7, operated as 2-speed via stock resistor assembly and controlled from the Megasquirt.
‘91 RX-7 fuel filter.
Weather EquipmentCustom made hinged hardtop with gas springs to aid in lifting.
Rear deck is canvas covered pressed board. It has a hinged access to a small storage container 18”W x 14D” x 4”H.
Travel EquipmentIt has a removable luggage rack that mounts into 2 square-tube receivers for overnight or longer drives.