LocostUSA.com

So, I've been looking around and it seems like there is just one source mentioned for 442 nosecones... COLD up in canada, but that they can be a pain to deal with.

Are there any US-based sources for these things? Any chance that a standard caterham cone could be made to fit without a ton of grief? Anyone have a mold to make these things?

I've thought about piecing one together with junkyard sheetmetal, or raiding the vintage car yards here in Arizona for some curvy vintage metal that could be cut up to make a cone. Anyone have any ideas?

What are all of you 442'ers doing for a nose cone and what is it costing you? I'd like to keep it reasonably priced (under $300 if possible) to keep with my locost budget.

Kinetics has wider ones to, but they're uber short. COLD can pretty hard to deal with from my encounters to. They're the only ones with a +4" with a decent height.

http://www.kineticvehicles.com/noses.html#ttl

hmmmm.. I think I might be able to get the wide short one to work with a little glasswork to make it a few inches taller.. the price is definitely right on it.

We definitely need to get a state-side source for proportional 442 noses though.

Anyone on here have a mold for one?

Hmmm.. they mention using the taller nose on a Mcsorley 442:

http://www.kineticvehicles.com/noses.html

For example, imagine you're building Locost with the McSorley 7+442 frame mods, and a Toyota 4age engine. You may not need that full extra inch of hood clearence, so you can push the nose back a bit (which lowers it slightly, as you cut back the bottom edge), and you need to raise the flanges 2" to fit the taller frame, so you can trim the TTL nose as shown (via Photoshop) below:..

what issues did you have with COLD?

Toyota 4age is pretty low - it fits under a normal height cone - most other dohc motors wouldn't I suspect.

Dave wrote:what issues did you have with COLD?

poor communication, generally, not returning phone calls.

RebelGT wrote:

Dave wrote:what issues did you have with COLD?

poor communication, generally, not returning phone calls.

by how up to date they keep their website that doesn't suprise me.

Well even though I haven't ordered anything from them, COLD was very promt in returning my email inquiry about their nosecones. We carried on a lengthy back and forth chat through numerous emails. Unless something drastically cheaper or closer pops up, they have my business.

On a side note - Isn't a +442 designed to take the "book" size nose cone. All the extra width etc occuring further back? I personally want a +4 width for mine.

Eric
Locostmonkey

Locostmonkey wrote:..... I personally want a +4 width for mine.

Eric
Locostmonkey

Same here.. sitting in my 442 chassis is tight for me, I dont think my butt would fit in a normal chassis.

I'll take some measurements when I get home. If I can use a standard nosecone on the 442, I'll order an actual caterham nose from rocky mountain sportscars

Two questions...

1. Would you be willing to accept aluminum instead of fiberglass?

2. Would you be willing to wait 6 months?

I have purposed to build a +442 scuttle and nose cone but recieved no response...so I am building them for myself to my standards. ( your imputs/opinions/messurements/and ideas would be MORE than welcome!)

mr.peabody.d wrote:Two questions...

1. Would you be willing to accept aluminum instead of fiberglass?

2. Would you be willing to wait 6 months?

1. yes

2. yes, but no more than.

whats your price point?

mr.peabody.d wrote:Two questions...

1. Would you be willing to accept aluminum instead of fiberglass?

2. Would you be willing to wait 6 months?

I have purposed to build a +442 scuttle and nose cone but recieved no response...so I am building them for myself to my standards. ( your imputs/opinions/messurements/and ideas would be MORE than welcome!)

I'd love to have an ali nosecone.. The big question would be the price.

E-mail me @gmail.com and we will talk price. I will keep you updated as to my progress. right now I am making a scuttle buck....hahhahha. (for the dash and then will start the nose cone)

measurements of the nose cone (book build, but good primer)

http://www.georgecushing.net/nosecone.html

Price? I am probably 1 year from needing body parts.

I am going to build three and see how difficult it is....how labor intensive and how they turn out.

Right now I estimate they will use a half sheet of aluminum. I have spend weeks folding paper and cardboard into nosecone shapes so I appreiciate the diffuculties for turning a 2 D object into a compound curved 3 D shape

Now I am concentrating on building a Scuttle buck and start there..When that is done photos and an update will appear in Fabrication

My goal is to prove it is a reproduceable process using a buck and either hire someone to build them or sell the process off.

Long story but no price has been set but in six months I will have finished and know what it takes and can set a price then.

Hopefully no more than a weekend per set...