LocostUSA.com

Hello everyone. I’ve been lurking in this forum for a couple of years and thought it about time to join in if you’ll have me. I am totally amazed at the high level of quality work among the folks here.

I really got the bug to build something about three years ago but got set back because of some health issues, so I’m ready to start now. Since I grew up building hot rods in the 50’s, I thought that might be the way to go but costs of building hot rods are prohibitive for retired people on a budget. Then I discovered this forum and fell in love with the locost 7 and bought the Ron Champion book. I waffled back and forth about a donor, Chev S10, Miata, etc. About four years ago I bought an MGB with the thoughts of restoration (sort of a pig in a poke) sight unseen from a friend of a friend. As it turned out it was pretty well rusted out under all the bondo. After reading Nick’s MGB build log and getting inspiration the decision was made, the MG would be the donor. I am partial to British cars after working on them for many years.

The MGB build got started three weeks ago with building the build table and then got started on the frame. The donor remains to be dismantled which will happen sometime next week, if it stops raining long enough. I am located in Roseburg, Oregon and the rainy season has started.

Welcome, looks like your off to a great start!

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Marcus Barrow - Car9 an open design community supported sports car for home builders!
SketchUp collection for LocostUSA: "Dream it, Build it, Drive it!"
Car9 Roadster information - models, drawings, resources etc.

Welcome aboard!I just checked with AOL Weather, and this Pacific Northwest rainy spell is supposed to blow over by June.

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Locost builder and adventurer, and founder (but no longer owner) of Kinetic Vehicles

Welcome aboard, lots of fixed income retiree's here so you are in good company.

Al

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Super Seven 3.4

Welcome, Rog! The build looks great so far. I'm not sure how much of the MGB donor you plan to use, but if you're going to run the MGB rear axle, I'd recommend moving the O3 tube up another inch or two. I have 11-1/2" of clearance between the top of the A1 tube and bottom of the O3, and I need all of it.

A couple of other MGB Locosts I know about are Ken Walton's and Martin Keller's. Not many pictures of Ken's car online, but Martin has about 400 photos on the web, and I also believe he's up in your neck of the woods.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out everything you need to, but let us know if we can help. Be sure to check out signbandit's build log, he's using a lot of M.G. parts as well. Also, if you're interested, a much more detailed version of my build log can be found at http://www.mglocost.com. Best of luck and keep us posted!

With all of this retirement talk I feel like a baby!

Great looking start to the build. I love the idea of using an MGB as a donor. There is nothing like reincarnating an already great British sports car into something else just as good.

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-Andrew
Build Log
Youtube

Great looking work so far! Also. Great to see fellow Oregonian builders! We'll have to get together NEXT summer for a drive In our completed cars

Hey, a little optimism never hurt anyone!

Good to see another build start up.

Great looking shop! Too clean for me, can't wait to see it cluttered up with "confusion" and other miscellaneous parts and pieces.

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Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

....great start...gotta love British.....

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gblawson (Gordon)
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http://gblandco.com/gb/cent/cent.html

Rog- Looks like you're off to a good start.

After restoring a couple of MG TD's in retirement I decided to build a Locost. Unfortunately I went with a Miata donor instead of strictly British. The effort is pretty much the same only have to fiddle with the fuel injection instead of those SU carbs!

Good luck and happy building,
Roy

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Build log http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16510

Thanks everyone for the great encouragement! This forum is like one big car club sharing ideas and skills.

Jack...since you're not that far away from me, I'll be down to see you for some parts. Thanks for the response!

Nick...your build was the deciding factor for my build, you have done a great job. I am particularly interested in the way you built the front suspension and if you don't mind I would like to use some of your ideas. In the locost tradition, I so far plan to use as much of the MG as I can. The info about rear end placement is very helpful.

BTW my shop is a converted carport and the floor has about a 6" slope to it so I had to make my build table legs adjustable.

Another warm welcome to the group but where in the world did you find steel that looks that good? Half of mine looked like it had been buried in the garden for a few months. david

Howdy Rog-
Welcome to the forum! I'm looking forward to seeing your build log. It's kinda nice to see and MGB being reborn. They're such great little cars, and deserve a new life. Good on ya for helping one survive!

JD Kemp

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"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

It is amazing how many of us Locosters come from a LBC background. I sold my MGA to make room in the garage for the Locost. I am looking forwward to following your build.

Welcome to the group Rog.

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Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

I'm an old LBC guy too.
I played with Triumphs way too many years ago, then a 70 MGB, a 67 Sprite, a 69 Sprite, a 74 RWA Midget, and a 59 MGA (hot rod special with a Ford V6)

I've got the bug again, so it's time to start working on a Locost.

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Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216