LocostUSA.com

Has anyone used this engine in a locost? I happen to have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I can get parts from if they will work.

I don't think anyone has used one but since you have one handy, what are it's dimensions?

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"There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ..." Randall Garrett

Don't know the dimensions yet. The engine looks a bit wide to me but I'll look them up if it will help the locost gurus.

This is the best info I can find thus far but nothing about the actual engine external dimensions

http://www.wjjeeps.com/engine.htm
EDIT:
I will have to measure when I get a chance.

Ok so I just measured it and it's roughly 26 inches tall (Oil pan to Intake manifold), 30 inches wide (Header to header) and 30 inches long (pulleys to bell housing).

Anybody click on the link and scroll down to the HP graphs? Very interesting material. The 4.0 power/torgue curves cross at about 3575 rpm. The 4.7 curves cross at 3500 and the 4.7 H.O. curves cross at 4600! How do they do that?

Bill

the scales are changing and are not equal for all driveshaft, torque goes higher in the numbers than the HP. the lines position to each other are not matching, it should always be 5252 rpm in HP/LBSft of torque if both scales are at the same numbers.

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Making a Deman SR27 lapping and street car
Any question on driveshaft, i will be more than happy to answer!

So I'm not sure where this question should go. But what is the range of expected cost to build a locost if you all ready have a donor car? I know they say $3-5k total if you are frugal.

It could be done for less, I think. If you're using second hand parts, junkyard finds and commonly available drive train components, I'm pretty sure a sub $3k car can be built. It won't be the epitome of lightweight speed and nimble handling but it will be extremely fun! And I think that's about the entire point of building one of these. If you want to use the V8, of any moniker, follow Seattle Tom's build to see how it fits in a car9 chassis. Car9 was designed from the ground up in the Lotus 7 style with a nod to the larger, heavier and more powerful components we have available to us in the States.

Regarding the rpm at which HP and torque cross on a graph, I think something is wrong with those numbers... HP and torque always cross at 5252 rpm.

Sorry about reposting what you did, Bobby... I just saw your post!

I don't understand how the H.P. and Torque curves always cross at the same speed when the scales represent two different things. Are you saying that if the vertical scales are in the same place as 10 H.P. is in the same location as 10 ft.lb. of torque and 200 H.P. the same as 200 ft.lb.?
I don't see any reason that the scales would have to be setup that way. I don't have any experience with dynos and would like to know.

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John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245

I don't know how exactly to explain it but more or less HP and torque aren't two mutually exclusive measurements, they are actually kind of a function of one another in an engine.

Its just the naturally occurring point at which HP and torque are equal.

This is going to be about as clear of an explanation as you'll find short of Stephen Hawking gracing us with his presence:

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp ... ewall.html

Its a long read but worth it.

I think their scale is off on those graphs somehow on the jeep site.

Yes I see the relationship now very good article. Of course the lines will only cross with the same vertical scales. I wonder if they cross using the common metric measurements of Nm and Kw and if so at what speed?

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John - Slow and Steady. . . Well slow anyway
Build Loghttp://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6245

Torque is force, horsepower is torque over time basically. ..
The 5250 number is from the mathematical calculation used to derive (British iirc) hp ratings from measured torque (in Ft-lbs)

_________________
"There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ..." Randall Garrett