LocostUSA.com

Hello all again. Now that I've spent a few days digesting the content of the site, I think I'm ready to start posting the content of my build. Right now I'm at the absolute beginning of the build process- I've decided, yeah, I think that's a neat idea.
As the title to my post indicates, the ultimate goal of my project is to stick to a budget and create a car for $3,500 or less (the only thing I won't budget for is fluids). After reading, pricing around, and giving it some thought, I think this is very do-able, but I will have to construct just about everything myself, keep things simple (which will make life easier in the long run), and stick to eBay for most of my purchases.

My plans for the build are fairly standard. Due to my height and engine choice, I'm going to use the 442 chassis. Drivetrain will be GM - 2.8, 3.1 or 3.4 mated to the T5 as these parts are readily available and economical in Central Ohio (domestic stuff is cheap, Honda and Toyota are expensive). Front suspension will be double wishbone with a standard mounted coil-over (as neat as the push- and pull- systems look, it would just complicate things and add money to the equation). Rear suspension will be based on a solid rear axle (GM or Ford). I plan on using MegaSquirt as the fuel control and just living with standard spark control from whatever engine I use. The only other major expense item I plan on having is a stereo system (can't drive without music, I'm sorry).

My overall goals are to have a car that is different, fun to drive, and at least as quick as my '92 Accord with 243,000 miles. Yes, weight will be monitored, but since I don't plan on racing, and I plan on the stereo, I'm not going to be too concerned with keeping it next to nothing.

Here's how I see the budget break-down:
Rolling Chassis (frame, suspension, rear-end): $1,000
"New" Parts (brakes, rod-ends, tires): $750
Electrical (MegaSquirt, guages, wiring): $500
Drivetrain (engine, transmission, driveshaft, exhaust): $500
Fit'n'Finish (bodywork, paint, stereo, etc): $500
Slush Fund: $250

As I post here on my build-up, I plan to keep a running total of all costs involved with the construction. Since my goal is budget oriented, I'd like for everyone to see where it stands. I might also weigh components as I build to keep a weight total running. I will also detail progress in the research and construction (with pictures... gonna have to get a free host, huh?)

So, with no further ado!

Day 1, June 27, 2006: I decided to build a Locost today. I have in my garage a motorcycle project yet to start that I'm going to part out to begin the funding. In probobly the most important move, I convinced the wife it's not a bad idea. I need to get a copy of "the book" and continue my planning.

Budget Remaining: $3,500
Current Weight: 0 lbs

Congradulations on making the plunge. Your plan looks pretty do-able. I'd say coilers over will be a hit that doesn't seem to be in your budget yet. Are you making the bodywork yourself? Brave man

If you are going with a stereo I'd get Miata seats or similar with speakers in the headrests otherwise you won't be able to hear it at speed. (I had a Triumph Spitfire that I could only hear the stereo stopped at traffic lights and the Seven is even more elemental).

After much consideration, I have decided to us the S10 as my donor vehicle. As many of you I'm sure have found, the cost, the wealth of knowledge, and the ease of construction pretty much points this way. Today, I begin my search for an '89-'93 S10/Sonoma with the 2.5/2.8 and a five speed tranny. My hope (being a budget build and all) is to recoup the entire amount of the donor by parting down what I don't need, and scrapping the rest (I'm lucky that the scrap metal yard is closer than the dump ).
As for engine, I would love to use the 2.8 V6 from a Fiero, subject to availability and price. This is for no other reason than I think it's a better looking engine than most of the 60 degree GMs, and it's old enough not to have coil packs. I do plan to use MegaSquirt and I know it can handle spark control, but I just don't want to mess with it.
So... the search begins!

Budget Remaining: $3,500
Current Weight: 0 lbs

Did some thinking last night and today and have decided to sacrifice the MegaSquirt and use a factory ECU. With this freed up money, I have decided to use the 3800 Series II V6 engine, homefully supercharged. Yikes! I found, however, that this is one of the more economical engines to find (cheaper than my original Fiero plan) and makes better horsepower. I plan to get "the book" tomorrow morning, then read it on the plane trip I'm taking Thursday.

How do you convert it to rwd?

Don't want to clutter his build thread. ref http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=729

According to Wikipedia, the 3800 has the same "GM Metric" bellhousing bolt pattern used by the other 60 degree engines, so just bolt it direct to the 2.5/2.8 S-10 transmission, so far as I know.

As for why I'd like to use the 3.8 vs. the 4.3... really just personal preferance. 4.3 S-10s are pretty expensive in my neck of the woods as they are the most desirable. Plus there's just the novalty of having a factory supercharger. I haven't bought anything yet, so I guess it's all still up in the air

Just another "I was thinking about it" post here. I have decided on tires and sizes- woohoo! Assuming I will use the stock wheels from an S10 (preferably the alloy basket weave kind), here is my plan:

Front : 205/55/15 Yokohama AVS ES100 (23.9" OD / 8.1" W)
Rear : 225/50/15 Yokohama AVS ES100 (23.9" OD / 8.9" W)

I've had these tires on a car before and they are great- very responsive, very sticky, and pretty economical. I also like the idea of having matching tires with a larger rear tire. These are both the same diameter so setting ride height will be easier... on that same note... I'm kind of thinking of a way to make ride height adjustable... more to come on this one...

I finally got my copy of "the book" today. Man, I wish I had a little old lady down the street with an Escort M II for 25 pounds. Oh well, I'll make do. Very good material- I've begun to read. It's very British. Still working on the planning stages, although I had a car in the shop today with the exact Series II 3800 Supercharged engine I'd like to use, so I got some great dimensions.

Decisions, decisions... well, several things to update on my build... I got a new job that starts on Monday. I'll be the GM at a Pick-Yer-Part place here in Columbus, so in addition to getting first crack at any car that may come in, I also get 50% off any parts I'll need for the project. So I guess that makes my $3,500 budget a little easier to live with. As great as it is though, I'm not sure it will help a whole lot, maybe save $500-$750 overall.

I have decided on a donor car and have been combing eBay to find one in decent condition with the options I'd like for a good price. The donor I have decided on is a 1992-1997 Ford Crown Vic P71 Police Interceptor. I plan to use this as a chassis donor only, as I still plan to use my 3800 Series II S/C plant. The Crown Vic has many benefits- cost being the most attractive. I don't plan on spending much more than $500, after looking through the listings, and I should be able to get that back just out of the 4.6 OHV engine and the beefier transmission. I can also sell off the doors, trunk lid, hood, ECU, interior, suspension, ect... and get some cash together for the project. Then I can hack the shell to pieces (Is it fun, Joker?) and scrap it out.

Out of the Crown Vic, I get the two front spindles (with floating rotors- more later), the rear end (if I'm patient, I can source one with the Limited Slip), and rear brakes (factory disk). These may weight a bit more than the lightest donor parts out there, but I guess my goal is "Locost," not "Loweight." I can't see them being much heavier than the S10, Mustang, or T-Bird units.

Now for the great part- replacement parts are dirt cheap! I hopped on autozone.com and rotors are $19 a corner. Pads are $15 a set. Now, I know these aren't the greatest, but even the good stuff was cheap. I think the overall aftermarket support for parts, at this price, makes this a fantastic donor for my needs. Now just for yuks and giggles, when I do get my donor, I'll weight the items in question for comparison and post the results here. More to come...

FRIEND

Breaking stuff is very satisfying. I particularly enjoyed throwing a three-pound hammer at the side and back windows. "Glass explosion" is the best description for that.

Having driven on them and sold them at Discount Tire, I've got to put in my $.02. Those ES100s are garbage on my best friend's fiancee's Celica GT-S(mouthful), as well as on my old Integra GS-R. They ran out of grip pretty quickly in my experience. They look pretty, though. Judging by when most of us will drive these, I would rock some Yoko A022s if you will never encounter rain or save some money and go with the Kumho 711. Same performance as the ES100s and it would cost you about $100 less for the set.

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www.indybillsbackers.moonfruit.com

I had the ES100s on my Matrix and loved them, but they were a higher profile. I've found Yokos aren't that great the lower the profile. I'm still considering the size and the tire at this point... I'm actually leaning towards 205/55/16 with the 16" Mustang wheels since I'm using the Crown Vic as a donor. I have Kumhos on my Accord and love them, so I'm looking at an UHP Kumho or Yoko.

Pretty sure I have my donor found. Hopefully I can pick her up in the next couple of weeks. Luckily, the engine and tranny alone will offset the cost of the donor (locostv8, need a spare 4.6 for your build?). You know what that means? Pictures!

I've also started fooling around with a CAD program I downloaded. It works out pretty well in 3D modeling, and the price was right (free!). Alibre Design Express- it has some very informative tutorials, and works out pretty well in 3D. It's kind of a pain to model with in the free version (you basically have to make everything 2D then give it depth) but it's not too hard- just time intensive. I've started to model the "book" chassis to cut my teeth, then hopefully, I'll be able to model my own. Check the progress after an hour or so:



I've decided on a name: The Carmen 8. Why Carmen, you ask? Well, it's my cat's name, and she's always around me when I'm at home (like, if she was an ex-girlfriend I'd be calling the cops). Why 8? Well, 8 is better than 7. So there. Plus Carmen 8 just sounds neat.