rx7locost

A lot of guys that build Locosts use GAZ shocks. I'm pretty happy with mine. Dennis Brunton (of Stalker fame) is the USA importer. He has a calculator at : http://coilovershock.com/suspension_worksheet.htm

-15F outside the house right now in the burbs of Chicago. -40 windchill. They say that we may break the record for the coldest high temp on record, not just for Jan 6th, but for all of our recorded time. I am soooo over Winter!

Is that what that is? My mind must be in the gutter, as usual!

Looking back in my automotive past. I trailered a motorboat of around 1500 lbs with a Pinto along with 4 adults. I also towed a '64 Galaxy behind a VW microbus across town when the Ford broke down. I had a friend that regularly towed a boat behind his MG Midget. Somewhere in my computer, there is a photo of a Lotus Eleven being towed ny a 1950's MG Magnette. The MG had a 1500 cc engine and 4 drum brakes. My current daily driver, a '12 Hyundai Elantra, is rated for "0" towing in the USA. The same platform Hyundai with a smaller engine has a rating of 600Kg (1323 lbs) without brakes and 1200Kg (2626 lbs)with brakes, with a max hitch load of 75kg. To be somewhat fair, we in the USA get a 10 yr / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty while our UK cousins get 5 yr unlimited mileage. I wonder if the warranty costs are part of the calculation. Or maybe it is our tendency for lawsuits. "It is never my fault, it is always someone else's fault!"

Well, it has been a month now since we last heard from you. Have you made any progress with the title?

My garage is ~27x21 (inside) with an 8ft x 21 loft. that is with a std 16 foot garage door. I keep 2 cars in there, the wife's DD and the Locost. With a couple of workbences and all my tools of destruction, along with yard exuipment, incl lawn tractor, there isn't much room for anything else. I was looking into 4-post lifts several times but just can't give up the perimeter storage necessary. The good news is, we plan on moving "somewhere" in the next couple of years so maybe the outbuilding idea isn't out of the question just yet.

My wife really supports my g'raj hobby. I read this thread to my wife and said "The bar has now been raised". She was not amused. She also said "I didn't tell you to sell the MGA!" Hmmmmmm? My problem is I don't have room to keep 'em all. I know that. I wonder how supporting she would be if I said "I want to move to a farm house with outbuildings/stables"?

Thanks for the good reminder. Really? Lifted the SUV? WOW! In addition to the jack stands, I usually take the wheels and place them under each of the frame rails of the lifted car. If the stands fail or slip, the wheels won't stop the pain. But it might just let you continue to breath a little until help arrives.

Miatacarpc, You have a PM.

Once you get the details worked out, I can recommend Roll Cage Components at rollcagecomponents.com. Jimmy there does a great job and is very economical. He made the roll bar for my Locost to my specs and shipped it flat pack (I had to weld it up). A few years back, mine was

In due respect to others, what happens in any other state is not relevant to the Illinois titling process. You must follow Illinois laws and precedent. States are funny that way. In order to get the exemption from emission testing in Illinois, you MUST be registered as a "Custom Vehicle" or be registered as prior to 1968. You must request the "Custom Vehicle" classification on your title application/correction form. Here is the IL state statute that you may need to quote to get retitled to an earlier year and get re-classed as a "Custom Vehicle". From 625 ILCS 5/3-107: You have to identify the year yourself, the state will not do so for you. I chose 1960, the first year of the Lotus Seven Series 2, before any safety or emission stuff. I also had a copy of a Lotus advertisement from 1960 proving this. So even if the Illinois Air Team doesn't recognize the Custom Vehicle part of the registration, the car will be automatically exempt by being prior to 1967. As said earlier, you might be able to do this in one step without having to go thru the 2-step title process. If you try to go the route SkinnyG suggested, trying to claim it is recently built and your are applying for its first title, you will a) most likely be in violation of some Federal or Washington state law by removing the Washington VIN and 2) most likely have to pay an Illinois "Use Tax" on the parts purchased out of state. This would probably not be good for you even if you had the original receipts. Keep us informed.

If you can't get it titled directly the way you want, ask Nicholas if you can transfer it in as a 2011 and then immediately get it retitled as a Custom Vehicle. This is a special catagory in Illinois for replica vehicles after 1946 (I believe). If he is good, he can do it all in one step. I dealt with Luann (?) 3 years ago in the Illinois Secretary of State Police Office in Springfield (different from the usual Titling and licensing SOS offices). At that time, she was THE person handling ALL "specially constructed" vehicles. My 1960 Lotus Custom was titled 3 years ago is emission-free. The laws have not changed since. I am absolutely certain there is a way. If you need more info, give me a PM.

Nice looking "A" . There must be something wrong with our website. The photo got reversed or something. The steering wheel is on the wrong side.:willy_nilly: But seriously, the wipers are parked on the wrong side though. they should be parked in front of the driver regardless of which side the driver is on. The MGA is a great little car. I've had 2, a 1600 coupe and a '56 roadster. Both were great and in some ways, still wish I had them both. But you can't keep them all. Drive it often and ENJOY:hurray:

A couple of suitcases and a case of beer don't require a trailer. How about a luggage platform? It is easy to store when not being used. Without wheels, there is nothing to register or license. I made it from thinwall conduit. It slips into a pair of receivers. It will easily hold a couple hundred pounds.

And just what is the Cd that they are claiming? FWIW, I could get used to it IFFFFFFFF it was better aero than the original? What does it look like with a street legal windshield? Who is going to be the first to make a clone body for their Sevenseque car?

I had a leftover dustcover for my MGA(now gone). My personal seamstress/wife used her skills and made some alterations. It is a pretty cheap (as in lousy) cover though it looks good.

Farm equipment can be pretty big! They make one feel so much smaller and vulnerable. This is a photo of me at the 2012 Midwest gathering:

The specs for roll bars that I have seen require ain inspection hole so that the thickness of the tube can be verified. I do not know about FIA requirements. I did the same as Dave, a hole in the tube up top near the light and a hole in the mount. Mine is welded to the frame, not removable, so I only had to worry about 1 hole there.

Miatacarpc, welcome to the Chicago area. To my surprise, there are too few Locosts in the area. I just met up with FastG this year. He and I are the only ones that I know in the immediate area with sevens of any kind. I am out in the western burbs, West Chicago. My Locost is a rotary engined car. If you can make it on Sunday Sept 8th, the British Car Festival is a great annual show. I've been attending for the past 25 years or so. I attended with my Locost in 2011. Last year they initiated a "British Recreations" class for cars like ours. I missed it last year but plan on attending this year. Find more info here: http://www.britishcarunion.com/

I use a pair of simple "L"s made from ~1/4 x 1/2" wood strips that minimze measurement error. For the string method you have to measure out to the string 4 times and do some math. Any parallax error in reading the tape measure is multiplied. My "L"s have long legs that lay on the ground and overlap each other. I rest the vertical leg on the front of the tire at the center (~12 inches off the pavement) and with a sharp pencil, mark the horizontal legs where they overlap. Then do the same at the back of the tires. Mark again. Now just measure the distance between the 2 marks. Easily accurate and repeatable to

I know nothing about Europa Specials. But if you want to stay "stock" I did find this Girling MK2B rebuild kit, presumably for the Europa. Abut $195 US delivered. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Europa-Triumph-GT6-MkIII-Morgan-Plus-8-Girling-MKIIB-servo-service-kit-/321094621562?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4ac2bb197a£109.99 + £16.00 postage Master cyl seals are available at ~£25 and the big diaphragm is ~£20. Should be economical enough.......

I do not guarantee this info. Check for yourself: Girling master cylinder 74066147 Sold as TRW and Lucas too, same number Lucas 74066147 has 11/16" dia seals (a.k.a. 0.7" dia) Lucas 74066147 is used on a Morgan +8 ('79-'86) Morgan +8 ('79-'86) uses Lucas SP7657 seal kit If you search for "Lucas SP7657" you will find it is also used on '76-'80 Triumph Spitfires. All of this comes from the internet so it must be true. Use at your own risk!

Are you perhaps mistaking me with bbal7754? I'm not aware of my "experience". I was just offering a possible cause. Perhaps you are psychic and I should watch out in the near future?

It looks to me like the head gasket may have too much land between the cylinders. Perhaps the engine was overbored too much? This would put the gasket directly in the combustion chamber and cause the head gasket to burn thru. Perhaps the piston travels slightly higher than the deck (block skimmed?) causing damage to the gasket and the land of the piston? Certainly places to look.

Could be many things coil, rotor, condensor. I have had them all with BMC B series engines. They all had somewhat similar symptoms. Somehow you are getting too much fuel. this is shown by your starting fluid not doing anything and the fact you have to run for a bit to run on all four. However there is one other alternative to check into. Unlike he old leaded gas, today's E10 fuels will actually boil in the fuel bowls when no air is flowing thru the engine compartment to cool them. This is exasperated on the BMC engines where the exhaust mainfold is below the SU carbs. On the MGA, this usually causes a lean condition and can be verified by pulling out the choke a bit when it starts stumbling. Some have cured this with adding a bilge pump to blow outside air onto the fuel bowls at stop lights and slow traffic.