SkinnyG

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/DSC00734.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/DSC00862.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/DSC00971.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/DSC01035.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/Locost-05-03-18.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/Fenders5.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/DSC00621.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/DSC00581.jpg

Alright, here you go: Basically "book" chassis, except footwell and scuttle were moved back about 3" (the cockpit is shorter, the engine bay is longer). Donor vehicle was an '86 Corolla GT-S I picked up for $800. Drove it from their yard to my garage where I cut it up. 4age, T50, solid axle. The engine is bone stock big port blue top, but I made my own intake manifold to relocate the throttle body and do away with the TVIS. I used the OEM cast manifold, and made secondary pipes. I had some difficulties getting it registered with the way I initially built the front suspension and steering, which I ended up changing. It currently sports Chevette spindles with Datsun 210 hubs (for the 4x114.3 bolt pattern to match the rear) and rotors. Front shocks are Monroe cheapies for '75 Corvette rear, and rears are NAPA brand (Gabriel??) for '85 Chevy Sprint rears. Both shocks had rings welded to the bottoms (carefully, slowly) to hold AFCO Dwarf/Legend car coilover sleeves. Front springs are 320# and rear springs are 140#. Rear has a panhard rod mounted under the chassis for better roll center. I did everything myself (welding, painting, wiring, upholstery) except for rings for the press-in ball joints because I messed up machining my first two. The car weighs 1293 lbs wet according to my Longacre scales. Since completing the car: - Added a 5/8" front sway bar - Fiddled a lot with alignment setting, roll center and ride heights. - Added (and rebuilt) and OEM Limited Slip - Shortened the roll bar 3-1/2" - Redesigned and reupholstered the driver's seat (part two was just after the PNW Okanagan visit) - Autocross with 13x10 Formula Atlantic 20x9.5x13 slicks. Once I get the car sorted, I hope to disassemble it and build a new chassis to S2 size (smaller - I find "the book" too big), and hopefully run a 2.0L Duratec. Haven't decided if I'll stick with the solid axle or go IRS. I'm a tinkerer - I have to keep messing with it. G

That'll be tomorrow's journey. They came into Whistler from the North. G

I drove with the gang from Kelowna to Cache Creek (about 2 hours drive), had lunch, and then drove home. This was the longest trip in one go with the car. Next weekend I'm off to Pitt Meadows (near Vancouver) for the Canadian Autocross Championship. I need side curtains. (video) G

It was great meeting you all on Friday! Kind of weird because I knew absolutely NONE of you before hand. I was MOST impressed at how accepting you are of non-Caterhams. Y'all just love 7's, regardless of where they cam from! Thanks also for the kind words on my locost. If you're up this way again sometime, ring me up, eh?! G

4.5" to frame at front. 3" to pan. That goes down to 1.5" to pan on slicks. That kind of scares me, really. G

Running slicks for the past few autocrosses. Have some issues to sort out: changing from streets to slicks changed the distance from the roll center to center of gravity in front, but not rear (solid axle/panhard). Now the front is almost 1" lower, and it's much better. Despite R175 FA slicks, I need an LSD..... And there's some clearance issues in the rear.... Previous height: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/locost2007066.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/locost2007063.jpg Now even lower: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/locost2007069.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/locost2007072.jpg G

Did I pass?

Oh yeah, it's a 4AGE. Next one hopefully a 3SGE or Zetec or Duratec or something bigger and badder http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif

I'm Greg. Just registered today. Highschool shop teacher, former auto mechanic. Too cheap to buy a real 7, too chicken to drive one. I finished my Locost in 2006. I'm planning out my next 7, to use "real" plans to more closely replicate an original. Goal in life: to be eccentric. G

Ok. I joined up. Been seeing references to this site through R1 Seven's posts on the Locost Yahoo group. His car is SO AWESOME, I had to visit. (grin) Started my build in Feb 2004. Kid was born Aug 2005. Car was licensed Aug 2006. Baby #2 will arrive Tues. I'm glad I got the car done when I did..... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/skinnyg/DSC01303.jpg G