I HAVE A QUESTION ON LO-COST CHASSIS

[Anlushac11]

8)

Jack,

You used to have a link to a website with chassis info and blueprints and stuff. Do you still have the links to the website?

 

[MustangSix]

www.mcsorley.net also www.fordsix.com/locost/Collins.pdf

This is a perfect way to use all those old Granadas, Mavericks, and Mustangs you have rusting away.

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

Jack,

I happen to have a 1984 Ford 2.3L turbo motor, a 7.5" rear and a 8.8" rear, a T-5 5 spd, and 2 sets of Mustang rims. And I no longer have extra Mustangs to put the parts in.

Did you weld the frame yourself, and what kind of welder was used?

Thanks for any info

The more I look at your avatar the more I like the look.

 

[MustangSix]

I welded it all myself using my little Lincoln 135.

my chassis is a foot longer than needed for a 2.3 Ford. check out the press release on my progress in the fordsix news section.

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

I did, but that was just an appetizer. I dont have the resources to build this yet. I still have to finish the Mustang. But this is something I would like to look into a starting in a year or so.

I am gathering tools and data so that something like this will be within my capability in a year.

Im impressed that the car can be built as cheap as they say. At this rate why spend $28,000 on a Mustang GT?

 

[MustangSix]

Well, it cannot be done for $400 as the book title might lead you to believe, but if you had a cheap donor it would certainly be doable on a small budget. I think I have about $1500 in mine as it sits.

If you had an old Maverick, you could use the entire front suspension, drivetrain, electrical, wipers, heater........everything except the steering box and leaf springs. An excort or Taurus rack, some tubing, and you're set. A 100hp log head, 1bbl, single exhaust engine in a 1200 lb car is a 13 second machine that also corners on a dime.

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

I am a big fan of the Mustang II double A arm front suspension.

The whole assembly is lightweight, does not use a shock tower, and will just about fit inside the wheel. And I also found a site that has a 11" front disc brake conversion using stock spindles. I also know of a guy that modified a Mustang II front suspension to use a Fox body 15:1 quick ratio power steering rack. Personally I would use a Flaming River 15:1 manual rack. On a 1300lb car the manual steering shouldnt be too much of a problem.

While looking around the Locost webrings I found a pic of a Locost with a Jaguar I6 with triple sideraft carbs. It was enough to make me drool.

 

[MustangSix]

That would work, but the idea is to do this cheaply and use what you have on hand. So if you had a rusty Maverick, there would be little point in buying yet more suspension components.

You could use a Maverick/Falcon style suspension with a coilover and a rear steer rack. You could easily make almost any rear steer R&P work on a setup like this because you have the flexibility of placing the rack wherever you need. Also, you can optimize placement of the upper and lower arms to make the suspension more efficient. Or, as in the book, you could simply make your own control arms using the Maverick as a parts donor. So there's no real benefit to using the MII stuff except for the wide availability of aftermarket components.

Actually the whole point is to make a VERY light car that responds well to small hp. And with the relatively large torque of a 200, it would fly.

 

[DaGr8Tim]

My only question is how does the titling and regrestration process go with a home made car? Do you plan to make it street legal?

 

[Anlushac11]

8)


In Indiana I have to apply for a custom title. The vehicle has to be inspected for conformity to Indiana vehcile laws. Since it is a one off vehicle it does not have to conform to emissions standards.

There is something about having to have proof of where the parts came from so they can be sure you didnt build the car out of stolen parts.

It takes along time here to get the title here, Ive heard as long as a year or more.

 

[MustangSix]

It varies froom state to state. It's more complex in states where emissions laws come into play.

There's no safety inspection process here, although all vehicles must have operational equipment as stated in the FL DOT code. That still doesn't stop you from getting registered, it only means you could be pulled over and ticketed later.

In FL I have to fill out an affidavit, show receipts for major components, have the vehicle weighed, and pay the taxes. A title is then issued for year of completion as a ASPT (assembled from parts) vehicle. I then get insurance, and can register the car to get tags. Not too dificult and nowhere near the pain that Australian or Brit builders go thru.

 

[Anonymous]

Are such vehicles able to travel out of state?


-=Whittey=-

 

[MustangSix]

Sure. License plates are honored among all the states just like your driver's license, so I can legally drive it anywhere with FL plates.

However, if you register a car in one state, you may not be able to register it in another because fo the differing standards. For ex:, my car might have a tough time meeting emissions requirements in Houston or Los Angeles, or if there were a strict inspection program it might fail for bumpers or some such thing. You have to build for your own particular state and local requirements.