Project Domes Locost Kit car-Now Sold :(

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I envy you this....... but also don't miss my old one - it was a nailed together horror show, complete death trap and not in the right foot enticing into the scenery but it was your own fault kind of lethal......

These are and will always be on my want list - Belgian restrictions mean not too many are allowed on the road as getting them approved is a nightmare.

 

The roads you're picturing on here are a godsend for a blat-monster like this. Fantastic bit of kit and a perfect cure for 'one of those days'. Top fettling, keep yourself on the tarmac fella, I hope to read more of the antics soon......... good luck with the leak

[dome]

  On 28/11/2017 at 09:57, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer said:

I envy you this....... but also don't miss my old one - it was a nailed together horror show, complete death trap and not in the right foot enticing into the scenery but it was your own fault kind of lethal......

These are and will always be on my want list - Belgian restrictions mean not too many are allowed on the road as getting them approved is a nightmare.

 

The roads you're picturing on here are a godsend for a blat-monster like this. Fantastic bit of kit and a perfect cure for 'one of those days'. Top fettling, keep yourself on the tarmac fella, I hope to read more of the antics soon......... good luck with the leak

 

Thanks for the positive words!

 

This car has been a massive challenge and is a completely different way of doing car maintenance-making it up as I go along, quite literally. 

Things like the alternator mount have been a massive pain to sort because it's completely unique to this engine in this car. My mechanical skills are OK but my engineering/manufacturing skills are zero so it's been a steep learning curve. 

 

The fact that it was a fundamentally sound build, albeit bodged somewhat after that, keeps me sane.

 

On the right day, on the right road, it's all worth it though 

[dome]

Nothing much to report here apart from a little Christmas present to myself.

 

 

It's fake Lego from Aliexpress, Lego never made the Caterham in blue....

 

I built it with the exhaust on the correct side and even tried to make the engine look a bit more Redtop like.

 

 

Other than that not a lot happening, I'll be getting it back to the house at some point to fit a new sender and try and sort out my oil leak. Oh and get a picture with it's mini me

[dome]

Sadly not much to report with this thing, mainly due to spring not having sprung yet.

 

It spent the winter in a lockup I rented, it'll be shortly moving back to the house to get some fettling before hopefully getting used when the weather allows.

 

 

I did manage a very short shakedown spin. The smile on my face from only about 5 miles took a while to die down 

 

 

 

It also met a friend for the first time...

 

 

 

[The Moog]

That makes the MR2 look so blobby.

[Guest Hooli]

Your bonnet appears to be missing.

 

Is that road legal to run without one? I've always wondered.

[dome]

  On 12/04/2018 at 15:05, Hooli said:

Your bonnet appears to be missing.

 

Is that road legal to run without one? I've always wondered.

I had taken the bonnet off after its first run to check it out. It was only for about a mile to my mates house. I can't see it breaking any more laws than I normally do in it...

[Jim Bell]

It looks a bit like an actual Go Kart parked next to the Sports Car. I bet its pant wettingly frightening/exhilarating to drive.

[dome]

  On 12/04/2018 at 22:45, WilsonWilson said:

I bet its pant wettingly frightening/exhilarating to drive.

That pretty much sums it up.

 

Passenger rides should be available at shitefest.

 

The seats wipe clean

[CreepingJesus]

  On 12/04/2018 at 23:00, dome said:

That pretty much sums it up.

 

Passenger rides for smallish people should be available at shitefest.

 

The seats wipe clean

FTFY

[wuvvum]

That actually looks like it has proper suspension.  Which was the Locost which had a McPherson strut arrangement with the strut tops hanging off the headlight mounts?

[Sigmund Fraud]

  On 13/04/2018 at 00:32, wuvvum said:

That actually looks like it has proper suspension.  Which was the Locost which had a McPherson strut arrangement with the strut tops hanging off the headlight mounts?

 

You're thinking of the Sierra-based Robin Hood... Makes a Locost seem like a McLaren F1.

[Supernaut]

Dibs on a passenger ride!

 

However, seeing how mr dome drives his S4... this should be rather interesting.

[320touring]

  On 13/04/2018 at 08:47, Supernaut said:

Dibs on a passenger ride!

 

However, seeing how mr dome drives his S4... this should be rather interesting.

I think he ups the finesse for this thing;)

[Tickman]

  On 13/04/2018 at 08:47, Supernaut said:

Dibs on a passenger ride!

 

However, seeing how mr dome drives his S4... this should be rather interesting.

 

It is great fun as a passenger, I can only guess how much fun as a driver it is. 

[dome]

Yeah, the S4 lets you away with a lot so it's just a case of flooring it and throwing gears at it when required(which is quite often). Grip is phenomenal but it is nose heavy. In the rain you adjust your driving style by turning the wipers on.

 

In the Locost you do need to get the feel for it, especially when the brakes and tyres are cold. The fact you are so exposed and can feel everything helps give you the necessary caution.

In the rain you adjust your driving style by taking a different car.

[Supernaut]

  On 13/04/2018 at 14:59, dome said:

In the rain you adjust your driving style by turning the wipers on.

 

In the rain you adjust your driving style by taking a different car.

 

Genuine laugh at those!

[John F]

I like cars with this format. I've had a go in a fairly horrible but ace Dutton Phaeton and a very tidy Westfield SEight, and they stick like glue on dry roads

[Guest Hooli]

  On 12/04/2018 at 22:23, dome said:

I had taken the bonnet off after its first run to check it out. It was only for about a mile to my mates house. I can't see it breaking any more laws than I normally do in it...

 

LOL.

 

I was genuinely curious if no bonnet was legal or not as just occasionally I see a car driven as such. I assume not in case idiots walk in front of them & jump into the fan belt.

[dome]

  On 13/04/2018 at 13:47, Tickman said:

It is great fun as a passenger, I can only guess how much fun as a driver it is.

I've raised the passenger seat by a couple of inches since you and creepingjesus were in it, passengers can now see where they are going. Which may or may not be an advantage to them

[dome]

Got my first proper blat in this tonight. I swapped the Auris for it at my lockup (not much difference then  ) and headed home first.

 

I topped up fluids and gave it a once over then decided on a gentle(ish) run to see how it was.

 

It was going very well, I'd forgotten how much fun it was   

 

Had to stop for some pics...

 

 

And back home 

 

 

 

The only issue so far is that the previous exhaust "fix" has failed again. I need to fit a rubber mounted bracket on the exhaust after the flexi and then weld it up again. Hopefully that'll hold.

 

There's a few other issues which haven't fixed themselves over the last 6 months funnily enough. I'll put them on here as much as a reminder....

 

Brake bias is too much to the rear.

Oil pressure gauge needs plumbed in-I have a new sender to fit.

There's a vibration from the rear-I'll swap wheels front to rear to see if that makes a difference, failing that the brake drums are ovalised slightly, failing that I'll see about getting the prop balanced.

I need to reset the throttle cable/fit a stop, full throttle goes too far and cuts out the signal from the TPS

 

But... It's still awesome

[Split_Pin]

What a night it was too, perfect!

[Tickman]

  On 19/04/2018 at 20:56, dome said:

I need to reset the throttle cable/fit a stop, full throttle goes too far and cuts out the signal from the TPS

 

But... It's still awesome

 

It was like that when you took me out in it and that was a while ago, stop fixing modern stuff for profit and get the toy sorted!

 

Or just leave it like it is and carry on driving around the issue like I would. It is still epic.

[dome]

  On 19/04/2018 at 22:26, Tickman said:

It was like that when you took me out in it and that was a while ago, stop fixing modern stuff for profit and get the toy sorted!

 

Or just leave it like it is and carry on driving around the issue like I would. It is still epic.

I had it fixed for a while-it took ages to get to the bottom of it though. I was adjusting it while I was out but can't get it right yet.

 

I'm going to fix it but having full throttle available all the time is just asking for trouble!

[Tickman]

  On 20/04/2018 at 05:44, dome said:

I had it fixed for a while-it took ages to get to the bottom of it though. I was adjusting it while I was out but can't get it right yet.

 

I'm going to fix it but having full throttle available all the time is just winning at life!

 

Fixed that for you

[cort16]

When are to going To turbo it?

[Mally]

Vibration from the rear, possibly hardy spicer joint on the prop, take it off and check free movement at both ends in both directions.

The slightest bit of tightness will cause vibration.

[dome]

Caution-may contain innuendo...

 

Found a propshaft specialist nearby so decided to get the prop off this thing and in for assessment.

 

Now on a normal car this would be easy, not on this thing with a flat floor.

 

Some swearing was required but I eventually got it out.

 

 

The rear UJ felt horrible so it looks like I was on to something.

 

Behold my shaft!

 

 

Bonus Civic Type R timing chain in the boot there!

 

I dropped it off with the the nice man who was impressed at the size, in fact he told me it was too big! He also phoned me later on to say it was bent 

 

He's going to build me a new smaller one which should make my ride much smoother.

 

Sorry, I can't do this anymore, as you were!!

[Guest Hooli]

Bah at bent shafts, sounds painful

[Mally]

Am a little confused, which is quite normal for me these days.

Without trawling through the whole thing I thought you had type 9 gearbox?

I thought standard type 9 had splines not flange, although there are many with modifications.

Is the flange adaptor plate fitted to the diff or the box?

It would be logical to me to fit a different flange if possible rather than use an adaptor.

Non of my ramblings will affect it working though, it will be fine when he's made it straight.

Propshafts are surprisingly cheap....I hope.