Renesis Powered Homemade Locost
05-26-2010, 10:49 AM
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Renesis Powered Homemade Locost
Thought you guys might find this interesting. I'm building a car and using the powertrain and rear suspension from a 2005 rx8.
There are more pics on my photo build log at http://daeds.net/Locost/photolog.php
Finally got the electronics and wiring squared away and got it running. It is a brutal engine with no exhaust on it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyhpNdq6rrY
It's pretty much in the last stages of being built now and hope to get it road legal by the end of the summer, just have to add a few body panels, exhaust, lights, and some paint.
There are more pics on my photo build log at http://daeds.net/Locost/photolog.php
Finally got the electronics and wiring squared away and got it running. It is a brutal engine with no exhaust on it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyhpNdq6rrY
It's pretty much in the last stages of being built now and hope to get it road legal by the end of the summer, just have to add a few body panels, exhaust, lights, and some paint.
05-26-2010, 11:40 AM
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I built the frame from plans for what is called a Locost, which were designed based on a lotus 7.
After I attach the tube with the maf i will just be putting a big cone filter on it and yes, I am going to keep the auto tranny. The original plan was to use a manual, but a great deal on the donor came up and it was local so I had to go for it. Less whp won't be an issue really and I'm moving the paddle shift ability to a seperate small stick and putting it down by the gear select. Should be pretty cool.
After I attach the tube with the maf i will just be putting a big cone filter on it and yes, I am going to keep the auto tranny. The original plan was to use a manual, but a great deal on the donor came up and it was local so I had to go for it. Less whp won't be an issue really and I'm moving the paddle shift ability to a seperate small stick and putting it down by the gear select. Should be pretty cool.
05-26-2010, 11:43 AM
#7
I have never heard of those Locost chassis designs. I asked because i knew that there were some kits out there but didn't know the ones available to the us market.
Westfield sells a chassis to accept a NA miata as a donor car but that's another story
Westfield sells a chassis to accept a NA miata as a donor car but that's another story
05-26-2010, 11:50 AM
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Yea, its basically the same thing as the westfield frame, or a caterham. The community of guys that builds their own just calls them Locost though. They have a few variations but the one I built is very very simlar to the miata based kit frames, except for the rear which I designed to accomodate the rx8 rear subframe.
05-27-2010, 06:36 AM
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I am actually using heavier materials for stuff like the floorboards to get the weight up a bit to help tame it a little. Being that it's a rather torque-less engine should make it a little easier to keep on the road as well. As far as racing it goes, its is more designed and purposed to be a street machine. I will definitely be taking it to some of the local race tracks and drag strips though when they have open track days, and maybe a few autocrosses as well. Nothing competitive planned though.
I am using the standard ECU. Had a lot of issues with the immobiliser system and was looking at alternatives but there really isn't anything. Most modded ecus are for manual trannsmissions only so I was kinda stuck with the stock ecu. It took me 7 weeks and about 15 visits to my local mazda dealer to talk the owner into programming me a couple keys, but I finally got him to do it. Brought my powered up wireing harness in in the back of my Jimmy and 10 minutes later I had 3 new keys.
05-27-2010, 06:51 AM
#18
To make things simpler you could mate the engine to a manual transmission and adopt another ecu later on the road
It's not really cost effective but you would simplify the wiring looms and enjoy a new DIY project!
It's not really cost effective but you would simplify the wiring looms and enjoy a new DIY project!
05-27-2010, 08:34 AM
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Very cool! This forum needs more stuff like this!
Any pieces of the build that you are particularly proud of? A couple of years ago I toyed somewhat seriously with doing a Locost, but thought more about starting from a kit.
Power aside, you will pretty much have a street legal race car.
Any pieces of the build that you are particularly proud of? A couple of years ago I toyed somewhat seriously with doing a Locost, but thought more about starting from a kit.
Power aside, you will pretty much have a street legal race car.
05-28-2010, 12:29 PM
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This is pretty damn cool. Good luck on the build and keep us posted. Should be tons of fun to drive when it's done.
What are your plans for the exhaust? Are you going to run it out the side, or through the frame?
What are your plans for the exhaust? Are you going to run it out the side, or through the frame?
05-28-2010, 03:07 PM
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The exhaust will come out and run down the side of the car. All 304 stainless steel, 1.75" into a 3" collector, then into a racing beat presilencer and then into their Rev30 Rotor Muffler, then a turn out.
