Renesis Powered Homemade Locost
#1
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.
#6
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.
#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
#8
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.
#17
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.
#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!
#19
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
#23
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.