Lotus Elise Tank

Bespoke Bonnet

Progress on the bespoke bonnet has started very cautiously. There are several reasons for this. Although I still had...

Grille and Slam Panel

I've started my version of a 1939 Chevy grille shell. This was my first real attempt at hammer and...

Mocking up the bonnet & Rookie Mistakes

Making the bonnet is going to be a huge challenge, so I decided to mock it up. There was...

Inner Wings

I've started the inner wings. The first job was to get the flange onto which the wing mounts done.The...

Bonnet Frame

With the scuttle 80% done, this Locost was starting to look less and less Hot Rod and more 70’s...

Windscreen Surround

Motivation to complete my windscreen surround has been lacking. Poor health means I'll never drive this Locost. You can...

Bespoke Steel Scuttle

I wanted a steel scuttle but the MG Midget has a bolt on aluminium item designed for a soft-top...

Hand Made Bulkhead

I could see my hand built bulkhead being the biggest challenge yet. I wanted something that looked original rather...

Hand built Bodywork - Drivers Side Door Pillar

I’m new to hand-built bodywork, so getting the dimension of the driver’s side door pillar within 1mm of the...

DIY English Wheel

A DIY English Wheel from scrap steel tube and an old Lathe tail-stock? Surely that's not possible? - Well...

Bead Roller Upgrade & Tipping Die

I wanted a Bead Roller Tipping Die for my 22mm Jenny. However, when I looked online, they were out...

Basic IVA Glass EC43R

I needed some Basic IVA glass for my Hot Rod. This Hot Rod will need BIVA testing to get...

Dimple Die / Hole Swage CAD drawings

Dimple die or Hole swage tools add that 'trick' look to any fabricated Steel or Aluminium project. They not...

Hidden Hinge Clearance

I finally got my hidden hinge working as previously I was having problems with it fouling just before the...

Hidden Hinge - Modifications needed

In order to get the hidden hinge to work, the 'A' pillar will need some modification. I started by...

Hot Rod Hidden Hinge - Hit or Miss?

I'm using Golf MK5 hardware as my hidden hinges. I couldn't picture whether the door was going to clear...

Fabricated Hot Rod Door

My fabricated Hot Rod door is not going to be easy. Considering I'm new to this metalwork lark, I'm...

Hot Rod Hidden Hinges

As a datum for the whole body, I'm starting with the A pillars and hidden hinges. With the hinge pins...

Braking - Electric Vacuum Pump

I have used various brake components and I have no idea how good the brakes will work or feel...

New Workshop Required

I've been moving my car and all my tools. Now the bodywork can begin. The wooden buck has been...

Rover V8 Electric Water Pump

I’ve fitting an electric water pump to my Rover V8. The P38 water pump I was using tried to...

Bodywork Wireframe Buck - half finished

With half the wireframe buck finished, it has become obvious that although it has its uses it is also...

Bodywork Wire Frame Buck

Having built one half of a wooden car body buck, I'm making a wire frame buck. The plan is...

Bodywork Wire Frame Buck

With the engine running, I've turned my attention back to the bodywork. I've started the wire frame for the...

Megasquirt MS1/Extra Rover V8 - Troubles Starting

As many regular readers know, I'd had my Megasquirt MS1/Extra Rover V8 started within a couple turns of they...

Rover V8 Tuner Studio - CTS / ATS Calibration

To successfully use a Megasquirt you must use Tuner Studio to calibrate all your sensors. For a Rover V8...

Rover V8 Twin Throttle Bodies

I've been looking into fitting Rover V8 Twin Throttle Bodies. Rover did it on a limited number SD1 Vitesse's....

Rover V8 ExtraEfi Megasquirt - Will it run?

There’s been a lot of work getting my Rover V8 Megasquirt engine from ‘looking’ ready to actually ready to...

Megasquirt ECU - Rover V8 4.6Ltr

My Megasquirt ECU V8 project is getting close to the point of turning the key. I decided to tidy...

Rover V8 Locost 4x4 -Wiring and Plumbing

Putting a Rover V8 and 4wd into a Locost was always going to take a long time. Finishing the...

Multiple Radiator Fans

Fitting two fans, one each side of the radiator in a push pull air flow arrangement has made a...

Rover V8 Trigger Wheel - Megasquirt

A Megasquirt ECU requires a 36-1 trigger input. Many people fit a trigger wheel to the front pulley, however...

Blog

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For the Locost & Haynes Roadster Enthusiast BLOG COMPONENTS CAD DRAWINGS SKILLS AND TOOLS Glossary LOCOST The Build Originally,...

Rover V8 Gallery

Rover V8

Homemade Milling Machine

Custom Ford Sierra Front Uprights

Gearbox Tunnel

McSorley442 Chassis

Front Chassis

Gallery

Push Rod Rear Suspension

MT75 Gearbox Gallery

Haynes Roadster Rover V8 - Fitment

Haynes Roadster 4x4

Ford Sierra Front Differential - Fitting

Haynes Roadster - Rear Chassis

Locost Roadster

Ron Champion’s original book was followed up with “Build Your Own Sports Car: On a Budget” (ISBN 1-84425-391-0) by...

Threads

There are a huge array of thread available. Depending on application and country of origin depends on which thread...

Useful Tools

Obviously, there will be the usual toolbox full of spanners, hammers, screwdrivers etc., but some specialist tools will come in...

Cleaning Parts with Electrolysis

Having designed a Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system (stealth) for American submarines, I knew that Electrolysis could be used...

Skills and Tools

There are many skills and tools that will come in very ‘handy’ during a Kit Car or Hot Rod...

V8 Engine Dimensions

A V8 engine has two banks of four cylinders arranged in a ‘V’. The eight pistons drive single centrally...

Wheelbase

‘Wheelbase’ is the distance between the centre of the front axle and the centre of the rear axle. Wheelbase...

Trail / Caster Offset

The distance from the ‘Steering Axis’ to the centre of the tyres’ footprint on the ground is called ‘Trail’...

Track Width

‘Track Width’ is the distance between the center line of each of the two tyre contact patches on the same axle. It...

Toe In / Toe Out

The amount of toe is expressed in degrees, as the angle from parallel of the front wheels. Sometimes Toe...

Steer Camber

‘Steer Camber’ is a product of ‘Steering Axis Inclination’. It is a small amount but not to be neglected if...

Steering Axis Offset

In side view, if the ‘Steering Axis’ doesn’t pass through the centre of the wheel, there is a ‘Steering...

Steering Axis Inclination

Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) is also known as King Pin Inclination (KPI). The ‘Steering Axis’ is the axis around which...

Slip Angle

Even though the name uses the word “slip”, this characteristic has nothing to do with slipping or skidding. Slip...

Scrub Radius

The scrub radius is the distance in front view between the Steering Axis and the centre of the tyre...

Scrub

As a wheel travels up and down with relation to the chassis, the track width of the car changes....