2020 Locost Seven 347 Ford V8 Build History
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 เม.ย. 2020
- It' has been a long journey, with a few years left to go....but here were I am as of May 2020. Please feel free to contact me at ( jweber5@optonline.net ) if you want to talk about a project like this!
Update August 2020: I passed New York State DMV inspection on August 27 2020....one step closer to driving my project legally on the road!
Update September 2020: I dropped off all my paperwork at the local DMV and am waiting for my plates! Insured with Hagerty and ready to start driving.
I took my car to Empire Performance in West Babylon yesterday; / empireperformanceny : great guys! Morris did and awesome job! We did some easy dyno pulls because the engine is so new and I am nervous! I want to get 500-1,000 miles on it before we dial it in for maximum output. For now, we stopped at 5,000 rpm and 360 RWHP (about 414 HP at the crank using the 1:15 factor) and it sounds really happy! We spent about 4 hours on the dyno and I couldn't be happier! A full new video coming soon!
Build Your Own Car!
You can do it…..even with the NY State DMV hassle! I started this “Lotus Seven” (AKA Locost Seven) project 5 years ago and hope to finish in 2021.
This is my first attempt to build a car and I learned so much!
1.25” mild steel chassis of my own design with flush riveted and bonded aluminum skin, SFI roll bar
1,980#/895Kg fully fueled
Front and rear suspension of my own design with QA1 coilovers
8.8 Ford rear with 3.73 gears, 11.65” SVT Cobra brakes
SVT Cobra spindles and 13” SVT Cobra brakes with 4-piston calipers, Flaming River rack
Wilwood pedal set with individually adjustable master cylinders
Ford 302/5.0 block, bored and stroked to 347 CID / 5.69L - 415HP with mild tune
MS3Pro ECU, sequential injection, coil-near-plug LS coils, no distributor,
Braille lightweight battery, Hall effect ammeter, custom wiper system, heated seats, LED lighting, heating/defrosting system
Dual pass radiator, electric water pump, PWM controlled fan
Strengthened Tremec T5 SVT Cobra spec transmission
10-gallon fuel cell
Custom Speedhut gauge set
Kirkey seating with 5-point harnesses
Please feel free to contact me to discuss your ideas.
If I am at a car show, please vote for me to show support for my project!
Ugh! I had some copyright claims on the original music I had on this video, so now it has just generic TH-cam supplied music. Maybe I will get less music complaints and thumbs down now. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
What I like most about this is that you aren't some guy with a pristine $100,000 facility. You built that from scratch in your teensy tiny one stall garage in your backyard. Fantastic and just WOW!
Thanks! My advice to most people is DON'T wait for the perfect situation to start a project like this. Just be patient and as thrifty as you need to be....there is no race to get it done. Just do it while you are young enough to enjoy it!
This is by far the best looking and definitely the sturdiest 7 frame I’ve ever seen….!
Thank you so much! Being that this was my first car project, and I was concerned about crash safety and the torque of the 347, I built the majority of the chassis with 1.25" (32mm) tubing instead of the more common 1" (25mm). This, all the cross bracing and extremely heavy SCCA spec roll bar plus heat and other amenities were all added with no weight concerns. These decisions, among others, brought me up to 1,900# (860 KG), which is heavy for these types of cars that are typically
I can only imagine how proud you must be to have built your very own sports car, fabricating it from the chassis up! Subscribed.
Thanks! Yes, it is a great sense of accomplishment and I learned so much!
Since I was a child my dream is to build a Lotus 7, in Uruguay, where I was born, they are quite common and it is feasible to build them, now living in Chile, there is no possibility of building your own car, but I don't think that will stop me. I admire the patience and the work destined to the construction of your car, Congratulations !!
That's brilliant! Congratulations on your excellent work. I can't wait to see follow up videos.
Thanks Santiago! I have a few more driving videos posted and will do some more soon.
What a great car. I remember the Locost from when it came out and was very interested in them. After a while the 750 Motor Club brought in a championship for them. I marshalled at their 1st meeting at Lydden Hill circuit here in the UK. Over the week end every qualifying session and every race was red flagged at least 3 times with crashes. The following year on their return the race craft and the cars had improved beyond all recognition. It truly is a well thought out car that you can make your mark on. One had the L from a lotus on the grill turned upside down to make an L and another was painted in the red and cream with "Bold Leaf" on the sides. They all had full roll cages and really are entertaining, and still running with the club.
Massive effort, many would have got lost or given up. A 19 minute video doesn't do justice to a 5+ year project and the dedication involved.
Such a proud look on your face.... well done!!!
Amazing how the more we think about it, the more it becomes... Thank you for sharing your many talents!!!
I appreciate that! Every day I learn more while building this car......
And there you go! I dreamed of building a 7 when I was in High School. That was 40 years ago, and I don't have a decent garage, but you are inspiring me to fix that problem by the summer. I have the land and I've cleared it, plus put in a drive to where it will be. Next step after that.
When you hit the gas my heart dropped. Astounding build!
Thanks! So did my wife's!
This is super cool, nice work!
I was drooling the whole way through. Hats off to you, good sir. Stunning work.
Thanks so much!!!
Looks like she enjoyed the fruits of your labor. Thats a great car you’ve built. I hope you enjoy it for years. My guess is that there’s nothing on the street that’ll touch it.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
You did a great job with the planning and execution of your build. There are a lot of nice details such as the heater and defroster system. I hope the registration process goes smoothly for you.
You are inspiring me to keep working towards buying or building my own 7 replica.
Thanks! To pass inspection, we do need the defroster here in New York, however I am sure it will be nice to have on those early morning and evening drives! Please feel free to discuss your Locost thoughts when you are ready.....
"Cool."
LOL! that's exactly what I would expect after all that work. Great job and was fun to see your family checking it out. Respect :)
Thanks for documenting this! Great video.
Thanks so much! More to come.......
Dude so much respect to you! Super awesome!
Thank you so much John!
Awesome job. Sounds great
Very well done sir !!! You're an inspiration!!!
Cool! Sums it up quite well! Well Done on completing your Locost, a superb job!!
Thanks Don! I super appreciate the compliment!
Awesome job. So much work but the (almost) end result is great. Hopefully I'll be making my own eventually!
Thanks! When you are ready to start planning your project please let me know if you need any advice.
Congratulations! I cannot imagine the satisfaction of that short drive after working on it so hard and for so long.
Thanks Ron! Yes, it was surreal to actually drive the thing for the first time! I was actually quite amazed that it ran as good as it did without having been tuned yet.
Just love it when a plan comes together 😊
Thanks Todd.....and the plan is still coming together! A car like this is never really "done", just done enough for now....
Good work ! Lots of effort has gone into that. Not much will beat that at the lights.
Had to double take if that was Ron Burgandy jumping in the stang and then Jay Leno fuelling up 😂😂. Great video
Beautiful dream and work ! So cool :)
Thanks so much Nick!
Good work! ... beautiful locost ... sounds great!
Hey! Thanks so much! Please drop me and email and let's get together in BC after this CV-19 mayhem cools off!
James Weber ... sure thing James ... I didn’t see an email address on your channel but mine is SevenSpotMedia@gmail.com or you could find me at our FB group ... SevenSpot. facebook.com/groups/SevenSpot/?ref=share. Cheers! Jim. ... btw my Locost is Hayabusa powered.
@@7Spot556 are you in B.C.? I will be retiring to my home town, Vancouver, in a few years. Hopefully, I will have saved up enough to buy/build my own 7 replica by then.
@@philso7872 I am in New York, but have a client in BC that I visit from time to time during non-Covid times!
Amazing job. Been wanting to build one myself for a while just like this.
Thanks! Great, let's build one! How can I help you out?
Hey I'm the guy you saw on Sunrise a little while ago in the white jeep. Thanks for the info on this video, love it! What an amazing piece of machinery/work of art! All the best to you and that sweet ride ya got there! 👍
Hey! Thanks so much for the compliment! I’m usually hitting the local car cruises and shows when I have time. Please stop by and shake hands!
@@jamesweber7001 I hope to do that one day James! 👍
Great video. Congratulations.
Thanks so muck Lonnie!
Needs update video and a ITB setup for it, nice work!
Hope to have updates soon! I was seriously considering an ITB setup, but in the end I decided to leave it "ugly" for simpler tuning and nicer running habits when taking it easy around town. There are no plans to take this car on the track.
Incredible! Awesome build!
Thank you! I learned a lot on this one and am already planning my next.....
That gave me goose pimples, what a build, you are a very talented person. Hope you have lots of enjoyment with it.
Thanks so much! I greatly appreciate your compliment!
Power to you, James 👍
Absolutely fantastic! I love it!
Thanks so much Garret!
te quedo super chulo!!!
Incredible, dude. Some people claim to be "car guys", but THIS is a real car guy. Inspirational af. Awesome job!
Thanks so much! It was a great learning experience. ☺️👍🏻
That's an impressive build. I love the external rear suspension location arms running through the rear mudguards, those were used on some of the very early Lotus Seven specials.
I had some problems getting my Caterham SV registered in France, I hope your demand goes easily.
Best of luck with it!
Thanks! My DMV process was complex, but workable! Please check out my other videos here to see the finished project.
What an awesome build and sounds so good,no no it's not to loud
Thanks so much! It is a little quieter these days as I have added some resonators to calm the bark a bit.
Nice build m8
Great video!!!!!
I can’t even imagine tearing up an sn95 cobra but I’m glad you had the balls
TBF it looked pretty rough.
Looks and sounds Cool AF
That is ace man nice build well done
Thanks so much! I do sincerely appreciate your compliment!
Great effort. It's a beast.
Thanks so much for the compliment! I am already planning my next car project.......
Hi James, did much the same in the late 80s. Started with a british kit car a syvia striker, its a 7 with an enclosed body. Ran a 302w.420hp. 5 speed toyota box. dana44 rear.Was a weapon. On the track got clocked 181mph. Have photos somewhere . The first drive was insane !!!
Sounds like an awesome car! My next project will be a full bodied car.
That thing is going to be REDICULOUSLY fast!
Yes! Incredible performance!
...just amazing. Great job! I hope i bump in to you one day at a car show or something when i move back to the ny area. I would love to see that thing in person.
Thanks so much! I hope we can meet as well! I have been attending a lot of local car shows with it.
Nice job!
Great job! Its like you read my mind..out of my dreams and into your garadge. If your still reading my thoughts you no that its hard to keep this animal on the road!
Thanks so much for the compliment! I am now at the stage of the most difficult problem; getting it legally on the road in New York....yikes!
Can't wait for the finished article. Don't forget to use Tempura or strong Memory foam of the seat cushion! Numb Bum will curtail your time behind the wheel!
Thanks! I am using the Kirkey seat liners, thinly padded, but quite comfortable! Please do checkout some of my other videos here, including my 2022 update at the Flowerfields car show. I have >4,000 miles (>6,400km) on the car now and it has been great!
awesome build well done
Thanks Graham!
Great man!
great job would love to see you and this great car in the burn yard
Thanks so much!
sweet man ,hope that beast is on the road soon :D
Thanks! Please see my other videos; it's on the road now!
Man, best super seven yet!
Thank you Jan!
Excellent and Congratulations! Hope you have as much fun racing it as you have building it. Can it play "O Promise Me" in 2nd gear?
Thanks Steve! I wonder if you and I are the only ones reading this that understand your reference!
Great effort! Regards from UK
Thanks so much! I greatly appreciate the compliment!
@@jamesweber7001 james.. good work man. But i dont understand when you say " a few more years to go till its done''
When did u start ?
💯 needs a quick rack on it. Back end steps out and you’ve got no chance of correcting it. Apart from that..... well done 👍 👌😎
Thanks! With these big wheels and huge brakes, I wouldn't want the rack any faster than it is. If I hit a big pot hole (or curb...yikes!) while braking and turning, I don't want the wheel spun out of my hands. The intended use is street driving, so the current 3.5 turns lock-to-lock if good enough for me. I still need to do some measurements to calculate the actual ratio if you are interested to know.
You could consider using a smaller steering wheel. What is on it at present 13"? Go down to 12"? Would also make getting in & out easier. It is surprising how that extra space helps.
Can you run full side pipes? Rather than sides and rears, more like an original 7
Robert Willis Hi! Thanks so much for the thoughts. The current wheel is 13.5”, and even with it in place I can slip in fairly easily. I do have a 12” wheel which I will eventually try once I get used to driving it.
Robert Willis I had the car running with the pipes exiting ahead of the wheels (true side pipes) but it was uncomfortably loud, plus it sounded like a 4 cylinder car in my ear 👂 🤣 With the rear exit it has a nice throaty beat 😊👍🏻
Wicked build looks awsome I built one years ago angle grinder and a welder . Lol 2 litre pinto in mine twin 45s great fun . I think mine was first edition green car on cover
Cracking build
👍🏴😁✌️
Thank you so much! I too had considered 4cyl Ford power (both Ztec and 2.3L OHC (Pinto as you say), but it's hard to resist the call of the V8, plus the packaging and parts availability of the small block Ford are really happy with a car this size. 😀
@@jamesweber7001 I don't have same amount of v8s over here lol 😂
Great fun
👍🏴😁✌️
Excellent job...many years of fun ahead 👍 Would you mind telling me where you got the rivet spacer tool?
Thanks! I super appreciate your compliment! I think I bought it on eBay. If you put "rivet spacing tool" in a search engine you will see a few resources. All the aircraft tools also came in handy when drilling, clamping, countersinking, and shaving the rivets.
This will make a dog`s breakfast of a Caterham 620 R.... OMG, you have built a monster. She is a thing of beauty. Well done!!! No replacement for displacement. Simple math!!!!
Thanks so much!!!
What an awesome video and journey. Cat still not impressed? 😂
BEAST!
Thats awesome
Sounds awesome !!
Thanks!!! It's a little bit quieter now; I added some resonators....
Is there an x-pipe or crossover in the exhaust system?
@@philipschrantz8402 I tried to find a place for an X-pipe, but there really isn't any room! But I did leave room for two turbos!
It looks and sounds great Jim, so when are you going to paint it?
What chassis type did you use that you able to fit that monster on a engine so smoothly?
*very* well done! :-)
Thanks so much for the compliment!
Great job , that would be nice with individual runners ! .
Thanks! I came very close to going with ITB's , but in the end I went with the the current setup to simplify the tuning and increase the drivability around town. Maybe on the next one!
very nice...
Well Done. That is a cool build. I bet like Me You planned a glovebox but then found the sheer amount of wires took up all the space. My car? is somewhat different but in the same spirit.
Best Wishes Dee
Hi! Actually, I was able to plan out the relays, computer, and wiring pretty well and made a practical glove box 😊👍🏻
looks like an interesting project.. not sure there is many i have seen with a live axle on the rear before. good job on the build log and work that was involved.
would be interested to see the weight of the finished car, looks strong, i think it would have to be super strong to take the weight and power of the engine and running gear.
great job.
in 2003 i built a Tiger kit car, it had a 2.0 litre stage 2 Ford 4 cylinder engine and was good enough. at the time i was working in the aviation industry and so leaned a lot about fibre glass / Kevlar work and made my own moulds and own lighter and stronger body panels.
this video makes me want to build another car.
Thanks! Actually, all the original Lotus Seven's had live rear axles, so I am in good company! Yes, it is pretty heavy at 1,900# (860 Kg), but you need to consider that his has all SVT Cobra running gear (axle, huge brakes and spindles, etc.) plus heat, defroster, wipers, heated seats, spare tire, rear bumper, and more. I also upsized the entire frame from 1" (25mm) tubing to 1.25" (32mm) tubing and built it with a backbone chassis added for additional rigidity. It's probably 200# (90 KG) in total heavier than it needs to be, but that's OK. It's my first attempt at building a car and my goals weren't weight related. I just wanted it to be super strong and fun/comfortable to drive. Thus far with >1,200 miles (>2,000km) I am really happy with the driving experience!
Great build! How much does it weigh, and do you know the weight distribution?
Thanks! On a certified scale, without me in it, it is 1,980# / 896 Kg. This is heavier than most builds because I used more and larger frame tubes and built the car ~40% stronger than most. My current 347 Stroker will be about 450HP, so the power to weight ratio is still very good. I have not done any weight distribution measurements yet, but typically with full fuel these are in the 53/47 range....but this all depends a lot on the weight of the occupant(s).
And I thought caterhams were cool.. very well done sir!
Thanks! They are cool and I would love to drive one someday! I went a little different route than the pure spirit of the Lotus Seven (or Caterham) with this car....well suited to my tastes for sure!
Beautiful work! I'm thinking maybe no longer locost (low cost)....but then no labor $$. Understanding wife - knows where to always find you. OK as long as her todo list gets done. At my age, it is a long past dream. I bought Chapman's book when it first came out.
Well...the cost was far less than a new Caterham!
My company made some of the fiberglass parts on this car dash, nose, fenders looks good👍🏻
Great! Which company is that?
Great job and excellent result, one question can you register and drive it legally? Greetings from Greece, here it is impossible due to laws and bureaucracy to register such a car, only for track use unfortunately.
Thanks so much for the compliment! Yes, we can register and drive these on the road in some states. I just received my New York inspection, so I will be driving it soon.
good job)
Thanks! Have you seen the video of it finished?
Way to go!
Thanks so much!
Great job!!! Building the same chassis with 302 sbf. I have many questions. How can I get in touch with you ??
Thanks so much for the compliment! You can find my email address embedded about 30 seconds into this video; th-cam.com/video/q51YzIxL8fI/w-d-xo.html
Is the bodywork the same to the seven? Either way great build! Wish I could rip on that fun mobile
Thanks! It is similar to a Seven, but more like a late model Caterham. This is what is known as a 442E style chassis; 4" (100mm) wider than a Lotus Seven, 4" longer in the engine compartment (the E in 442E) and 2" taller. So I had to make all the white fiberglass parts wider.
OVERKILL suitable name .
what a BEAST 😆
Thank you so much!
What a car 👍🏻
Thanks so much!
Where did u get your frame design I have a original 289 I was thinking about for a project like this
A nice engine for one! Mine is based on the general layout derived from the Mcsorley 442E. This is 4” wider, 4” longer in the engine compartment (the “E”), and with a 2” taller spacing between the upper and lower frame rails. You can google the Mcsorley 442E for the pdf, but if you can’t find it just email me 😊👍🏻
@@jamesweber7001 I will look that up thank you very much
Very nice work! ! Maybe ask what is your profession? Looks like you can do all mechanical, body, welding, and electronic diagnostic with ease.
Thanks so much for the compliment! I am a subject matter expert (SME) in the thermal spray coating field. I guess the last 50-something years of playing around with boats, cars, motorcycles, etc. has taught me enough to get this project together over the past 5 years. Still learning every day....and not with too much ease!
@@jamesweber7001 your work has inspired me to start bigger projects of my own. Keep up the great work!
Very nice build, enjoyed watching the progress.
What's the music playing at 5:50?
Thanks so much!! I appreciate your compliment! Originally, I had my own musical tastes in this video, but I received quite a few complaints and "dislikes" on my car video because people didn't like the music! So, I changed all my music to the musical selections provided by TH-cam. I am not even sure what the music is...but at least the complaints are less!
@@jamesweber7001 Usually if there's engine sound people prefer to be no music so they can hear the engine, but if it's only slide shows being played, if someone doesn't like the music they can mute it out. Do what you like to do! :) Good luck.
@@jamesweber7001 I have a question. since I'm thinking about building my own locost, and since there are no lotus 7s or caterhams in the part of world I live in, I wonder if being 6"2 tall I can fit in one or not! what plans are you using? (book, 442+ etc)
@@pouyan225 Hi There! It is a 442E; 4"/ 100mm longer in the engine compartment. I am 5'11" with 32" pants legs and fit well in mine. The driver's seat is on sliders and it is about two notches forward of the fully rearward travel. I have a friend who is 6'4" and he fits in it fine. If you want any more details please feel free to email me.
Colin Chapman would approve.
Silly question here..... but Caterham Super Sevens.... as this car has a V8.... does it deserve a Super 8 ?
Or is the Lotus Caterham Seven a design kit you buy from Lotus and they are all called Super Seven
Hi! There is an entire history to read regarding the naming of the original "Seven" . Loosely, it is based on an improved and simplified Six chassis, but the actual sellable cars didn't come on the market until after the Eleven as a way to help fund the racing team. There are some awesome and inspiring books in regards the Seven, Colin Chapman, his team, and Lotus.
Steering wheel's on the wrong side... Otherwise, good effort :)
Yeah! Seems like a lot of people make this same mistake around here! Thanks for much for the compliment!
無茶苦茶良い音！
Thanks you so much!
It looks bestial! I made mine in 2015 with ZX12r engine, but yours is looking more for big balls !! 😅
Thanks so much! I watched your November 20, 2021 build video just now....great! My car was started in 2015 and I would say it is pretty much done now. If you like, I can email or WhatsApp you the current photos.
I'm sure the neighbours love you
So far, only one complaint!
WOW!
I think a wrecked car would be a better donor. Parting out what appeared to be a good SN95 may have produced more $ than the complete car. One like that would eventually become a valued collector. IMHO you rate the Tomahawk award.
Hey...I really tried to go the wrecked route first, but I couldn't find one to buy in its entirety at a reasonable price. I bought this pretty ratty SVT Cobra for $2,800 and parted it out to myself and with the help of a super SN95 guy who really knows the value of these things.....I think! I also was able to drive this one, so I knew that it all worked, and the guy delivered it free to my house. So, it was the most practical way to go at the time. When I bought it, I was still learning and thinking about how I was going to achieve a V8 Lotus Seven. In hindsight, I really didn't NEED all of the car, but it did help with the thought process and planning. In the end, I offered the body and title for FREE on many forums, and no takers.
And this was a book width frame with extra length?
Well, it depends in which "book". Technically, it is a 442E; as compared to a real Lotus Seven it is 4" longer in the engine compartment area, 4" wider overall, and 2" taller between the top and bottom frame rails.
What wheels are those. Also the tire/wheel info?
Hi Lance. The fronts are 17x9 FR500 style wheels with 275/40/17 Nitto G2 Tires and the rears are 17x10.5 FR500 style wheels with 315/35/17 Nitto G2 Tires
@@jamesweber7001 thank youuu. You still have this car?
@@lancereyesromero7811 Yes! It is basically completed now....I need to make an updated video for sure. If you email me I can send you back some photos.
Looks like you should put in a quick steering box
Thanks for the advice ☺️👍🏻 Actually, I didn’t use a steering box. Instead, I used a quick ratio steering rack from Flaming River. Is a bit over 2 turns lock to lock. Any quicker and it would be uncomfortable for me to drive ☺️
@@jamesweber7001 That cool bet it is a blast to drive