davenewellhome Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 Been sorting out the workshop lately, grinding the floor (its a 100+ year old foundry so the concrete is ancient and rough as....................) and painting it light grey. Lurking in the far corner was this little beasty...................I remember buying it earlier this year, then a Granada Cosworth for the power plant and running gear, then stripping the granny ( 8-) ooeerrrr Mrs!) before sending its body shell to the crusher but this poor old thing has been residing under a drop cloth and numerous other junk for a few months now. Anyway I've finally dug it out, dusted it down and as soon as the floor is sorted its going up on trestles for stripping and rebuilding. I had originally planned to put the cossie lump in it but common sense has taken over, we're now going to install a 1.6 ZETEC SE with four throttle bodies and mappable management system. Reasons for the change of plan are that I want this veeHiccle on the road next year and the work required to drop the V6 in is just way too much for the remaining timescale. I have a ZETEC motor in bits awaiting reworking, got a set of Fireblade throttle bodies coming soon, and I've seen the management system I want to use (just got to save up £580 first :-( ). No1 daughter and Son are helping in the project too so maybe we'll get it done. D. P.s. the Cossie lump and running gear are on the shelf for a future project.
colin Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 davenewell@home - 2009-10-22 9:07 PM I have a ZETEC motor in bits awaiting reworking, got a set of Fireblade throttle bodies coming soon, and I've seen the management system I want to use (just got to save up £580 first :-( ). MegaSquirt is a favorite amonst kit car owners but I just use the standard ford setup.
davenewellhome Posted October 23, 2009 Author Posted October 23, 2009 Hi Colin, yeah I looked at the megasquirt system but then Peter Rosenthal suggested the Emerald as that's what he uses so I had a butchers at it. Quite a bit better than Megasquirt as it can do proper sequential injection instead of just grouped plus it can hold three different maps which can be selected by a simple switch even while you're driving. Standard setup can't really deal with multiple throttle bodies and you need the original ignition key to go with the ECU, got the ECU and loom but not the ignition key. D.
davenewellhome Posted October 23, 2009 Author Posted October 23, 2009 Here's a link to the Emerald ECU. http://www.emeraldm3d.com/em_k3.html D.
davenewellhome Posted November 2, 2009 Author Posted November 2, 2009 This project is starting to get complicated. i just bought a 1999 T reg Focus 1.6 in pretty good condition for a bargain price, less than it'll cost to rebuild that Zetec motor. Its still got a month's tax and MOT so I'll run it for a few weeks and see what its like before I make any decisions. The quandary is do I re MOT it and sell it for a quick profit, re MOT it, retax it and keep it as a runabout or break it for the motor and sell off the other bits? D.
davenewellhome Posted November 4, 2009 Author Posted November 4, 2009 Ok its all changed again. I'm going to fix the Focus and sell it in a few weeks, its just too tidy to break. I've now acquired a 2.0 litre Zetec power unit in need of a rebuild. You may wonder why I'd bother rebuilding this rather than the 1.6 I already have, so I'll tell you. The 2.0 litre Zetec motor will fit straight onto the existing bellhousing of the type 9 gearbox I have (so I'm told) whereas the 1.6 won't and the bellhousing for that lump is near £300. The Locust bonnet has a cutout for carbs/throttle bodies on the offside, the 1.6 has the induction on the nearside but the 2.0litre is on the offside. Parts are seriously cheaper for the 2.0 litre, pistons for example are £115 each for the 1.6 but only £60 for the 2.0. D.
davenewellhome Posted November 4, 2009 Author Posted November 4, 2009 And finally we're back to fitting the Cossie lump! 2.0 litre Zetec turned out to be a 1.8 minus the cylinder head so I gave in disgracefully and made an executive decision, Cosworth power rules OK! D.
davenewellhome Posted November 8, 2009 Author Posted November 8, 2009 Here's a few photos of todays progress. Our first daughter and son (Zoe and Phil) are two thirds of the team and have both put in a good day's graft today. We had a trial fit of the V6 and for all those who declared it wouldn't fit, NA NA NA NAAA NAAA! It will and here's pics to prove it! Then we stripped the body off it down to the bare chassis. Then we offered the V6 and gearbox up for a rough idea of how it will all fit together. Its gonna be fun! Within the next week I hope to have a proper page on our own website for regular updates, I'll post a link on here for anyone who's interested. D.
Usinmyknaus Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 Dave, it's fascinating to watch so please keep the pictures and progress reports coming. Is there any truth in the rumour that the finished article is the "courtesy car" you will be loaning for customer's amusement while you service their vans? Bob ;-)
colin Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 Is that just a ladder chassis or have you cut top half of chassis away?
malc d Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 Interesting stuff. Reminds me of my youth when a friend stripped an old Ford van down to its chassis, and turned it into a sports car. First road test we went out without a windscreen, and no goggles. Not recommended ! :-|
michele Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 Must be fantastic to really get your teeth into something you enjoy doing . Good on you all. That is one of the things I honestly miss since the kids came. Never mind I cant have it all. :-D
davenewellhome Posted November 13, 2009 Author Posted November 13, 2009 Bob, no truth in that rumour whatsoever I'm afraid. Colin, yes its a ladder chassis and no I didn't cut the top off it :D . The fact that its such a simple chassis and its going to get 200 BHP plus of Cosworth grunt is the reason its going to be spaceframed and get a new body. Had a customer in today who spotted the rear end of the body and thought it was a Caterham (very similar), apparently he used to race a V8 Morgan >:-) . Should have a website up very soon detailing the rebirth of this poor creature, watch this space for a link. D.
davenewellhome Posted November 17, 2009 Author Posted November 17, 2009 For those who are interested here's the link to the Cossie/Locust blog-ish website. http://www.cossie.davenewell.co.uk/ Cheers, D.
nowtelse2do Posted November 17, 2009 Posted November 17, 2009 Tell you what Dave, that's going to be a serious straight line motor, and with though's headlights it shouldn't be to bad at nights on cornering.Dave
davenewellhome Posted November 17, 2009 Author Posted November 17, 2009 Cheers Dave, the plan includes it being a good cornering machine too though, if I can get the weight distribution right it should be fun, get it wrong and......................................well it could be quick on the drag strip! Keep an eye on the blog for infrequent updates. Cheers, D.
davenewellhome Posted November 21, 2009 Author Posted November 21, 2009 Well I've had a great day today, quick customer job in this morning then the rest of the day to play with the Locust (Gosh I hate that name, gotta come up with sumfin better). Anyway I got a good bargain on Ebay with another set of throttle bodies to match the four I got earlier so now I can set up six ITBs (Independent Throttle Bodies) for the beast to breathe through. I've also fabricated the engine mounts and the lump now resides in position, ready for fabrication of the space frame to commence. Within a couple of days a full update will be on our blog site at www.cossie.davenewell.co.uk D.
Mel B Posted November 21, 2009 Posted November 21, 2009 You could give it a French name Dave, such as: La sauterelle (locust) La grenouille (frog - seeing as it's green) La bête (the beast)
davenewellhome Posted November 22, 2009 Author Posted November 22, 2009 Why on earth would I want a French name for it Mel? Second option doesn't work as its not going to be green but red and black. D.
Mel B Posted November 22, 2009 Posted November 22, 2009 They were just some more 'unusual' suggestions Dave, don't get your spanners in a spin!!! 8-) Red and black .... squashed Ladybird? :D
J9withdogs Posted November 27, 2009 Posted November 27, 2009 I think you should call it 'Geoff' :D (Watching Top Gear btw)
Usinmyknaus Posted November 30, 2009 Posted November 30, 2009 Given the fire-breathing lump you're going to put in the front, "The Dragon" comes to mind. Apposite too, given the symbolic and cultural importance of dragons and their smaller cousins , Wyverns in your area of ancient Mercia and The Wrekin. Bob :-)
davenewellhome Posted November 30, 2009 Author Posted November 30, 2009 Nice one Bob, I like it! Will give it some thought before I decide conclusively but its the best yet. I fancied "Scorpion" as it will have a sting in the tail but there is already a Scorpio kit car and its nowt like this one. D.
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