please excuse the messy garage but I finally got my Luego Seven to the roller state. Still need to do the panhard rod mount. I think I'll wait until the last moment to position that. Couldn't resist tossing on some of the bodywork and wheels to see how it will look. Nothing is attached which is why its all misaligned.

Suspension bolts aren't on in the picture but I just got all them in. That was much harder than I thought. The bottom ones have to go in first otherwise they are impossible to put in (guess which I put in first).

I have the tranny ready to go in (mount created and welded in). Then the engine hopefully by the engine of the week. After that its a whole huge pile of little jobs - mostly plumbing - brake lines, clutch lines, fuel lines and of course all the electrical. I should have it ready just in time for winter!

Wow! looking nice...now if you had some REAL buddies they'd push you around the neighborhood!! keep posting pics..

WOW!

Excellent job, Dave. I knew you had *plans* to build one of these things, but I didn't know you were coming along so well on one. Looks great!

My garage is *much* worse.

What's to power it?

Thanks folks.

I actually feel - slow - had the parts for almost a year now but only starting to really make real progress now.

Did you ever start that Austin Seven replica project?

The engine is going to be a Toyota twin cam four cylinder from the mid 80s Corolla GTS (also MR2). T50 gearbox (also from the rwd GTS). My engine was rebuilt (not by me, but previous owner had it prof rebuilt) and has 600 miles on it. I have the stock fuel injection (115hp) or a set of Weber carbs (plus and the related timing stuff - 125hp). I think I'll go carbs but we'll see.



I've test fit it and looks like it should work ok - just have to put in for good.

Yeah...it's rolling and has the 1275 in it.

But I'm stalled due to a big project at work that is killing my summer,....plus I'm doing wings on the plane.....and building a second race car with my son-in-law....and racing. The Austin Seven will likley move forward more this winter....or whenever I retire.

Oooooooooooooooooooh!!! I am drooling! That is a nice little project.

WOW!! How'd I miss this project...are there other threads about it? Is this a kit or did you fabricate/weld the chassis yourself?

I was going to weld up the frame myself but wimped out and bought one I found out we were expecting our third child. The chassis and bodywork are from a UK company called Luego. All the rest is sourced all sorts of places. For example engine and gearbox are Toyota, gauges and fuel tank are Triumph Spitfire, front spindles are Hyundai Stellar, etc. There is a probably one or two old threads about it but this is the first real progress I've made since Christmas.

I still need to measure things up to drill the holes for mounting the engine mounts but it looks like everything will fit. Gearbox is in. The exhaust manifold is looking a little iffy so custom headers might be needed. (Carbs will move over a little once that wood bit is removed - engine will go down slightly.)

Great read, I love Lotus replica build threads...they only make me want to do one of my own even more!

Hoo! That's gonna be a little screamer - I call "SHOTGUN"!!

Where did you get a Weber manifold to fit to a Toyota T/C?

The guy I bought the engine had it. They are around - I think you can buy them new on the internet somewhere. Not cheap of course.

Weren't the formula racers running these a few years back? Sort of Toyota's version of Formula Ford/Continental.

Formula Atlantic.
Jeff

There is also laer twenty valve version (sold in Corollas we didn't get) that puts out almost 200hp stock.

Just fits this engine!

Engine mounts fabricated, engine installed, radiator on and carbs (dual Webers) on - fit is perfect.

Looks good.

Question.

On the carburetor it looks like the JCWhitney type fuel pressure regulator. If so, I recommend, and I'm sure others with experience will add to it, to get a proper regulator?Holley, etc. Or a facet electric low pressure pump. They make one for aircraft that produces 30 gph and around 2 1/2 psi for under 35 dollar.

Totally agree. First time that knob thingie changes itself to 5 or 6 PSI and gas starts pouring out the carb throats you'll understand. Hope the engine is cold and the electrical connections are good... I've seen more'n one of 'em make a right mess of an otherwise nice car.

Thanks for the tip - it came with the carbs - an upgrade sure sounds like cheap insurance ...

Youbetcha.

Long overdue for an update

Its got a face! Well sort of - finished off fabricating the headlight bar. Just the rear half of the shells are mounted. Just need to wire them up, fabricate a header, install ignition module and coil, attached bodywork, get a drive shalf, etc, etc, etc. Did get the fuel lines run, tank in, distributor on, horns in, radiator on, steering column wired.



Got a pile more pics here: http://flickr.com/photos/daveseven/sets/72157594420123373/

Recently I've got the fuel lines run, steering column wired, light bar fabricated, seat belt brackets, etc. Still needs brake lines, ignition module and a little bit more of wiring. Then the body panels go on for good. Hopefully done before Christmas. Before March for sure.

The rims are Minilite copies called Superlights - 14" size. I also have a much lighter set of 13" rims that sort of look like Minilites but I'll need longer studs on the rear axle to use them.

Rear fenders on for good now. Fiddly to mount right.



Windshield mounting.



These supports are thick and kind of ugly but I had them so they go on for now. They were really tough to bend without scratching up. Eventually I'd like to go with Brooklands screens but they aren't legal for the initial inspection.

Looking good! Nice progress there.

So close.....so close

Well closer. Still a decent chunk wiring, driveshalf, exhaust, and billion little things. But closer.

inching closer. Wiring is almost done. Just gauges left. Exhaust is being picked up this week. I still need to drastically modify it. Bodywork being attached for good next week. Hope to be finished in a month or so.

Looking great!

That thing is gonna be a blast to drive!

& everything fits under the hood?

Looks like it. The inlet runners on that head are shorter than the ones on the original twin-cam. Those cars had to have a big oval hole in the bonnet for Weber accommodation.

Everything just fits under the hood. Fighting with how to do the exhaust. No room. If I had a right hand drive car it would be no problem but its just so tight in there. My latest though was to use this header by cutting it and putting about 8" of header pipe to connect to the engine. The manifold would hang of the side - still not sure if it will look ok or not. Probably help with under hood temperatures.

"Look okay"?!?! Holy cow! Go for it! Only "downside" will be the compromise with the bonnet rigidity. Mebbe a length of square aluminium tubing to run below it after fitting the bonnet, held onto the thing with Dzus fasteners at both ends?