I should not have sold my miata.
fixed!

 

That car looks... mighty slow, lol!

 

Anyone got a link to the model with a subaru drivetrain?

 

I dont think any are driving yet.

BTW i get to pull the motor again this week, yay!

 

What happened this time?

 

install thermostat flaps and headgaskets to drop the compression a tad. Apparently the thermostat flaps are important, without them they oil cooler is bypassed entirely. Freaking engine builder fails again.

 

You don't really need the oil cooler on an oil cooled motor...

 

Is it difficult to get a car like this registered for the street?

I am assuming its titled as a kit car, similar to how Lotus 7 replicas get titled. Need to have all the paperwork showing where the majority of the parts came from, file it, and have it inspected.

 

Its different for every state, but yes mine is titled as a lotus 7 replica. It was easy for me since it was a title transfer.

 

1.6 dawgg. I'll make a build thread soon.

 

Any working website for this kit car?

 

www.speedinc.us Custom EXO Cars

 

Is that your car on the website or another black/ lime one?

 

My car. I am not pleased with that dude right this second.

 

That's awesome.

I wish I had the mechanical ability to figure out how to build a car from scratch like that. I cant even begin to imagine how hard it would be to get the wheels to align properly.

 

In NYS, it's nearly impossible. You have to meet current safety regulations. That means bumpers, and the whole 9 yards. Many a locost has been left hanging because of this.

The simple solution is to cheat. (Sad comentary that our gov't forces you to break the law to be compliant with the law.) You register the donor vehicle, get plates and insure it. Now you get it inspected. If it's a salvage, you go through that process.

Then tear it apart, make your car, and continue on with the current registration. Inspections, especially on pre OBDII cars are fairly simple (brakes, lights, seatbelts, wipers, horn), so it's relatively easy to pass. Once you get that second inspection, you're golden. After that you are grandfathered - hey, it passed before!

 

Depending on how far you tear it apart if you are left with nothing from the original, not even the firewall you are basically driving a car with plates that belong to something else. Even if you "passed" inspection, it can't be remotely legal.

 

Usually, for these types of cars, the complete rolling chassis is used. Drivetrain, suspension, brakes and associated bits. Many locost have been built transplanting the entire rear subframe into the new car.

No, it's not technically legal, but it's about the only way to get a locost on the roads around here. And frankly, most locost cars are going to be maintained better, so are safer and probably polute less, too. Certainly greener than a clapped out 80's pickup. But those you have no problem registering.

Hint: it ain't about safety or emissions, it is all about revenue for the state. Keep paying, and they really don't care.

 

Back in the day here in illinois they used to do emissions testing on rollers at different speeds and everything.. a test took about 20-30 minutes. I think in 06 they said that costs too much money since they have to pay labor so they stopped emissions completely and only made it a requirement for OBD2 gasoline vehicles (electrics and diesel are exempt). It takes 5 minutes to test an OBD2 car. They turn off the car, turn it on record the mileage and test the fuel cap to ensure its not leaking, then plug in the computer to check for codes and you're out. Not even 5 minutes.

Less money spent on labor more money for the state to buy other ----.. although i dont see anything new .

 

Got the axles and three bolts left before we wrestle the lump out.



Even made time for a junk yard trip for the Miata! Clean dash and 'close enough' fender.