Locost - Budget Saab B204 build

[shandylegs]

Managed to tick a few of the remaining jobs off.

Had a bit of a headache with trims for the headlights not fitting. It’s almost as if they drilled the fixings in the wrong place (wibblepoo repro stuff). A couple more holes and some self tappers got it sorted.

I’ve had an early grille kicking around for a few years. It was a bit battered so I had a bit of play around and quite like the outcome. Not to everyone’s taste, but replacements are silly money so it can stay for now. I also have the chrome surround but I’m still unsure if it would look right, or if I should just leave it painted.

Uprated front springs finally arrived and the car now sits much better.

Starting point:


Springs fitted:


Sits just about right to keep it useable. Feels better on the road but it’s still not right. It’s very skittish and does not feel at all planted on ghe road. Think it’s a combination of old shocks and the fact I haven’t even had the tracking checked yet.

Just suspension work, a couple of bits of trim and the speedo still to sort.













N.B. MoT also passed!

[shandylegs]

Put the Midget up for sale at the weekend. Advertised Saturday evening and it was sold by 10:00 Sunday morning. Either I fell very lucky, or I undervalued it somewhat 😂.

After owning it for 13 years I’m surprisingly not that bothered it has gone - gives me a few pennies in the bank to either get started on the kit car I’ve been sat on for two years, or look for something else (my favourite bit).

[flyingphil]

Nice to see the progress, it is very shiny!
If you are not replacing the front "rubber" bumper, then you can swap onto the 1275 front springs which give a lower ride height ( or chop a coil or two from the 1500 spring and reprofile the cut end).

[shandylegs]

One door closes and another opens!

I’ve owned a few kit cars in the past. Generally sh*tting in the shallow end, buying abandoned projects or cars that needed work. After finishing the last one I said I’d not do another until I could afford something decent like a Caterham or Westfield. But mainly something that didn’t need loads of work (I think you can see where this is going 🤣)

Anyway, a couple of years ago something caught my eye at a decent price. With the ongoing Midget build I knew I couldn’t devote and real time to another project - so i bought it anyway and stashed it away…until now.

It’s a GTS Wide. Quite a rare kit that was well designed and decent quality. However, it appeared the manufacturer had some very poor business practices, leading to the company closing.

By it’s name it’s a bit bigger than the usual Locost builds, which suits me at 6’3” and 17 stone. But also helps with the engine bay being a little bigger, meaning a greater engine choice. The plan is circa 600kg and 3-350hp which should keep things interesting

It’s still going to be a budget build as I just don’t want to plough £10-15k into something that’s only ever going to be a weekend toy.


Collected a couple of years ago

[shandylegs]

As this will be the last 7 I build, I wanted something properly quick.

I looked at a few engine choices from Jaguar v6, rover v8, Zetec turbo etc… In the end I settled on a Saab, B204 or 234. It a proven engine with loads of knowledge out there, but not common in kit cars. I managed to fall on a complete rwd package. I’ll need to revise the mounts and the sump to suit rwd isn’t the best, but it’s a good start.








Currently running around 270hp but there’s plenty of scope to up this post IVA.

[shandylegs]

I actually started tearing it apart last night (not that there was much to start with), then my phone battery died.

Safely stored:





The main difference with the GTS is it uses a De Dion rear suspension set-up. It supposed to be a halfway house between a live axle and IRS.

[shandylegs]

I know this car had been through a couple of owners in it’s life and luckily never progressed too far. The first and main thing I found is that the old pedal set-up had been hacked out in favour of a generic bias pedal box.

I removed the thin tin plate that had been pot riveted on and some thin wall box tube that had been welded in badly. There is no way it could’ve took the pressure of someone stamping on the brakes.









Someone had also made a bit of a mess cutting through the bottom of the chassis. Off came the front wishbones and side panel to allow me to weld this and redundant rivet holes up. Leaving me with a blank canvass.










I’ve just ordered in some 3mm plate and thick wall box section to make a slightly stronger mount.

I don’t think there have been too many other ‘modifications’ made. There’s just a pile of parts to sort through that came with the car.

[grizz]

It is always good when you discover the bodges, weak points etc early on, and can repair them before progressing too far.

I am watching every move you make, as the song goes.

Silly power to mass ratios rock, mostly.

[mat88]

Bookmarked for the inspiration (not that I need any encouragement to make stuff do Choo Choo noises) 😂

A slightly larger version, that would be handy as at 6'2 and 17 stone the tiger is a bit erm... Snug 🙈

[shandylegs]

Had a couple of weeks away in North Devon. Came very close to buying a bucket list car (long story but a TVR v8 wedge). However, a 2 hour traffic jam long and a normally understanding wife meant it just didn’t happen! In hindsight it was probably a good idea as I really didn’t need another car needing work.

Now back home and with a few days left of the holiday I’ve had a couple of days working on the GTS. I’d previously been concentrating in the pedal box and have got as far as mocking up and cutting the panels required.







With a little thought I’ve paused this. The original plan was a dry build, then strip down, blast and re-powder coated frame. I’ve now sacked this off as it just won’t work. I’m going to start on the rear of the car and work forward in stages.

I’ve completely stripped of all bodywork and have been prepping the back of the car for paint. Powder coat is great but even though this car has never even seen the road, rust had got in underneath in a couple of places.







Fingers crossed and it will be in paint tomorrow, then I can concentrate on cleaning the de-deon axle, diff and rear callipers.

[ToolsnTrack]

Another Locost build on here? How did I miss that!

Fantastic, will go like a stabbed rat with that lump in it.

Eagerly awaiting further updates...

[shandylegs]

Aug 19, 2022 11:34:55 GMT ToolsnTrack said:

Eagerly awaiting further updates...

Nothing interesting for a few weeks/months, just a load of cleaning, welding and painting (my favourite jobs…..not). Never painted with anything other than cellulose and that was many years ago. It’s on but I may just have seen better come out of the workshop 😂.

Three days of sanding and prep and my poor office boy hands are proper trashed 🙀

[Darkspeed]

A GTS Panther - The Darren George saga on Locostbuilders kept many of us entertained for years - many tears shed and teeth ground to nubs by builders of those.

Scraping off powder coat and painting - Good move -even if it is a RPITA to do.

[shandylegs]

Yes, I was there at the time. Royally p*seed off a good few people (quite rightly so).

A bit of a shame, as having built or had involvement with most of the competitors on offer at that point, the GTS was not too bad of a product.

[ToolsnTrack]

Certainly looks the part. I'm at the same stage but tempted to just brush on the Frost Chassis black.

[Badger]

Aug 23, 2022 7:04:29 GMT ToolsnTrack said:

Certainly looks the part. I'm at the same stage but tempted to just brush on the Frost Chassis black.

In my experience so far be prepared to need to repaint whatever is on the underside. Between a garage slope that slightly scrapes one part of the chassis and stuff thrown up from the road, this winter I need to give the underside a good clean and repaint. To be fair I just used black smooth Hammerite

[Darkspeed]

Aug 23, 2022 7:04:29 GMT ToolsnTrack said:

Certainly looks the part. I'm at the same stage but tempted to just brush on the Frost Chassis black.

A small foam roller produces a better looking and more even finish

[shandylegs]

Aug 19, 2022 11:34:55 GMT ToolsnTrack said:

Another Locost build on here? How did I miss that!

Fantastic, will go like a stabbed rat with that lump in it.

Eagerly awaiting further updates...

I’ve been following you on Youtube for a while now and always look forward to an update - good viewing!

[shandylegs]

Nearly there with the back end. Diff reinstalled, axle and driveshafts painted.



Callipers were previously new, but 10+ years of being stood had taken it’s toll. Comprehensive refurbishment has now taken place 😂

[OGDB]

Huge fan of these. I am actually building a later style Mk2 car with the SSC amendments guide. That’s bright orange as well!

Great idea on the B204, I really like these engines despite having never owned one. I have read through the Saab forums and there is a lot of appeal to them. However they seem to be thin on the ground and when they do pop up they seem rather expensive. Currently mine is being built on an MX-5 donor, I was hoping to retain an age related plate, however once the IVA is done I think it might be either a 20VT or B204 mated to an RX8 gearbox.

The huge amount of Locost options is so appealing. There is no such thing as right or wrong!