I had a 70-something Volaré for awhile. I kinda dug it, in spite of its mediocrity.
Can I do this?
Well, probably, if you’re a decently-abled mechanic and have a reasonable knowledge of the basic workings of an automobile. Actually, the best thing to have during this process is a good sense of organization. You’ll be dealing with a bunch of little bits and pieces that were designed to go in one car that are now about to go on a completely different car. A digital camera would be an excellent tool to add to your box, as would the usual assortment of plastic bins and bags and Sharpie markers. A written or even video journal could help you put back together things you once took apart, as well.
Aside from those warnings, yes, you probably can do this. Maybe the most important thing to have when starting a project like this is the determination to finish it. If you have that, you’re probably in good shape.
What’s up with the rear end?
A lot has been said about the rear end in the Miata-Locost, or, rather, the shortcomings of the rear end. Here’s the deal: In the initial Miata-Locost frames, there was no real provision for proper rear end locating hardware. In our car, this led to the failure of the pinion gear and a floppy rear end, which is great for a bachelor party, but less so for a sports car. Subsequent versions produced by CMC have the provision for more positively locating the rear end and supposedly work much better.
A properly located rear end is important not only to the reliability, but to the performance of thse cars. The Miata is equipped with a substantial powerplant frame that locates the rear end for just this reason. As the Locost is considerably shorter and narrower, use of the stock frame is not possible (though one builder supposedly modified his Locost frame to accept a modified Mazda PPF), but a suitable locator must be used just the same.
In our case, we had BSI Racing fabricate a pair of heim-jointed rods that attach to a cross piece welded to the diff housing and transfer the load forward to the bottom of the frame. Their beefy enough to take a lot more power than we are giving it currently, but it’s good to have durability in reserve.
What kind of wheels and tires fit?
Stock Miata wheels and tires should work fine. A 14 x 5.5 or 6 wheel with a 185 or 195/60-14 should fit under the stock fenders fine. We found a set of Miata wheels with some 205/55-14s mounted on them and had a little trouble getting them to clear the rear fender lips. Five minutes with a power sander fixed that, though. If you’d like to go to 15-inch wheels, you’ll have a little more trouble. The fronts are fine, as the fenders move with the wheels, but the rears are very tight. We’ve heard of owners spacing the fenders out from the body, or grinding copious amounts off of the fender lips to get the tires under the car.
Is it street legal?
Depending on what state you live in, you should be able to make a Locost street legal. In Florida, all we need are a windscreen, some lights, and seatbelts. Other states are tougher, but your local DMV should be able to give you a list of what you’ll need to be legal. You’ll also get an MSO (manufacturer’s statement of origin) with the kit, so that will serve as the document you’ll need to get your title.
So it’s street legal, is it fun on the street?*
If looking up at the undercarriage of Honda Accords is fun, then yes, it’s fun. As a daily driver, call us spoiled, but we demand a little more creature comforts and safety than a car that’s about the size of a large motorcycle can provide for daily use. As a once-in-a-while blast to the beach or the cruise-in kind of thing, though, it’s perfectly fine. Don’t forget, even though it has fenders, you’ll still get pelted with a lot of crap from the front wheels. Always wear proper eye protection in one of these things.
I had a 70-something Volaré for awhile. I kinda dug it, in spite of its mediocrity.
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