Custom wiring for Ford based Locost

[bluetester]

Hi there, i'm in a bit of a tangle, i've bought an injection Locost from a 2.0 Granada and the wiring loom is completely mucked up so i'm changing the EFi into twin webbers
But i'm trying to set up a custom wiring to get it running (forgetting lights etc. at the moment.
The first problem i have is the alternator, it has 3 terminals labelled W D B (B has a thick red wires attached and has been cut everything else is a mystery)
Has anyone a good knowledge of these alternators?

Second part is my wiring, this is how i've planned it all out (thought i'd ask around before fully committing)>>>

Battery > Fue pump > dash switch/cut off > to negative
Battery > coil > ingition switch > negative
Battery > starter > push start > negative
Battery > ignition switch > alternator > (regulator ?) > battery

I think that's right but i'm not 100%...if needs be i'll try and find someone that will make custom wiring for it.
Thanks
Nathan

[thescamper]

B goes to the Bat+ to charge.

D is a positive feed from the ign switch, via the charge light on the dash.

W I think is for a radio suppressor.


I believe that is correct.

Try Locost builders site or Google it as I did.

Edited by thescamper on Thursday 14th October 14:16

[singlecoil]

I assume you have bought a Locost car and it is fitted with a twin cam, 8 valve engine from a Granada?

I would advise finding the problem with the wiring and sorting it. The injection system works very well on those cars and is superior to twin webers.

From your description of how you intend to wire it, I think you would be much better off, if you wish to replace the injection, ecu and associated wiring, by buying a generic Sierra based loom from Premier for about £120 and rewiring properly following the instructions they provide.

[bluetester]

I tried googling it but failed to find anything with those letters. But thanks anyway. So the radio would be ignored in my circumstances?

It's apparently a 16V someone told me from a car parts shop when i picked up a belt for the alaternator? It's unclear as i have random docs from the car and everything isn't full. That's why my other option was a Pinto OHC with a type 9 box (i'm much more familiar with).

I have everything to convert to carb exceot the wiring (i've owned Capri's in the past and started collecting parts...as you do So a Sierra loom would sort all my problems? I don't mind spending if it ensires me a solid and simple wiring loom that will let the engine run nicley.

[Steve_D]

It seems to me, from your list of how you want to do the wiring, that you do not know about car electrics as what you are suggesting is all about face.

As has been suggested get a loom from premier and study it and the instructions very carefully before you connect anything up.

Steve

[bluetester]

You're quite right Steve, the weakest point with me and cars is the electronics.
I have looked into the website and sent an e-mail hoping they will hopefully sort my problem out, as i have no wiring company near me what-so-ever! They seem like a good shout and they have a 'Contact us by phone' number which i can explain my situation accurately.
Thanks very much.
You wouldn't know a company that balances prop shafts as well would you? The one i recieved with the car deserves nothing more than to be either paper weight or scrap.
Nathan

[singlecoil]

Whether the engine will run smoothy or not will depend on how well the Webers are set up for it (rolling road needed for this) and the condition of the engine itself.

I still think you would be better off to locate the existing fault and run it on the original efi. If you are determined to proceed with the conversion then I reaslly think you are going to need some on the spot help from someone who knows about this stuff. The Premier loom is the one I use myself, and AFAIK it's the best one out there, but I wouldn't describe fitting one as straightforward unless you already have some experience in these matters.

[bluetester]

I have all my idle speed, dash, steering colum and the multi plug on the right hand side of the engine sorted. But i have a second multiplug on the poassenger side still with nothing. I also have nothing to do with the coil except the main one that goes to the dizzy.
Somehow i have headlight and rear light sorted.
I've tried using the Haynes manual but just get lost in the sea of wires.

[singlecoil]

Has the engineever run properly? If yes, then find the fault and rectify it. If no, then things could well be more difficult. How long have you owned the car, what is its history? What is its value? Did you buy it as a non-runner, are you building it yourself?

We would like to help but we need a lot more information from you to be effective.

[bluetester]

The car ran but was an MoT failure due to suspension mount and sills rusted away, engine ndone 140k The previous owner stripped it all and transfered the engine into the chassis. If it was me every single wire would of been allocated its own label. P.S., the wiring came in two recycling boxes all tangled. Literally nothing was connected.

[singlecoil]

It's not looking good, I must say. If you can't find someone knowledgeable with this stuff to help you, then maybe the Premier loom and the Webers are the way to go. The Premier loom doesn't come with an actual diagram, which is ok, but a comprehensive list of which colour wire goes where instead. If you go that route I would suggest laying the loom out ontop of the car first amd making sure you have it routed properly, then connect it up like that and make sure everything works, and if and when it does, install it properly. All the wires are overlength so you have plenty of extra to play with.

If this car is going for an IVA test then you will need to make a neat job of it too.

[thescamper]

bluetester said:

You wouldn't know a company that balances prop shafts as well would you? The one i recieved with the car deserves nothing more than to be either paper weight or scrap.
Nathan

Try HERE have used them B4.

[bluetester]

The only way i could sort this out is to find another EFi granada and try and copy the engine loom exact (looking where all the wires go and which ones look like each other using my current loom) but that doesn't seem logical as i don't know anyone with either a sierra or a granada.
So i'm afraid carb is the only way, but never the less thank you for trying to help. Yes I will need to get it through an SVA test. Is it only online or is there a special book which lists everything?

Thanks, i'll contact them with the prop.

[singlecoil]

Have you already bought the Webers? If not, have you looked into how much they and all the other bits you will need (such as manifold, mounting kit, throttle cable and linkage) cost? You will need to add the cost of getting them set up, unless you buy them ready-jetted for your application AND the jetting is correct.

I know you find the wiring diagrams daunting, but if you discard the EFI it comes with then that reluctance to sort the wiring out is going to cost you a LOT of money, and there is still the danger that you may not pass the emission test with the carburettors, and the engine certainly isn't going to run as smoothly as it would on the EFI.


And it's IVA now, not SVA. There's a link to the current manual at the top of the kit car forum page. You might be able to buy a copy, but if you've got Adobe Reader on your computer, why bother, plus they do update it quite often.

[Comadis]

for me it sounds typical :

"i bought a locost, because it cost low. my skills in eletcricity nor injection are best, so injectionsystem must go. funds are tight, so even a kitcar specific wiring loom for a few quid can´t be afforded"

best is your idea how to wire the fuel-pump.

most peole may do it like that, but its totally wrong.


only as a hint: what happens during an accident...engine is off and something caught fire...what happens?

Edited by Comadis on Friday 15th October 21:42

[thescamper]

Comadis said:

for me it sounds typical :

"i bought a locost, because it cost low. my skills in eletcricity nor injection are best, so injectionsystem must go. funds are tight, so even a kitcar specific wiring loom for a few quid can´t be afforded"

best is your idea how to wire the fuel-pump.

most peole may do it like that, but its totally wrong.


only as a hint: what happens during an accident...engine is off and something caught fire...what happens?

Edited by Comadis on Friday 15th October 21:42

Aaah Mr Perfect aka Comadis has joined the discussion, is it your poor english skills or do you deliberately set out to belittle everybody.

[Comadis]

i think your native language is english...mine not...and i think you arent able to speak even 10words of my native language...nor the 3(!!) other foreign languages i´m able to speak or understand

Edited by Comadis on Sunday 17th October 11:43

[singlecoil]

thescamper said:

Comadis said:

for me it sounds typical :

"i bought a locost, because it cost low. my skills in eletcricity nor injection are best, so injectionsystem must go. funds are tight, so even a kitcar specific wiring loom for a few quid can´t be afforded"

best is your idea how to wire the fuel-pump.

most peole may do it like that, but its totally wrong.


only as a hint: what happens during an accident...engine is off and something caught fire...what happens?

Edited by Comadis on Friday 15th October 21:42

Aaah Mr Perfect aka Comadis has joined the discussion, is it your poor english skills or do you deliberately set out to belittle everybody.

Bit of a slip-up there, did you not look at his profile?

Anyway, he has made his point rather firmly, but it's perfectly valid for all that.

[thescamper]

Actually Singlecoil I did look at his profile just to see if he had built a car himself, there have been a number of occasions where Comadis 'the perfect' has asked questions that are decidedly amateur, but he seems to think that everyone else should be fully qualified to build a kitcar, we all started somewhere and we all hopefully had someone who ensured that our mistakes weren't going to kill anyone.

I hope the original poster has not been put off and although his knowledge about fuel injection and electrics is possibly poor he should not be belittled into not asking for help because that in my book is just bullying and is deplorable.

And Comadis you are correct I dont speak German ( I failed the exam at school had to do the course but didn't see the point), but I do speak Swedish, Gaelic and French and am reasonably fluent in foul too.

[bluetester]

thanks to everyone...but the reason i asked is i havebn't a clue about electronics (hence why i asked before even cutting a wire). Engine wise i can rebuild an engine with my eyes closed But one thing is i wasn;t going to bodge it...have a family and value my life a little more than that.

Back to the point... i have everything to convert to carb (previous old/racing cars parts been picked up). But who would i contact and say 'help....i have this box of wiring cablea and this part build kit car' any dealer? garage? kit car building company?