The M.G. Locost Workshop Manual
Last updated February 25, 2013
Throughout this build log you may
have seen a few references or allusions to an M.G. Locost workshop manual. You might assume, due to the somewhat flippant nature of
these allusions and the build log in general, that said workshop manual was merely a fictional tome, another
figment of our warped imagination, and didn't actually exist. And in our estimation that assumption would be
totally justified. In this particular case, however, you would be wrong. We do in fact have such a manual, and
it is attached below as a .pdf file.
We're pretty sure we didn't need to write a workshop manual for our Locost. We figured that any issues we
had with the car could always be resolved by referring to the build log. But where's the fun in that? Our
workshop manual not only organizes all of our build information into a more coherent and easy-to-find format,
but it was put together in that unique British style that gave us hours and hours of writing enjoyment. Besides, if we
ever sold our Locost, we're certain the availability of an actual workshop manual would add at least
ten or fifteen dollars to the purchase price.
It's not a huge manual. It's about fifty pages long, without illustrations. It needs illustrations of course,
but including them would require that we had some sort of talent in that area, or at least hundreds of hours
of spare time that we could devote to these illustrations. We could probably steal a lot of illustrations
off the Internet, including taking some directly from the myriad MGB workshop manuals that have already
been illegally copied to the Web. But we might get caught.
The manual in any case is not complete. Most of the information regarding parts of the car we
built and assembled is generally accurate. Most of the information regarding parts of the car we
took off the donor is guesswork. Some of it may be educated guesswork, but probably not. As we continue to learn
new and interesting features about our Locost, we'll continue to add them to the manual. So don't
go publishing any of it now. We'll let you know when it's done.
Download the Manual (293KB)
About
Our Locost
Our Build Plan
Building a Locost
Build Summary
Workshop Manual
Construction Manual
Non-Locost Stuff
Our Build Log
Phase I - First Steps
Construction Begins | August 1, 2011
Suspension Ideas | August 21, 2011
New Tools | September 3, 2011
Vacation Note | September 21, 2011
Suspension Work | October 1, 2011
Tapping | October 6, 2011
The New Jig | October 20, 2011
Drawing Board | October 24, 2011
New and Improved | October 31, 2011
Tap Lessons | November 6, 2011
The First Setback | November 9, 2011
Suspension Progress | November 12, 2011
The Plan | November 15, 2011
Suspension Brackets | November 17, 2011
Safety | November 21, 2011
The Nose Jig | November 28, 2011
Bushings | November 30, 2011
Frame Tubes | December 5, 2011
Inspiration | December 13, 2011
The Donor | December 19, 2011
Suspension Milestone | December 31, 2011
Rear Suspension | January 4, 2012
Frame Space | January 11, 2012
Phase II - The Donor
The Donor Arrives | January 14, 2012
Engine Work | January 19, 2012
Donor Woes | January 28, 2012
The Donor Lives | February 5, 2012
Back to Basics | February 11, 2012
Donor Thoughts | February 22, 2012
Radiator Testing | February 26, 2012
Last Drive of the Donor | March 1, 2012
Fitting the Engine | March 5, 2012
Restoring Parts | March 9, 2012
Dismantling the Donor | March 12, 2012
Pedal Box Engineering | March 18, 2012
Donor Milestone | March 23, 2012
Back to Building | March 27, 2012
Phase III - The Frame
Thoughts on Welding | April 5, 2012
First Actual Welding | April 11, 2012
Frame Building Begins | April 16, 2012
Frame Progress | April 20, 2012
The R-word | April 24, 2012
Transmission Tunnel | April 27, 2012
Frame Welding | April 30, 2012
Welding Continues | May 3, 2012
First Welding Setback | May 7, 2012
Basic Frame Completed | May 11, 2012
Suspension Brackets | May 15, 2012
Measure Twice | May 18, 2012
Back on Track | May 21, 2012
Chassis Details | May 26, 2012
Phase IV - Getting it Rolling
Pedal Issues | May 31, 2012
Steering Column | June 4, 2012
Steering Column Issues | June 9, 2012
Pedals are In | June 15, 2012
Suspension Progress | June 21, 2012
Aussie Mods | June 26, 2012
Installing the Radiator | June 30, 2012
Steering Directions | July 3, 2012
Last Frame Tubes | July 8, 2012
More Chassis Details | July 12, 2012
Putting on the Brakes | July 16, 2012
Nuts | July 21, 2012
Last of the Welding | July 26, 2012
One Year Ago | July 29, 2012
Framing the Scuttle | August 3, 2012
Panhard Setback | August 8, 2012
Grinding | August 12, 2012
Two Steps Forward | August 17, 2012
Scuttle Work | August 21, 2012
Steering Connections | August 25, 2012
The Build Table | August 29, 2012
Engine Installation | September 4, 2012
Restoration Work | September 10, 2012
Suspension Install | September 15, 2012
Chassis Assembly | September 19, 2012
Roller | September 23, 2012
Phase V - Getting it Running
Handbrake | September 26, 2012
Exhaust Ideas | September 29, 2012
Cooling | October 3, 2012
Dashboard Ideas | October 7, 2012
More Brackets | October 12, 2012
More Sheeting | October 16, 2012
Exhaust Work | October 21, 2012
Scuttle Parts | October 25, 2012
Tunnel Panels | October 29, 2012
Engine Removal | November 4, 2012
Welding Limits | November 8, 2012
Wiring Ideas | November 12, 2012
Tabs Everywhere | November 16, 2012
Sheet Metal | November 21, 2012
Firewalls | November 26, 2012
The Floor | November 30, 2012
Final Chassis Details | December 5, 2012
Little Projects | December 12, 2012
Lighting | December 19, 2012
Roll Bar | December 23, 2012
Wind Buffeting | December 29, 2012
Lowering the Bar | January 3, 2013
Weather Watch | January 8, 2013
Waiting Game | January 12, 2013
Aluminum Work | January 17, 2013
Seats | January 23, 2013
Dashboard Mount | January 28, 2013
Last of the Welding | February 2, 2013
More Pedals | February 7, 2013
Month of Painting | February 12, 2013
A Painted Chassis | February 17, 2013
Defrosting | February 22, 2013
Last of the Painting | February 27, 2013
Chassis Prep | March 4, 2013
Final Assembly | March 8, 2013
Brake Lines | March 12, 2013
Back on Wheels | March 17, 2013
Counting Down | March 22, 2013
Aluminum dashboard | March 27, 2013
Wiring Begins | March 31, 2013
Transmission | April 4, 2013
Bonnet | April 8, 2013
Drivetrain | April 13, 2013
Last Minute Items | April 17, 2013
Runner | April 19, 2013
Phase VI - Coachwork
Project Thoughts | April 24, 2013
Glove Box | April 29, 2013
Tuning | May 4, 2013
Final Plan | May 8, 2013
Veneering | May 12, 2013
Color Issues | May 16, 2013
Fuel System | May 20, 2013
Electricity | May 24, 2013
Building the Body | May 28, 2013
Lighting | June 1, 2013
Seating Positions | June 5, 2013
Bending Aluminum | June 10, 2013
Fitting Panels | June 15, 2013
Cooling | June 20, 2013
Headlights | June 24, 2013
Wings | June 29, 2013
Paint Prep | July 3, 2013
Interior Bits | July 8, 2013
Gray Primer | July 14, 2013
90% and Counting | July 20, 2013
Sanding | July 24, 2013
Year Three | July 29, 2013
Going Green | August 3, 2013
Light Work | August 8, 2013
Grill Work | August 13, 2013
Glossy | August 18, 2013
Phase VII - Getting it Registered
Final Details | August 23, 2013
Final Budget | August 28, 2013
Final Entries | September 2, 2013
Propshaft | September 6, 2013
Windshield | September 11, 2013
Electrics | September 16, 2013
Front Fenders | September 20, 2013
Seats | September 24, 2013
First Drive | September 28, 2013
Last Piece | October 3, 2013
Mods | October 8, 2013
Change of Plans | October 13, 2013
Weight | October 19, 2013
Cosmetic Changes | October 26, 2013
Updates | November 3, 2013
Inspections | November 10, 2013
SB100 | November 18, 2013
Almost Official | November 28, 2013
Final Mods | December 7, 2013
Waiting | December 15, 2013
Finally Cool | December 22, 2013
Long Drives | January 1, 2014
Repairs | January 8, 2014
Glove Box Redux | January 15, 2014
Body Work | January 22, 2014
Smog | January 28, 2014
Scoop | February 3, 2014
Brakes & Lights | February 10, 2014
30 Months Later | February 15, 2014
Phase VIII - On the Road
First Impressions | June 14, 2014
Commuting | September 12, 2014
Maintenance | October 12, 2014
Upgrades | January 19, 2015
Repairs | April 5, 2015
The Long Miles | May 26, 2015
Another First | June 23, 2015
Tinkering | July 23, 2015
Summer in the City | August 25, 2015
Car Shows | September 23, 2015
The Experiment | October 6, 2015
Superbowl Tour | October 25, 2015
The List | November 14, 2015
M.G. Clutches | November 27, 2015
20K Miles | December 20, 2015
Interior Redo | January 18, 2016
Exterior Redo | January 31, 2016
More Broken Parts | February 12, 2016
Cool Systems | March 31, 2016
Maker Faire Prep | April 29, 2016
Calibration | May 18, 2016
Electric Dreams | May 31, 2016
Structural Integrity | June 12, 2016
Noises | July 2, 2016
New Projects | July 27, 2016
Back to Welding | August 11, 2016
Bonnet 2.0 | August 24, 2016
It’s a Wrap | September 5, 2016
Phase IX - Refinements
Ten Years Ago | September 17, 2016
Clutch Revisited | September 29, 2016
Little Locosts | October 11, 2016
Stressing | October 25, 2016
Still Welding | November 8, 2016
Wheel Upgrades | January 31, 2017
Deja Suspension | February 26, 2017
Maker Faire Plans | April 30, 2017
Carbs Revisited | May 12, 2017
Wheels Revisted | June 9, 2017
Parts Car | July 3, 2017
Grip | July 24, 2017
Eclipsed | August 24, 2017
Longevity | September 14, 2017
Exhausting | September 27, 2017
Neglect | October 12, 2017
We Have Ignition | November 3, 2017
Exhaust 2.0 | December 4, 2017
Upcoming Projects | March 9, 2018
One Down | March 30, 2018
Still Driving | December 7, 2018
Maker Faire 2019 | March 24, 2019