Track 240Z

[Throttleton]

Update.

Subframe chassis is now almost complete. We need to attach the front wing tip mounts/ bonnet hinge plate area but apart from that done

Access panels to the top of the frame drilled/tapped and fitted with Allen head bolts.

Tie rod/radius mounts and chassis drop down plates now welded in place.

Gussets welded in high load areas.

More gussets

Strut top plates

Close up of tie rod mounts.

Side mounts welded in place.

The little bolts are just for allignment reasons and will be replaced with 12mm HT bolts.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Well done. Looks nice.

Are you going to add some triangulation to the front? You could sell it to convert to a double wishbone setup too

Keep up the good work.

 

[zbloke]

You could sell it to convert to a double wishbone setup too

Now that would be a step in the right direction when it comes down to controlling suspension geometry

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Great progress Craig .

It's looking strong but I suspect a bit heavy - better that way than the other though.

As mentioned, with that type of structure it can be modified to accept non-standard suspension systems at a later date if desired.

It'll be satisfying when you are at the rolling chassis stage.

Keep us informed please.

 

[Throttleton]

Thanks guys.
The subframe weighs in at 55 kilos and the new tubs about 100 kilos, which is a decent saving without compromising anything.
Might as well have a game of 'guess the final weight'
Winner gets a panel of there choice half price.
All f/g panels and plastic glass.
Stripped interior but will have a roll hoop fitted.
Pic below is of the suspension Stephen will build for me, if anyone thinks it's a bad idea/set up please say so as I am not that clued up in this area.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

I tried 'helper' springs in my spaceframe car. Ended up with a proper linear rate spring as there's so much to think about using a twin rate setup and the handling was much more progressive, however if you can get it to work it should be good.

Is that set-up designed to bolt into a stock car?

How much are you selling the tubs for?

 

[Rob Gaskin]

So you are allowed to stand your suspension on the coffee table then - I'm impressed

I've never seen those 'flat' springs, can't really comment but perhaps a good idea in a light car.

 

[Dale]

Might as well have a game of 'guess the final weight'

As I wild stab, I'm gonna say.....erm.......726.8kg.

 

[Throttleton]

Franky those springs etc are what my mate Stephen built for our track Pug 106. The plan is to build a set similar to fit my car.
The shells are £3900 minus club discount.
Rob thats Stephens coffee table, no room on mine as it has a cylinder head on it
726.8 kilos Dale....that is very specific, do you know something I don't
On a different note Dale I've noticed where you live (not to far from me and Stephen lives in Newcastle) If we needed any measurements or pictures would you mind if we had a look at your car sometime?? Would save us going down the country if that would be ok?

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I reckon 850 kg with one seat and harness, oil level at max and windscreen washer bottle half full .

Have a great Christmas Craig (and Stephen), I really enjoyed meeting you both at Zedfest!

 

[Throttleton]

Thanks Rob you as well mate and everyone else for that matter
A quick question for you and the boffins.
The rear diff hanger... the ends of the main beam across the car uses tapered bolts with a bush and the diff hanger itself uses bushes also to locate.
Has anyone done away with these?? I don't like the look of it at all and I am considering solid mounts. I have no worries over the shell in these areas but am a bit concerned these bushes are in place to protect the mechanical side of things from being unduly affected.
Any advice much appreciated.

 

[pmac]

Thanks guys.
The subframe weighs in at 55 kilos and the new tubs about 100 kilos, which is a decent saving without compromising anything.
Might as well have a game of 'guess the final weight'
Winner gets a panel of there choice half price.
All f/g panels and plastic glass.
Stripped interior but will have a roll hoop fitted.
Pic below is of the suspension Stephen will build for me, if anyone thinks it's a bad idea/set up please say so as I am not that clued up in this area.

I am not clued up either and hence im not qualified to say whether its a good. bad or indifferent set up.
However I am curious as to why Stephen has selected what appears to be a failrly long travel spring on what is allegedly a track car set up.?

 

[Rob Gaskin]

A quick question for you and the boffins.
The rear diff hanger... the ends of the main beam across the car uses tapered bolts with a bush and the diff hanger itself uses bushes also to locate.
Has anyone done away with these?? I don't like the look of it at all and I am considering solid mounts. I have no worries over the shell in these areas but am a bit concerned these bushes are in place to protect the mechanical side of things from being unduly affected.
Any advice much appreciated.

Solid might be too harsh especially on a FG car. Have a look at Zedhead260's Refurb Project Thread from post 60.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

I am not clued up either and hence im not qualified to say whether its a good. bad or indifferent set up.
However I am curious as to why Stephen has selected what appears to be a failrly long travel spring on what is allegedly a track car set up.?

It looks like normal springs with helper springs on top, so it looks like longer springs(all IMO)

 

[Throttleton]

I'll need to check with Stephen before I make a sensible comment but as Franky said ( and Rob) the black/blue coils differ from each other in regard to there x-section. The long travel thought may not be the case if the springs work differently but compliment each other. I really need some more info.....

 

[Throttleton]

I'll check out Zedheads thread Rob.
'Harsh' is to vague... harsh on the shell / harsh on the mechanicals or harsh on the back!!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I'll check out Zedheads thread Rob.
'Harsh' is to vague... harsh on the shell / harsh on the mechanicals or harsh on the back!!

All 3 I reckon. I would think you'd get vibration from the transmission, shock loads from the driveshafts when on bumpy surfaces and the diff also tries to lift at the front when transmitting power - all that will be fed into the shell. My car is standard and works ok.

 

[Dale]

726.8 kilos Dale....that is very specific, do you know something I don't

Yeah, I built one out of FRP and that's how much mine weighs. No, I made what was probably a bad guess that the steel shell and panels might be about 40% of the total weight of a standard car and deducted 80% of that as the weight saving of FRP. Like I said, a bit of a stab.

On a different note Dale I've noticed where you live (not to far from me and Stephen lives in Newcastle) If we needed any measurements or pictures would you mind if we had a look at your car sometime?? Would save us going down the country if that would be ok?

We've already talked about how I'm fairly close to you Craig, but yeah, you're welcome to look over the car if it helps. Since it failed its MOT two years ago I haven't touched it, so I will probably need to get it moving so you can get proper access around it. That could well motivate me to do it though Maybe I shouldn't have spent all that money on the 350?

 

[tel240z]

Craig as far i can gather them flat cross section springs are designed to just stop the main spring from rattling about in its perches when the suspension is on rebound (fully extended) i have fitted quite a few of these type to vw's and similar hatchbacks, when the weight is on the wheels the smaller spring nearly compreses completely so don't really do anything as far as suspension goes, i am not saying that the units that you have posted pictures of are low quallity but there seem to be plenty availiable on e-bay like them very cheap, IMO of course

 

[tel240z]

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