Chassis and suspension geometry

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Feb 05, 10 12:34 pm

Don't go too daft on the slick size Ivor. Big slicks and short wheelbase always looks a bit unstable on the track to me. Like space hoppers some of them.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Feb 05, 10 12:36 pm

Cool, getting BIG slicks into a road car (with all the other gear) is a pain.

That's the main reason why a back halved car fails on the street unless you have a support vehicle to take all the stuff to the track...

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Fri Feb 05, 10 12:41 pm

Yep, I agree good plan!

I'm making some real progress on Rosie's resto now and it won't be too long before I can at last post some Barracuda stuff, the combination of rebuilding two cars at once together with making ure I can pay the wages over the past eighteen months has been a tough one, but I'm getting there.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Feb 05, 10 3:40 pm

Been thinking about this a bit today Ivor. I don't know what you are planning to do exactly, but if you are going to fit new front rails, chassis ties and move the back springs in, that's a lot of work. Why not just build a 2x3 box chassis, cut the bulkhead and centre of the floor out and weld the whole lot in , job done. I reckon it would end up a much better job, and would allow you to easily move the engine back a few inches for better weight distribution. You will have to cut the tunnel about anyway 'cos a 727 won't fit in an early car. You could also fit the outriggers exactly where you need them to weld the cage to. this would be very much in keeping with the way they used to build gassers, and would maximise your weight loss and generally cut down on compromises, just a thought....

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Fri Feb 05, 10 3:45 pm

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that way Blue!

I thought it would be cheating a bit, but it makes an awful lot of sense and doesn't rely on the full weight of the unibody construction to maintain the tortional rigidity of the car.

Thanks Blue, I'm getting that tingly feeling again when I was about to start rebuilding the Road Runner...

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Feb 05, 10 3:53 pm

I agree with Dunc there is always a compromise to be made with a road race car, try nipping down to Asda with a 1000 hoursepower and a 5500 stall (mind you Mark manages it in the Cuda.)
And Brutus weighs in at 4300 with driver and a stack of Dorris Day cd's

GTXJim · Post by **GTXJim** » Fri Feb 05, 10 5:52 pm

Best post in ages

a proper discussion about cars and racing

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Fri Feb 05, 10 5:54 pm

Knightcharger wrote:I agree with Dunc there is always a compromise to be made with a road race car, try nipping down to Asda with a 1000 hoursepower and a 5500 stall (mind you Mark manages it in the Cuda.)
And Brutus weighs in at 4300 with driver and a stack of Dorris Day cd's

tell you what brutus dont half carry the weight well and he,s not all that tall

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Feb 05, 10 6:08 pm

It would seem the best and quickest way is to skin the car.
Gerry did that with the Roadrunner and then plonked it on a tube chassis.
Best way to get rid of the damn torsion bars as well.

I was in Hausers today looking at a radical '55.

I think the total kit for the struts (minus PS rack) was £1600 + vat. Saves a lot of grief and a lot of weight. And streetable

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Fri Feb 05, 10 6:19 pm

Pete wrote:It would seem the best and quickest way is to skin the car.
Gerry did that with the Roadrunner and then plonked it on a tube chassis.
Best way to get rid of the damn torsion bars as well.

I was in Hausers today looking at a radical '55.

I think the total kit for the struts (minus PS rack) was £1600 + vat. Saves a lot of grief and a lot of weight. And streetable

yep but you then got an all out racecar,

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Feb 05, 10 6:26 pm

Boyd Cloddington does it that way using aftermarket Chassis, and HE does NOT build race cars

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Feb 05, 10 6:57 pm

Pete wrote:Boyd Cloddington does it that way using aftermarket Chassis, and HE does NOT build race cars

He used to God rest his soul

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Feb 05, 10 6:58 pm

I am certain the brand continues, would not want a small thing like death to come in the way of a healthy profit

TrevD · Post by **TrevD** » Fri Feb 05, 10 7:16 pm

ivor, if you want to go the tube frame route it isnt that hard (once you stand back and take a deap breath) my kit came from http://www.swracecars.com/ realy helpfull before and after i bought it. i now have the plans so could build myself another one if i had a mandrel bender to bend the tube.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Feb 05, 10 7:31 pm

Slippery slope time