Project X71, reheating Stampie's leftovers(FCFC)

barefootskater (Shaun) said:

I'm not disappointed by the progress, but I'm disappointed by the lack of pictures of Bob laying down on the job. 

Bob was comforting wife yesterday. 

Spent some time digging out snow in front of my building so I could get back to working on the main hoop today. I built boxing plates for the top of the LCA mounts with a return flange underneath to improve strength and stiffening. I probably should have taken a couple pics before they were installed...

And here is the main hoop standing on its own

You need to stop posting pictures of your welds.  It's such a casual flex when those perfect chassis welds are just in the background of what your making.   Like they aren't even the focus.  You can't even tell they are there.  Unless you look real close.  But they are.  They taunt me.  With their symetry and perfect undercut less fusion.  

I mean..  Progress looks great.  I'm going to shame grind my welds now.  

just a teaser until tomorrow 

This thing is going to be nutz.  I'm suprised to see the roll bar go full width..  Is this thing going to have the ability to take a passenger?  I was under the impression the passenger was 4.6L and made lots of noise.  

You guys are doing a really quality job on this so far.  

Originally I did want to do an asymmetric roll bar, but there is potential that the end product will be quick enough to require a full cage and an asymmetric main hoop doesn't play nice with NHRA cage rules.

No passengers, you are correct

Some of us noticed and appreciated the double post this week.  

I like the authentic-looking Powered By Ford windshield banner. Where did you source that?

In reply to slowbird :

There may or may not be more parts from the same source which make their way to the Challenge

Pic Dump:

So, cage question: is there any rules on how vertical the main hoop needs to be? I know top has to be above helmet, and needs to be behind drivers position,  but otherwise?

I didn't know you were doing a full cage, just thought you wanted a roll bar for the Challenge. Probably good to go ahead with the cage right now, especially given your skills and ability. Progress looks good! Can't wait to see it.

I will be interested to see how you do the harness bar and cross bar given that image of a person in the seat.  I'm not seeing where the NHRA would allow the harness bar to be out of plane with the main hoop (Though it's not specifically forbidden either).  I was going to run a bent crossbar on the LMP360 but couldn't ensure compliance with the NHRA based on a literal reading of the rules and interpretation of the roll cage graphics.  

It's possible this is typical and entirely allowed.  I know you've done this before so it's probably fine.  

If it's not it looks like you have space to just move the seat forward a few inches so it won't be a big problem for you.  

I'm also anxious to see what structure you build for the rear down tubes and springs/shocks to mount to will look like.  

The decision to go with a cage had several factors

• a low front roll hoop(SCCA style) was already likely for chassis stiffening and accessory mountings
• target weight + hp = potential to go 10's
• even if it doesn't cross that threshold, there are the same injuries available at 11.01 vs 10.98 if things go pear shaped - better safe than dead
• when the full windscreen presented itself, it needed a place to mount

Probably a handful of other considerations I have forgotten at this point. At any rate, the change allowed some different freedoms in construction which I liked as well. A major one being the allowance to lay the main hoop back. This is specifically called out in the roll cage rules, but not in the roll bar rules. There is no max angle mentioned, only that certain other safety concerns must still be met.

There was much discussion about the required harness crossbar and also a diagonal which is not required but will be present. Bending the crossbar is not verboten as far as I am aware, and have seen several done that way. That said, anytime a tube is bent the reduction in strength should be considered. The goal is to keep both tubes straight and in plane. If it means scooching the seat forward, that will be an accepted compromise.

Creating a bulkhead between the driver and all the things behind the main hoop will be much simpler in a single plane.

In reply to gumby (Forum Supporter) :

Do I have to wait until next Sunday to see the body on it with the cage?

I really need to get down there to see this!

I did some math on the rear suspension last night

Today was a bit more hands on.
One cope

And 15 other copes

The door bars are fitted, but only resting in place-ish. I will affix them after things are done in the center tunnel area.

Dang you guys for making me post twice in a row!

Main hoop diagonal is in, forward cage braces are there, and started on the rear section. The rear cage stays are only set in place for pictures. I want to test fit the body again before I glue them on.

Damn I wish I was closer. 

I feel like I'm 8 all over again looking at the Jungle Gym!

I hung out after work today to make this midweek update for yous!

The rod ends were pulled from the used/swap meet shelf. I turned the heim spacers from a piece of scrap tubing.
The chassis brackets started out as a universal catalog part

"Universal" in chassis terminology means it doesn't fit anything as delivered. Ever. These had 1.5" center hole spacing, and a larger range than is practical for the application.
I popped an extra hole between each original, lopped off the surplus, and reshaped the perimeter to lose a few ounces while tweaking the mounting angle.

Tune in this weekend to see these parts mounted on a car!

I want to drive that around with no body at all on it!!! That being said, we do need pictures with the body around that...

I can't say that there won't be any "kart" test runs.

Anyhow, I pirated the newest CAD from work yesterday

This stuff is thicker than cereal box, but still not corrugated. Really nice with the grid too.

Today, I attached the heim spacers to the 3rd link plates

Then I built the link, and stuck all the parts to the chassis, as promised

No more floor jack under the pinion!
I also flipped the LCA bolt around and added the lower brace on the right side

The left side is gonna get wild, so hang on to your butts

In reply to gumby (Forum Supporter) :

You know OEM brakes are free to budget.  No need to run without rears.

In reply to Stampie (FS) :

Don't B hatin'