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Gonzo did you add any extra bracing in your car? or extra triangulation? What is the most common part of the frame to beef up for a v8 car?
Hi Zach-
My frame is pretty much a "one off" with only a passing similarity to the lightweight Locost/Lotus style frame designs.
In answer (sort of) to your question, be sure to properly triangulate between upper and lower main frame rails, as you see in the Locost design. I can't stress that enough. Don't put a diagonal at the center of a tube, put them into the nodes where upper or lower and vertical come together. Can't tell you how many builds I've seen where the "bracing" is attached to the weak point. (I know, "Duhhh..." but it happens!)
Another area to be aware of and design/build properly is the big open "box" of the cockpit. In my car, the cockpit is defined by the roll cage which is built out of .095 wall DOM tubing. The "door bars" of the cage triangulate the sides, there is a diagonal of the same DOM under the floor on the passenger side (where the fuel cell sits) There are cross braces from outside to the center rib under the driver.
Stronger/thicker tubing in the control arm attachment areas won't help if your basic design isn't right. I understand what you're saying, and it's not "wrong" just be aware of the "shape" of the "box" you're attaching to moreso than just the wall thickness of the tubes. In the front, I have diagonals left and right, a cross brace near front and rear attachment points and a cross brace between shock mounts.
And, iffen I wuz doin' it alllll over, I think I'd use Marcus's Car9 design, or at least most of it. It's really well thought out, refined, good engineering. I really want to encourage you to look at that design. And I'm pretty sure Marcus won't mind iffen you steal it for your build. That's why he put it out there!
JDK
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JD, father of
Quinn, Son of a...
Build LogQuinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special "Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom