Dave1976 wrote:
I have applied for a patent for this, so i may as well share it.
Once i realized that valvesprings have rates similar to suspension sorings, last far longer, and are far lighter, i got to wondering about trying them instead. Thd first problem was the lack of travel, about 12 mm per spring. But stack 8 of them, you get nearly 4" of avaliable compression, (And get 1/8 the spring rate) some of which will be used up in carrying the static weight of the vehicle. Also, 16 valvesprings (Where did the 16 come from? To get 4" of travel you would need 8x8=64 to get 4 inches at the same total spring rate) is still lighter than one coilover soring, let alone a Camaro production front coil.
So the next issue was how to keep them stacked during dynamic movement. Well, a bar up through the middle proved practical when i tried it on a Camaro. The bar had to either be curved if run in the stock location, which had several problems, or have a pivoting mount when moved out toward the balljoint. The bar had to go up through a hole in the frame, then i had to remove the springs to see what the bar would hit under full compression of the springs.
I didn't try driving it that way, but it seemed to me, and still does, that such localized loading would require making the frame thicker at the spring seat, to spread the load out a little.
I hope to try this on a running car next summer, but the lighter the car, the less springs you would need, but then you lose travel. Or softer- rate springs, but you can go down only do far, so there must be a minimum practical load, and a LoCost may prove too light, but thinking about a rocker-arm arrangement may be the best of both worlds.
I will sell licenses to use valvesprings in suspension for just $10 per car, and because you LoCost guys are kind to me, each of you can get one license for $5.
I didn't start this thread to turn a profit, just to inspire new thinking.
See my 1st "thinking" in red above. Then I think: So how does the weight of 64 valve springs and 8 steel bars compare to the Camaro coil spring? And how would you get 8 stacks to equally share the load? In order to fairly compare weights, the performance (spring weight + mounting system vs travel) And how to compare the cost of 64 coil springs and hardware vs one coil spring? And are you compressing each spring within it's normal travel when used in a valve train? more compression "may" mean shorter life.
_________________
Chuck.
“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman
Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log:
over HEREOr my Wankel powered Locost log :
over HEREAnd don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766