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The project hiatus is drawing to a close and in preparation for some actual physical progress the full spaceframe was 3D printed at 1/6th scale to help visualise tubing assembly sequence. It was at this point that the potential leg trap was noticed.



Rotating the structure around in ones hands gives more insight than a 2D screen view and the vulnerability of the footwell upper crosstube to buckling in a side impact was not obvious until it was printed out. The tubing I am using is typically used in sprint car chassis fabrication, the linked video is a superb demonstration of what happens to them in impacts; Ouch.

https://youtu.be/WOsoNGwDTcg?si=O9M8VdTXZlH9sHNi&t=123

After some node repositioning the structure is now more resistant to sidecrush. Every accident is different and a nose shunt like the one in Germany (https://gtspirit.com/2010/08/01/car-cra ... uro-damage) probably the most likely due to other road users not seeing the car, however in the case of a rollover/side impact/severe frontal crash the structure has to be well braced to work correctly. The aluminium nose tube structure is intended to absorb crash energy before it reaches the stiffer steel spaceframe. The aluminium radiator mounting frame will aid the crash structure (originally was going to incorporate a bumper bar but it is redundant) and the front suspension tearing off in the typical offside frontal crash should also not damage the drivers legs.

Had a bit of fun today cowtipping the donor shell using the old EK civic tow vehicle (which is nicknamed "the coackroach" because it refuses to die). Used an engine crane to lift the shell to just under the point of balance. Logs and old wheels make excellent packers.






Have stripped out all the under gubbins shown here, which is a much easier task when everything is on it's side as the dirt doesn't fall in your face. The mufflers will most likely be used for the test mule, the evap system and heatshields will be incorporated in the final build and the subframes kept as spare parts for the daily driver.

Looking at that undercarriage it is apparent that they don't use road salt where you live.

_________________
Warren
Isuzu Pickup/SR20DE, +401 COLD frame
Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=11601

Indeed Warren, we are pretty much sub tropical here in Auckland so no need to salt the roads. However we are close to the sea so salt corrosion is still present, however still a pretty benign environment. If fact the biggest risk of going to the wood pile is getting a splinter, no venomous critters lurking.