elewayne
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| posted on 27/3/03 at 04:00 PM |
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FiberGlass bodys
I've seem a number of manufacturers who use fiber glass bodys on thier cars. Do they still apply the alunimnum body panels to the chassis for
the additional rigidity? Or do they just add additional steel? What do you do if the body shape is not like the chassis shape, like the eleven?
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Simon
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| posted on 27/3/03 at 04:19 PM |
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elewayne
The only purpose of the panelling is to keep the weather out/aesthetics, so fibreglass/ally bodypanels are up to you.
The strength of the chassis is inherent in it's design, and the panels make very little difference.
There's a chap called Jim McSorley who's redesigned the chassis for width/strength, and mods which can be incorporated into Champions
chassis.
The Champion Lotus 11 replica bodywork fits over a modified 7 chassis.
Contact http://www.championmotorcars.com/
for more details.
They make it!!
Hope this helps
ATB
Simon
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elewayne
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| posted on 27/3/03 at 04:40 PM |
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Thanks simon, I had the impression the panels were really important to the strength. I know Jim McSorley, we talk regularly, I'm using some of
his stuff right now on my new chassis.
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Fast Westie
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| posted on 31/3/03 at 01:51 PM |
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The aluminium panels do contribute to the overall stiffness of the chassis
The car in front is a Westfield
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elewayne
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| posted on 1/4/03 at 12:52 AM |
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Thanks for the comments. I think it would be good to add a little stiffness here and there if using fiberglass.
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cymtriks
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| posted on 6/4/03 at 09:20 PM |
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The only panels that add significant stiffness to the chassis are those between M1 and K3 and between M2 and K4. The panel between E and LD does add a
worthwhile ammount of stiffness if it is welded in steel. If not it is useless. The tunnel can be made very stiff and lighter if the inner tube frame
is deleted (except for the front k arch and tubes a and b) and the tunnel replace by a welded 18 gauge / 1.2mm sheet steel tunnel closed on the top,
bottom and on the sides. This modification turns the tunnel into a TVR or 60's Elan style backbone design. The standard book tunnel is over
complex and over weight considering the contribution it makes to the chassis.
The floor does little and can be made of thinner 18 gauge or 1.2mm with very little effect on overall chassis stiffness. An extra tube accros the
floor between the sides and the tunnel may help avoid having the floor sagging in the middle when you get in and out.
The riveted on alloy panels don't add much but it is probably a lighter type of bodywork than fibreglass panels.
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