Hello. I've just started poking around this forum and, I'm a noob when it comes to building kit cars (please be gentle). I've purchased and took delivery of a GT40 chassis flat pack from GT Forte'. Minus the roll hoop and missing horse shoe assembly, the frame is nice and tacked up (I can fabricate whatever is missing). I would like to focus on getting the frame to roll right now.
I've never worked on anything other than stock suspension componentry. Building out suspension from scratch will be completely new and I hope I'm headed in the right direction.
GT Forte' assembly instructions does not discuss the front suspension geometry. So, I've decided to purchase a cheap set of front Mustang MII spindles and upper/lower Moog ball joints to begin determining the desired front-end suspension geometry. NOTE: I do not intend on using these components in the end-build, I am using them to learn right now.
"And now I bare my chest for the Archers bolt(s)"
I've decided to fabricate a wooden replica of a portion of the GT40 space frame left front chassis to work from...
... and attach the Mustang spindle to a base in order to articulate the two pieces. This allows me to work inside at 2AM without p!ssi!ng off my GF.
From what I have read some GT40 builders are going with 15 X 8 wheels for the front and 15 x 10 wheels for the rear of their cars. I am considering doing the same.
With that in mind (and assuming 15 inchers are the way to go) my next task is to determine where the 15 x 8's sit in orientation to the chassis. This will allow be to determine what will be needed as far as upper and lower a-frames are concerned (working out the geometry in particular). Of course the upper and lower a-frames must be the same distance/length from the chassis in order to allow for fluid up/down movement.
At this point "I believe" I need to choose a wheel size (height/width) for the front, grab the specifications for this wheel, and then measure back to the chassis and work out the geometry while taking into consideration the turn angle of the wheel allowing for fender/chassis clearance. I am planning on constructing the a-frames using adjustable (at least three inches) linkages.
So, am I totally high taking this approach? Is there a better method of doing this? Is there life on Mars?
I want to learn and have fun at the same time.
Many thanks Guys/Gals!
PS: Sorry about these gallery images. I could not find a way to rotate them +90
I've never worked on anything other than stock suspension componentry. Building out suspension from scratch will be completely new and I hope I'm headed in the right direction.
GT Forte' assembly instructions does not discuss the front suspension geometry. So, I've decided to purchase a cheap set of front Mustang MII spindles and upper/lower Moog ball joints to begin determining the desired front-end suspension geometry. NOTE: I do not intend on using these components in the end-build, I am using them to learn right now.
"And now I bare my chest for the Archers bolt(s)"
I've decided to fabricate a wooden replica of a portion of the GT40 space frame left front chassis to work from...
... and attach the Mustang spindle to a base in order to articulate the two pieces. This allows me to work inside at 2AM without p!ssi!ng off my GF.
From what I have read some GT40 builders are going with 15 X 8 wheels for the front and 15 x 10 wheels for the rear of their cars. I am considering doing the same.
With that in mind (and assuming 15 inchers are the way to go) my next task is to determine where the 15 x 8's sit in orientation to the chassis. This will allow be to determine what will be needed as far as upper and lower a-frames are concerned (working out the geometry in particular). Of course the upper and lower a-frames must be the same distance/length from the chassis in order to allow for fluid up/down movement.
At this point "I believe" I need to choose a wheel size (height/width) for the front, grab the specifications for this wheel, and then measure back to the chassis and work out the geometry while taking into consideration the turn angle of the wheel allowing for fender/chassis clearance. I am planning on constructing the a-frames using adjustable (at least three inches) linkages.
So, am I totally high taking this approach? Is there a better method of doing this? Is there life on Mars?
I want to learn and have fun at the same time.
Many thanks Guys/Gals!
PS: Sorry about these gallery images. I could not find a way to rotate them +90