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Russ Noble · 10-07-05, 04:20 AM

Richard, thanks for your encouraging comments.

With regard to the uprights, I am planning on fabricating from steel, which I believe done properly will be not far different in weight to alloy castings, so I don't think there will be a significant downside there. I hear what you are saying about distortion and looks, but done right neither should be too bad. The upside is that they will be much more resilient than castings, they are more likely to bend or tear than break. I would not forsee the sort of failure that Ross experienced a few months ago after being punted by some kamikaze pilot!! With steel uprights any damage from that sort of shunt should be able to be repaired trackside with a gas welder in time for the next race. Mind you if you were really serious you would carry spare corners, I suppose. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Billet uprights would be a great way to go but I don't have (low cost) access to that sort of technology. However "normal" machining and fabrication is not a problem and this often dictates the solution to a given problem.

Carroll Smith "Engineer to Win" has quite a bit of info about alloys and heat treatments which you may find useful.

[ QUOTE ]
It's one of the many things that regularly wakes me up at about 4.19am and doesn't let me get back to sleep. Maybe I'm taking it all too seriously, but lack of sleep could be clouding my judgement...

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, snap!! I dream up some great solutions in the dead of night but in the cold light of day they usually turn out to be either too complex or expensive or ignore some vital consideration. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] There are two over riding principles that are always at the back of my mind KISS and KILL (Keep It Light & Low) [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Hence, whenever I am about to use steel I always look to the possibility of substituting aluminium or plastic wherever practicable. The roll cage and 351W block are unfortunately going to contribute a significant proportion of the weight to the finished car and I can't do anything about either if I want to stay within the regs! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

I may get to post some body progress pics this weekend since Sunday is going to be a write off . Live Bathurst coverage here from 11am so I will be glued to the set in the hope of seeing Murph make it three in a row. Not because he's in a holden [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] , just because he's a Kiwi!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Also A1GP in Europe this weekend plus F1 at Suzuka. So I can see work on the project being totally non existant!!

How far down the track are you with your T70?

Regards

10-07-05, 04:20 AM	#23 (permalink)
Russ Noble Russ Noble Lifetime Premier Supporter Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Christchurch,NZ GT40: Building scratc Posts: 1,375 Rep Power: 20	Re: Kiwi scratchbuilt Richard, thanks for your encouraging comments. With regard to the uprights, I am planning on fabricating from steel, which I believe done properly will be not far different in weight to alloy castings, so I don't think there will be a significant downside there. I hear what you are saying about distortion and looks, but done right neither should be too bad. The upside is that they will be much more resilient than castings, they are more likely to bend or tear than break. I would not forsee the sort of failure that Ross experienced a few months ago after being punted by some kamikaze pilot!! With steel uprights any damage from that sort of shunt should be able to be repaired trackside with a gas welder in time for the next race. Mind you if you were really serious you would carry spare corners, I suppose. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] Billet uprights would be a great way to go but I don't have (low cost) access to that sort of technology. However "normal" machining and fabrication is not a problem and this often dictates the solution to a given problem. Carroll Smith "Engineer to Win" has quite a bit of info about alloys and heat treatments which you may find useful. [ QUOTE ] It's one of the many things that regularly wakes me up at about 4.19am and doesn't let me get back to sleep. Maybe I'm taking it all too seriously, but lack of sleep could be clouding my judgement... [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, snap!! I dream up some great solutions in the dead of night but in the cold light of day they usually turn out to be either too complex or expensive or ignore some vital consideration. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] There are two over riding principles that are always at the back of my mind KISS and KILL (Keep It Light & Low) [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Hence, whenever I am about to use steel I always look to the possibility of substituting aluminium or plastic wherever practicable. The roll cage and 351W block are unfortunately going to contribute a significant proportion of the weight to the finished car and I can't do anything about either if I want to stay within the regs! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I may get to post some body progress pics this weekend since Sunday is going to be a write off . Live Bathurst coverage here from 11am so I will be glued to the set in the hope of seeing Murph make it three in a row. Not because he's in a holden [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] , just because he's a Kiwi!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Also A1GP in Europe this weekend plus F1 at Suzuka. So I can see work on the project being totally non existant!! How far down the track are you with your T70? Regards