Tornado Monocoque

[TimT40]

Having a look through the Tornado website, I noticed that (joy of joys!) they're now doing a steel monocoque chassis - although you have to look for it! It's not in any of the part or package price listings......strange.

Anyway, does anybody have any experience of the Tornado monocoque and how easy or not it is to build with one?

Also, being as I'd potentially be using the car for mostly road but some track use, would I be better off sticking to a cheaper space frame?

 

[Doug S.]

I'm a Tornado fan b/c of their "GT40 in a box" offering :thumbsup: , but I'm going to be a realist here--you'd be wise to get hold of Tornado to get a first hand answer on whether or not that steel mono is available. Have been waiting patiently for their newly developed/announced CF mono to actually appear.......they can be a bit slow now and then, so take this for what it's worth :idea:.......like I said, though, they are at the top of my short list right now b/c of the complete nature of their kit.

Their subforum appears to be temporarily off the boards here, hopefully they'll be back soon. Scott is a good stateside contact, Andy in England, but with them being off the forum right now I wouldn't know how to suggest you contact them, so you'll just have to wait to see how this plays out (Whereabouts are you, anyway.....your location says "England" but the flag under your name is the good ol' Stars & Stripes.....).

Doug

 

[TimT40]

Hey Doug,

It's only whilst going over the history of posts on the forum that I realise that one of Tornado's guys actually comes on here, so perhaps he'll see this post and answer!

I would be interested to learn of the CF chassis too, although I have to say I'd be happier and at least feel safer in something metal. Bit silly I know, I'm sure CF would withstand impact just as well, but hey! You gotta feel right.

If not, I'm thinking a good start would be a visit to the factory, as its less than 100 miles from where I live, so unfortunately not in the US. I think I must have missed an option when signing up tonight, hence the flag!

Still the question though, what would be better for road/some track use, monocoque or space frame?

 

[Doug S.]

Still the question though, what would be better for road/some track use, monocoque or space frame?

As far as I've heard, a mono is easier to build b/c you don't have to do all the paneling that a space frame requires, but if in a collision or had some other mishap the space frame would be easier to repair.

I guess it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other, you'd have to decide which is more important to you.

On the Cobra forums the FFR is highly respected as a racer and it uses space frame construction, and we have at least one member here that races a Roaring Forties, which is also space frame construction.

As for Tornado reps, the U.S. contact is Scott Calabro:

GT40s.com

Andy Sheldon is in England and owns the business:

GT40s.com

Scott has a really nice build thread on his TS#875 on the forum, I can't seem to find it. I've gone back through 5 pages of his posts, over a year back, and no luck.....hopefully when their sponsoring forum returns you'll be able to read what's up with building one (sorry, can't remember if it's a space frame or mono, but I seem to remember something about paneling so I'd suspect it's a space frame model).

Sure wish I could make a visit to the factory. Lucky you!

Doug

 

[Doug S.]

Still the question though, what would be better for road/some track use, monocoque or space frame?

I forgot to mention another issue with monocoque frames--weather tightness. I've heard horror stories about difficulties with sealing the panels on space frame models, but then again the SPF offerings, which seem to be considered pretty high quality, seem to be pretty well known for their ability to pass water into the cabin, too.....again, it seems difficult to say definitively whether or not one is better than the other, this time in reference to street/road use.

Sure do wish it were an easy question :huh: .....oops, there I go wishing yet again.....

Doug

 

[Jac Mac]

Scotts car was/is spaceframe. Ross Nicol & Iain Pretty both race RF spaceframes, Ross's car is close to factory chassis spec, Iain's is an all out much modded version. Deane Lampe ran his RCR mono at track day type events. The Tornado & RCR monos are what I would call simplified Mono's from what I have seen of them, thats not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to repairing track damage. Tough call, personally I would go with a mono, but if your going to be doing the work yourself it all comes down to what your comfortable working with.........

 

[Scott Calabro]

"Anyway, does anybody have any experience of the Tornado monocoque and how easy or not it is to build with one?"

Hi Tim,

We are very much alive and well.

Please give either Andy or I a ring and your questions will be answered firsthand.

Best regards and Merry Christmas!

Scott Calabro

 

[Randy V]

I forgot to mention another issue with monocoque frames--weather tightness. I've heard horror stories about difficulties with sealing the panels on space frame models, but then again the SPF offerings, which seem to be considered pretty high quality, seem to be pretty well known for their ability to pass water into the cabin, too.....again, it seems difficult to say definitively whether or not one is better than the other, this time in reference to street/road use.

Sure do wish it were an easy question :huh: .....oops, there I go wishing yet again.....

Doug

As for the Monococque chassis itself - I don't see weather tightness as an issue (particularly not with my RCR - I could use it for a boat!).. I think the methods used to sealing the spider to the chassis, and the individual body panels/windows via seals - has much more to do with the weather tightness and is more than likely not at all related to the basic chassis design / construction. If anything, (as you point out) the space frame with riveted panels would be more prone to leakage if the rivets and panels are not sealed well to the frame.

I would also advise that people reach out directly to Andy and Scott for their information on the Tornado offerings..

((Edit)) I type slow.. I started my response before Scott's was posted above...