Craig,
Do you recall what Dave Manzolini's "Swiss cheese"-frame race car weighed?
- Bob Mann
Andy Cost wrote:
>Pat Steinbach purchased a car on Ebay a couple of years ago. The car was a
>lightened for racing. They swear that the car weighs 1100 pounds. I don't
>see how this could be beacuse the frame, suspension, rear axle, and motor
>alone are close to 1100 pounds. Pat's car has had the front subframe removed
>and replaced with a couple of thin bars that support the fenders. I wonder if
>the motor could be used as a structural member with solid mounts and some
>braces that run from the upper a-arm mount to the head. another brace from
>the upper a-arm mount to the firewall or all the way to the rollcage could
>provide more stiffness. It seems that a lighter car would need less bracing
>than the heavy stock car.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: John Wightman <johnwightman@shaw.ca>
>Sent: Aug 4, 2004 10:45 AM
>To: 'Andy Cost' <andycost@earthlink.net>
>Subject: RE: Cutting parts away
>
>Andy,
>
>I was looking at doing this also, but for a different reason - to make more
>room in the engine compartment. I don't think the subframe is critical for
>chassis rigidity, given that all the suspension bits are attached to the
>main frame. My current thinking is to remove the subframe, but replace it
>with smaller diameter (1" perhaps) tubing running from a plate bolted to the
>firewall, continuing just underneath the flange where the fenders mount, and
>then turning vertically downwards to meet the main frame right by the rad. I
>think this would save a lot of weight, and still provide support for the
>grille, fenders, etc.
>
>FWIW...
>
>JW
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