Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Sure there's probably a reason for it, but how come the bracing is bart way along the beams? (Back when I had to study such things, my old lecturer used to say bracing wasn't bracing unless it met at the nodes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
housebeautician Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Will that pass an mot like that cleggy! You could have at least used gaffer tape...............sorry it dont help does it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
langy Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 (Back when I had to study such things, my old lecturer used to say bracing wasn't bracing unless it met at the nodes) I remember something along those lines as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samcooke Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 What's the purpose of the two that you are bracing? Do they support the body? What I'm getting at is, do they really need all that bracing? I reckon the two downward braces will look out of place, early porkers are all open right across the cabin under the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Think Cleggy may have forgoten what he was building, he may accidentally end up with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 Sure there's probably a reason for it, but how come the bracing is bart way along the beams? (Back when I had to study such things, my old lecturer used to say bracing wasn't bracing unless it met at the nodes) yeah you are right - should be to the joins, trouble is to allow me to do this it would mean cutting the lip off the tub - the tub takes all the weight of the bodywork so makes that out of the question unfortunately you are saying it should look sumtin like this (on the sides too) Sam - that supports are only there to support the column (there was nowt supporting it before) and to provide a little extra rigidity with regards to the two braces that drop down to the tunnel - I was thinking about having an alloy plate there to mount certain switches, starter button etc, although this could easily be incorporated into the dash (I need to look at piccies of original Spyders and see what they had) So I am with all your comments 100% - but need to work with what I have, unless anyone has a better idea of doing it without chopping the tub? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 this bracing looks in the wrong place to my amateur viewing. Surely the weak point is the bottom weld to the vertical on the two 'goal posts' So I think the two outer braces need to be going down to the main chassis side rails not betwee the two 'goals' I agree I would also move them to the corner nodes. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 it's all gotten a bit smokey in the garage - spent most of the evening grinding, welding and generally peeing of the neighbours (well possibly) removing lip of the chassis tube - next to grind off and weld tricky welding up the older metal but it will do - really found that me 130 amp welder aint up to working at full wack for very long although it is doing the job ok got some prices back from the sandblaster today for the engine £95 for the chassis £295 for the chassis and inc weldable etch primer £395 All prices plus VAT (what the devil is weldable etch although it sorta tells you in the name ) So am gonna crack on and try to get the rest of the fabrication complete on this chassis maybe in a month or two it will be ready to get down to them Those prices good value? I also need to source some 3mm or so aluminium sheet to start making up some blanking plates for the engine - anybody got any knocking around they don't need - dont matter if its tatty as long as it is flat thats all for tonight vegetable rights for peas man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
housebeautician Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Welding looks pretty good to me mate. its gonna look good when painted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted January 30, 2010 Author Share Posted January 30, 2010 Thanks Tony - might ask for a lift soon m8 if ya don't mind - need to see if this all fits before I go too far managed to get a couple of hours today in the garage - bit more welding and grinding welds flat where the tub is gonna be sitting and tonight I have tacked in the strengthening of the foot well area I have taken onboard your comments on the triangulation - more sort of doing it the way I knew it should be done, and will work around the problem it will cause with the tub - I have an idea to mount some plates at the sides of the foot well that will then be bolted to the tub - If I can get this right I can use this location method to set the tub correctly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 must weigh about 2 tons now , better start beefing the suspension up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 My first job Monday morning, buy shares in: BOC, welding wire supplier & bulk steel supplier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 building bridges I could do if things don't work out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
housebeautician Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Whenever your ready cleggy give me a bell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhouse Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 The welding looks very neat- but I don't really understand the purpose of that triangulated bracing. Now my stress analysis these days is confined to working out when my next invoice will be paid, but a glance at the chassis did ring a few distant bells. To my mind, the only effect of the bracing is to transfer any longitudinal loading at the top of one of the cross members pretty much straight to the second. In a practical example, if the car was involved in a head-on crash, any forces getting as far as the first 'bulkhead' would be sent straight back into the dashboard/ cockpit area. Deformation of that dashboard piece would also push the steering column assembly further into the cockpit. Could you redesign that bracing so that the space between the two bulkheads would act as a deformation/energy absorbing zone? That aside, you're doing an amazingly thorough job and I look forward to following its progress! Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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