'66 Sunbeam Minx Project - F20C/6sp/4-link/Discs...

[watahyahknow]

i was wondering if i was trown out of this topic for a while since it got so quet

[cam.man67]

Wow, I just stumbled across this topic today, and let me say I am IMPRESSED! That thing is gonna go like the stink when finished. Kudos!

[Frizzle Fry]

Thanks for checkin in guys. I'm back from more travel. Been getting my butt-kicked by the lower/rear coilover bushings (not worth explaining). But I'll work through it. Hopefully make enough progress to justify new pics this weekend.
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[thirdstreettito]

Weekend is over dude!

[dammitmitchell]

AHEM frizzle...
it is hard to live vicariously through your productivity when there is none.
jeesh now i have to go out to the shop tomorrow and get some crap done.. thanks..! NOT hahaha

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

Weekend is over dude!

Not for me

Originally Posted by dammitmitchell

AHEM frizzle...
it is hard to live vicariously through your productivity when there is none.
jeesh now i have to go out to the shop tomorrow and get some crap done.. thanks..! NOT hahaha

I have been making some slow progress on the rear suspension. My goal is to get it down off the jack stands and on her feet so I can check out that stance!

I dropped my "shop camera" and it went on strike, so have not been taking as many pics... But I'll post some tonight

[Frizzle Fry]

Pics taken of rear susp work today. SD card reader isn't cooperating. Will try again tomorrow.
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[Frizzle Fry]

Here we go!

Where to start... Well, I calculated the optimal mounting angle for the coilovers at 7*. I considered several lower coilover mount designs and eventually landed on the simple approach of directly saddling the lower links.

With that lower position I had to do side-notch the "frame" for clearance in order to achieve the 7* mount angle.

Here's the driver's side notch and scab plates (don't mind the burn-through ...it will be closed up)


Passenger side notch (old shock mount not fully cleaned up yet)


Notches from below - DS:


PS (those are 1/8" plates bent on the press brake)


Coilover placement - The lower links to the axle housing will use Del-Sphere pivot joints so side-to-side axle articulation will not cause binding with this lateral lower coilover mount bushing:




What's left of the S2000 tower (removed w/ a 5" holesaw)


Beginning of template:

[VA72C10]

Looking good! So when are you going to be carving corners with this sleeper?

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Looking good! So when are you going to be carving corners with this sleeper?

This summer!

[dammitmitchell]

wow... impressive again!.
way better then just dropping a tubechassis into it and tying into the sub frame..

once again super impressed... freaking show off hahaha

[watahyahknow]

in hindsight i think a space frame would've been easier still easier i he hid it inside the door jambs and pillars compared with Wat he did so far
pretty amazing stuff , I'm going to wonder if the flexing of the body will affect the ride in anyway , you might end up installing some stiffening plates after driving it for a while

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I considered several lower coilover mount designs and eventually landed on the simple approach of directly saddling the lower links.

Just wondering here.
Is your plan to attach the lower mount directly to the lower link?
I know you've probably thought it out and feel safe with it but my overkill nature says that's not a good idea. That will be putting the entire weight of the car, (plus any other vertical stresses), on that threaded link end?



I'd think it'd be a lot stronger to extend the "ears" of the link bracket, (welded to the rear end housing), forward to mount the lower part of the coilover? Looks like there's room to do that and still keep the mounting point really close to where you have it now, just mounted to the rearend housing instead of the lower link.

Forgive my butchery of your art. LOL I'm sure you can make it pretty in steel!



Ya know, I hate 4 doors, 4 cylinders, and ricers, but I love this car! Absolutely great work FF!

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by 454_72_4X4

Ya know, I hate 4 doors, 4 cylinders, and ricers, but I love this car! Absolutely great work FF!

I guess three wrongs make a right?

I hear what you are saying, but using lower links as lower spring or bag mounts is not a concept I can claim as my own. Here are a few examples:











It is a 3/4-16 thread with a good 1.5" threaded into the link. The lower links are 1.25" stainless with thick walls (don't have the exact wall thickness handy).

In sticking with my theme of using "bolt ons" from the S2000 and to overcome packaging limitations in doing so, this was the cleanest/simplest solution.

Since the mount is all the way to one end I see no need for reinforcement of the tube as I would if it were closer to the center.

[IMG]http://www.*****************/jason/images/c10sc55.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.*****************/jason/images/c10sc58.jpg[/IMG]

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I guess three wrongs make a right?

Yea, I gues it does! Hahaha In this case anyway!

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I hear what you are saying, but using lower links as lower spring or bag mounts is not a concept I can claim as my own. Here are a few examples:

Yep, but on all those, (except the last one), the link is welded on the stress bearing end.
I'm not an engineer by any stretch, but spherical rod ends, (or any threaded end link style), are designed for push/pull strength. I know there's a word for this but I can't find it in my head....LOL)
Putting the stress 90 degrees to the direction of the threads, (insert another one of those technical words here), is a bolt's weakest point, (or link in this case).

Personal example;
I have a Yamaha 4 wheeler with aftermarket extended width a-arms on the front. The a-arms use Volkswagon tie rod ends for ball joints. Those tie rod end are just not designed to be stressed that way and I've broken 2. The second one broke at about 60-70 mph across a pasture. It really got my attention when the a-arm dropped and started plowing dirt! Luckily the pasture was good and hard or I might by typing this with my teeth from the comfort of a wheeled chair... Hahaha

I've since redrilled the a-arms to use bigger Ford courier tie rod ends....Still tie rod ends but at least bigger...

Don't mean to sound like the "safety police"... LOL Like I said, I just have a overkill fetish.

[Frizzle Fry]

I appreciate it and welcome the feedback. I'll have to consult some "experts." Perhaps drill/tap and go to a bigger rod-end when I change over to pivot joints.

In cardstock:


Transfer to 1/8" plate via plasma:


Box welded up (inside and out) and set in place:


Buzzed in:


Supporting itself!


Under shot:

[VA72C10]

Awesomeness!!!

[Tagg33]

nicely done, great progress!

[Frizzle Fry]

Thanks guys. Feels good to make some real progress. Can't wait to see it back on all four. Here's the cliff's notes version of the tower fab:

[propanemudtruck]

I guess it IS only metal...

Nice work again!

[thor]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Here we go!

Where to start... Well, I calculated the optimal mounting angle for the coilovers at 7*. I considered several lower coilover mount designs and eventually landed on the simple approach of directly saddling the lower links.

With that lower position I had to do side-notch the "frame" for clearance in order to achieve the 7* mount angle.

Here's the driver's side notch and scab plates (don't mind the burn-through ...it will be closed up)


Passenger side notch (old shock mount not fully cleaned up yet)


Notches from below - DS:


PS (those are 1/8" plates bent on the press brake)


Coilover placement - The lower links to the axle housing will use Del-Sphere pivot joints so side-to-side axle articulation will not cause binding with this lateral lower coilover mount bushing:




What's left of the S2000 tower (removed w/ a 5" holesaw)


Beginning of template:

Any plans to reinforce the side-notch? I know you said you used 1/8" plate for the notch but the remainder of the frame looks a wee-bit thin. Then again, it all looks like unibody so perhaps it doesn't matter as much? Perhaps a strut tower brace will help? Just throwing out ideas.

BTW - I had no idea that stock S2000 coilovers came with resevoirs. In the aftermarket that is big money, or atleast twice the cost of coilovers without reservoirs. Very cool!

[dammitmitchell]

http://www.geekologie.com/2011/02/ch...s_own_scra.php

[watahyahknow]

Originally Posted by dammitmitchell

http://www.geekologie.com/2011/02/ch...s_own_scra.php

hmmmm that would make a great yardornament , might even keep away salesmen and family in law if you can operate the turret remotely
(come on punk..... make my day )

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by thor

Any plans to reinforce the side-notch? I know you said you used 1/8" plate for the notch but the remainder of the frame looks a wee-bit thin. Then again, it all looks like unibody so perhaps it doesn't matter as much? Perhaps a strut tower brace will help? Just throwing out ideas.

BTW - I had no idea that stock S2000 coilovers came with resevoirs. In the aftermarket that is big money, or atleast twice the cost of coilovers without reservoirs. Very cool!

Honda wasn't messin around when the built the S2000. High end stuff throughout. The car is a unibody as you pointed out. Those rails are still plenty strong for the purpose they serve.

Originally Posted by dammitmitchell

http://www.geekologie.com/2011/02/ch...s_own_scra.php

Haha, don't give me another distraction...

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

hmmmm that would make a great yardornament , might even keep away salesmen and family in law if you can operate the turret remotely
(come on punk..... make my day )

Would be a sweet security system indeed!
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[Frizzle Fry]

Well, just three days short of the 24 month mark for this thread (the project is actually past that by a couple months already )...

It's down off the jack stands for the first time!

well kinda, but first...

The right rear tower - Got so excited to see it down on the floor I forgot to get finished shots ...but if you've seen the other side you've might be able to imagine what it looks like:


Lower coilover mount:



Tried to get tires mounted today but they were back ordered ...

No matter, I had to see the stance!

Could go a tad lower but that's far better than being too low to begin with. Spring rate feels a bit high so I'll likely get lighter coils which may bing it down some. I'll wait to see how she sits with everything back together, fluids, etc, and some break-in miles. But for now...