Scaffolding poles + old VW bits + Rotary engine....
Discussion
Okay, another update before you all get bored of seeing it 
Bit more of the plumbing and mountings were finished, yes, I know, the outlet on the charger and the inlet to the plenum aren't great, but it's a case of make something quickly that will work well enough for those pieces, as they can be easily upgraded later on when we have more time spare:
You can also see the fun we're having with the alternator...
It was starting to look a bit tight in there even with the old cage on, so we cracked on with making a new one (again, out of T45 tube - you never know if someone is going to give you a love tap up the rear...)
As the dry sump has lots of clearance in the middle between the fittings, we went a little more substantial with the under-engine guards this time, as we were forever beating the old ally sump plates back straight after events, it's only thin-wall tube so it weighs very little and gives a lot more stiffness behind the sump guards:
Oh yes, we mocked up the silencer there too, just about fits
And the new engine cage from the side:
It shows pretty well how much extra clearance we've gained from moving the transaxle/engine/shortening the bellhousing and tilting the transmission slightly (now there's no torsion housing tube in the way).
Unfortunate side effect is the centre of gravity is going to be higher at the rear of course, but needs must.
Bit more of the plumbing and mountings were finished, yes, I know, the outlet on the charger and the inlet to the plenum aren't great, but it's a case of make something quickly that will work well enough for those pieces, as they can be easily upgraded later on when we have more time spare:
You can also see the fun we're having with the alternator...
It was starting to look a bit tight in there even with the old cage on, so we cracked on with making a new one (again, out of T45 tube - you never know if someone is going to give you a love tap up the rear...)
As the dry sump has lots of clearance in the middle between the fittings, we went a little more substantial with the under-engine guards this time, as we were forever beating the old ally sump plates back straight after events, it's only thin-wall tube so it weighs very little and gives a lot more stiffness behind the sump guards:
Oh yes, we mocked up the silencer there too, just about fits
And the new engine cage from the side:
It shows pretty well how much extra clearance we've gained from moving the transaxle/engine/shortening the bellhousing and tilting the transmission slightly (now there's no torsion housing tube in the way).
Unfortunate side effect is the centre of gravity is going to be higher at the rear of course, but needs must.
Edited by PhillipM on Thursday 21st March 14:54
Okay, whilst the driveshaft angles were still just within limits (moving the 'box forwards didn't help them), with the extra power/stress anticipated we had a bit of a question mark over the longevity of the CV joints, they get pretty hot from the transmission loss as it is.
Anyway, after a few weeks thinking about it, we bit the bullet and decided to go with longer driveshafts to reduce the angles. Of course, that means moving the outer CV joint outwards to suit, and the car is already as wide as we can practically go at the rear that becomes a bit more difficult, so, cue shiny bits:
Whacking great spindle/hub that's large enough to pass the CV joint right through, with ally upright to bolt to the rear trailing arms, of course, that means we can't drive the discs off the rear of the spindle any more (The bearing preload nut is there now) hence the ally brake bell instead of bolting them to the rear of the hubs as presently.
The CV then bolts up to a machined drive ring that is clamped down on by the wheel:
Although, I'm not sure whether to just ditch that and drill the wheels to bolt the the CV's directly to them - we've never broken a wheel yet so I think it'd be okay.
Anyway, after a few weeks thinking about it, we bit the bullet and decided to go with longer driveshafts to reduce the angles. Of course, that means moving the outer CV joint outwards to suit, and the car is already as wide as we can practically go at the rear that becomes a bit more difficult, so, cue shiny bits:
Whacking great spindle/hub that's large enough to pass the CV joint right through, with ally upright to bolt to the rear trailing arms, of course, that means we can't drive the discs off the rear of the spindle any more (The bearing preload nut is there now) hence the ally brake bell instead of bolting them to the rear of the hubs as presently.
The CV then bolts up to a machined drive ring that is clamped down on by the wheel:
Although, I'm not sure whether to just ditch that and drill the wheels to bolt the the CV's directly to them - we've never broken a wheel yet so I think it'd be okay.
They're a set from Milners who use them on the sillier spec versions of their customer cars, albeit with our own custom uprights to meet our trailing arms and use our calipers/discs.
They are very light for the bearing size/stiffness, won't be doing them justice with our centre/upright as what I want to do vs what the wallet has room for are two different things
Just need to find some light 6-stud pattern alloys to suit, that Compo on there is about 3kg heavier than the steels!
They are very light for the bearing size/stiffness, won't be doing them justice with our centre/upright as what I want to do vs what the wallet has room for are two different things
Just need to find some light 6-stud pattern alloys to suit, that Compo on there is about 3kg heavier than the steels!
Edited by PhillipM on Friday 17th May 23:47
Well, plumbing is almost there and we spent today working out some of the panelling...space has got so tight at the rear now that we were seriously considering chopping the cab out and moving it a few inches forwards earlier!
Even having to tweak oil lines and fittings just to get them in.....
Radiator/intercooler frame and a lot of the brackets have been remade in ally/redesigned to save a bit of weight back there too/
Even having to tweak oil lines and fittings just to get them in.....
Radiator/intercooler frame and a lot of the brackets have been remade in ally/redesigned to save a bit of weight back there too/
Edited by PhillipM on Thursday 23 May 18:38
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff