JMortensen Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Well I already did the X today, but I used .5 x .5 x .065 tube so the weight is probably 2 lb or so, using a bit more than 4 ft. I think the strength should be enough to prevent issues with the radiator at least. I was thinking the same thing about the brace from the strut tower to the rear of the frame rail, but then I have that braced already in that plane to the rocker tip, so it's a bit redundant. I was talking to Cary about this and I'm going to try and figure out some more strut tower brace ideas, but that will have to wait until the engine is back in the car, which is a long way off for me. I had also thought about doing a clamp style rad mount. I might still do that too, but I hadn't ever had any cooling issues with the standard 3 core brass radiators, just kept cracking the tanks, so I wasn't sure that I wanted an aluminum radiator which would require that type of setup. This way if I buy a bolt in brass radiator from a local shop I won't worry. I don't think what I've done will hurt at all, and I'm pretty sure the radiators will live a better longer life. If I wasted a couple hours, well, worse things have happened. We should let this thread get back to bjhines's project. I think I've jacked it enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy85 Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I had also thought about doing a clamp style rad mount. I might still do that too' date=' but I hadn't ever had any cooling issues with the standard 3 core brass radiators, just kept cracking the tanks, so I wasn't sure that I wanted an aluminum radiator which would require that type of setup. This way if I buy a bolt in brass radiator from a local shop I won't worry. I don't think what I've done will hurt at all, and I'm pretty sure the radiators will live a better longer life. If I wasted a couple hours, well, worse things have happened. We should let this thread get back to bjhines's project. I think I've jacked it enough.[/quote'] OK last one then it can get back to twin turbo rollcages ... I was thinking of still using the stock type brass radiator just make a soft mount for it instead of having to go to high $ alluminum unit. Anyway what you did should probably work. Cameron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Yeah, where is the wastegate going to go on that sucker anyway John? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 LOL... I knew this would happen... but the name will pull a lot of searches in...lol.... These 2 threads are about to hit the top 2nd and 3rd spots in posts and views.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted August 17, 2006 Author Share Posted August 17, 2006 More progress... I have just a few more things to do and I am on the schedule to get it final-welded this weekend... Reinforced the rear upper crossmember with a hunk of 14g plug welded between the rear suspension mounting points... Then I skinned the areas between the chassis frame rails and the fuel cell support rails... 18g... should provide some gusseting as well... It is welded to both sides of everything it touches... The diagonals for the rear hoop are done.... the lower/ extra diagonals are to reinforce the tunnel areas... right where the inside front pivot of the rear control arms are mounted... this is also where the front of the differential puts pressure... this is the 3x3x 1/8" mounting pad is welded directly over the bottom cross-rail... Ohh... and one of my little helpers was mousing around the shop... .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Some-Guy Posted August 17, 2006 Share Posted August 17, 2006 awesome work guys looks great but that cat... damn its scary looking.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy85 Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 awesome work guys looks great but that cat... damn its scary looking.............. That's a cat??? Would have fooled me ... and who photochopped it's eyes ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted August 24, 2006 Author Share Posted August 24, 2006 I worked on seating this evening... I removed stock slider rails from an old set of stock seats.... carefully cleaned and relubricated them... and installed them on the Corbeu seats I am using in this project... The first thing I found was that the seats were WAY TOO HIGH... with my helmet on I had <2" clearance to the roof... Im 6'... I have no problem with the Recaros on stock sliders in one of my other cars... ohh well... every seat is different... The seat mounts had to come out... I wanted something a little tougher than the flimsy stamping the the factory intalled... the original front mounting showed cracks and fatigue around the bolt holes... The front mount is very tall ~4"... the rear mounts are only about 2.5" tall... this provides an extreme rake back for aftermarket buckets... it is hard to apply pressure to the pedals without forcing your legs into the bolster... I decided to remove the front stamping entirely... I cut away all of the rear spampings except the rear part attached to the rear siffener strip on the floor... I seam welded the remainder of the rear mounts to the rear stiffener... I cut 2 4x6" plates to attach the front cross mount to the side of the transmission tunnel and the rocker/floor junction... I used 1.5" square tubing... coped to fit... I mocked it all up several times.. I built in a slight rake back... and I centered the seat better than the original mounting holes did.. this replaces the original seat mounts with a much lower, stronger, better angled, and properly lined up mounting surface... I drilled 1" holes from the bottom to allow access from underneath to the mounting nuts using a deep well socket... I will use rubber plugs to seal the holes... As a final touch I cross drilled lightening holes everywhere... I still have to tie the floor into the inside of the rocker with another plate... The front cross bar will also be tied into the subframe connectors with 2 L-gussets.. I have to mount the connectors and then finalize this part of the seat mount... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Looks pretty familiar. I see some of the same holes that I had in the floor after removing the stock seat brackets. That sucker is REALLY welded in there, huh? Removing those things was way harder than removing the frame rails from the floor. One question I have. Instead of swiss cheesing your heavier frames, why not start with smaller tubing? I used 1x1x.063 on the seat and will do the same on the fuel cell. It weighs .79 lb/ft and I just don't feel a need to lighten it more than that. Might make your life a bit easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v80z Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Man that thing is built like a tank. Makes me feel completely inadequate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted August 24, 2006 Author Share Posted August 24, 2006 I don't think 1" tubing would leave sufficient room inside for mounting nuts and washers... I would have used 2" tubing but It would have left the rear mounting points almost as high as the originals... unless I dropped the tubing through the floor.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Good point, didn't think of that. On mine I used angle iron welded to the top of the 1x1, because my sliders bolted horizontally instead of vertically. I suppose another option would have been to drill a hole in the bottom of the tube and weld bolts so that the threaded end stuck straight up, then just plug the bracket onto the exposed studs and use nuts on top. 6 of one, half dozen of the other I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted August 24, 2006 Author Share Posted August 24, 2006 Keep in mind that the Z car slider brackets have no room for nuts on top... they are using pressed in "carriage bolts" that are nearly flush inside the rail... they cannot be mounted on studs in the car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Another good point. I suppose it all depends on the parts you are using, but it's a pretty good guess that most people are using Z sliders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted September 7, 2006 Author Share Posted September 7, 2006 more progress.... First off... I decided to lower the rear part of the seat mounts even more... Then I got started on installing the subframe connectors... there is still some work to be done... more welding and closing up the holes in the floors... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS1 240Z Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 very nice job. im just letting someone else worry about my cage for $240... cant beat it haha. im working on finishing up a backhalf of a 240Z. i just ran 1x3 tubing through the passanger compartment through the firewall and then Ted it into the front subframe about the same place you have your tube. i want some more support so i think that ill add a tube like yours also. PS love that custom paint job on the rear 1/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 My 2 year old likes to paint and draw... and she is always very exited to be out with me working on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS1 240Z Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 just make sure she knows not to do that when you have the car painted lol glad to see she is interested in cars though, there is no reason why more females are not into cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjhines Posted October 4, 2006 Author Share Posted October 4, 2006 New progress... Im back at the front end of the car.... Front strut tower reinforcement!!! .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie05 Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 mmmm... gussets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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