Lightweight

[Guest macca]

What we need to achieve here is stiffness not srength. using large flat sheets is not good for stiffness, even thick ones. I would think that ether ribs need to be added into this pannel or extra plates need to be added, bent into a U to provide the stiffness.

Or a new type of alloy with Viagra as an ingredient

[Nigel Rogers]

Ribs/Stiffeners/Stringers call 'em what you like, the quickest and easiest way to make a stiffener from ally is to bend a length of ally into a 'Z' shape, but not as acute if you get my drift, and rivet into place where needed.

[Guest Bazwaz]

After all the bits and pieces are added it's going to have to be renamed "The Middlewieght"

Barry.

[peter_m7uk]

Having mounted my Lighweight diff as suggested by Robin Hood (plus bonding agent), I can tell you that the rear section of the car is extremely stiff when the boxed-in diff compartment is created. It feels absolutely solid and I'm much less concerned about it now than I was upon first seeing the DVDs. I also bonded the washers onto the ali at the mounting points, so there is now effectively a 5mm thickness of steel and aluminium at each of the 6 mounting points. Also, the bottom of the diff where the long bar slots through is held hard against one of the box sections, providing further torque resistance. Admittedly, I wouldn't want to power a colossal V8 through that design, but I'm now very confident that the design is capable of withstanding whatever my Pinto can throw at it! Anyone else who has reached this stage on their Lightweight care to comment??

 

Pete

[E.Hunt]

I agree Peter but if it does start to go it's going to be a right pain to strenghen later but I'm not planing to race or rally it.

[Guest ScotMac]

Reached this stage?? Well, i was just yesterday watching the video of it...does that count???

 

Good idea gluing the washers in.

 

I was thinking of attaching some big thick flat aluminum sections to the sides of the diff box, and maybe replacing 15d/e, 15b/c, and 15a w/ much thicker and higher grade aluminum (maybe 7005 series). Since all of the 15 sections come flat, it shouldn't be two hard to replicate them.

 

Cheers, -sm