Space frame chassis

[Mike]

Anyone know owt about them?

Not on about a simple space frame front/rear end, Im after info on a full space frame chassis, like a westy, caterham etc.

Is there any particular SVA or VIC etc would be needed if I were fitting an OEM bodyshell onto a space frame chassis with a different marque engine & trans, custom suspension/running gear etc etc.

Basically a mix & match of about 7 or so different car marques disguised as something like a Nova/Escort/Civic etc etc bodyshell.

[Stuart]

It would need an sva as it wouldn't be one car.

Spaceframes are all about triangles :)

[MK999]

Westfield/caterham put the money into their cars being properly IVA'd or whatever it is, basically full on small car manufacturer testing, something a bit below what Ford etc have to pass.

I can give you a few tips on designing it and get you through the basics of how to make it perform if you like, about time we had a tea together since you weren't at nats and I wasn't at anything else lol All depends on what you want it to do really

Drop us a line through whatever means and we can arrange something :)

[Spudly]

Ummm, off-topic, Moike was at national weekend, you werent :p

[MK999]

By nats I obviously meant billing lol

[Spudly]

Eh, confuddleddotcom lol

[Mike]

So what would be the difference in me slapping an OEM bodyshell on my own chassis with the same marque engine as the shell then? And leaving it registered as whatever brand the shell is.

Surely thats just the same as part space framing a car with an engine conversion, like say, Austin's RWD Nova?

[Hobbit]

Shouldn't an xe alt cut out mean it "should" need an sva? I thought all chassis mods require an sva.

[mowgli]

mike, you could get something like an old dutton kit car & then fit a body to it..and keep the q reg or the old kit car donor reg....lol

but surely it would handle terribly, as these seven type things aren't built for such a high centre of gravity....

[Mike]

No I using the Carterham chassis as an example of a car that uses a full space frame chassis. Got no plans at all of buying a prebuilt frame & adding to it, sod that caper.

[MK999]

Caterhams/Westfield etc are actually a pretty poor chassis, they flex about like crazy... a Westfield front end drops about an inch when you stick it on axle stands under the engine from touching the frame to jack fully off, you can literally see the thing banana. What they have going for them is weight and a very minor look into camber compensation etc.

Do it from scratch, I think you know full well you can outdo a box section bodge up designed to be built in a shed.

[Mike]

Do it from scratch.

That was the plan all along anyway. Was curious about any legalities of doing it.

[MK999]

Good good, do carry on :p

Pretty sure it's a case of fairly hefty amounts of testing as a small car manufacturer, but it's not absolutely horrible/impossible. Was a couple of years ago that I seriously read up on it

[mowgli]

mike, basically what you are proposing is not too different to a wrc car. ask your rallying buddies

[Calamity Josh]

http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j404/CalamityJosh/CIMG3557.jpg
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j404/CalamityJosh/09022011440.jpg
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j404/CalamityJosh/4Dscf0028.jpg
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j404/CalamityJosh/medium.jpg
http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j404/CalamityJosh/grasstrack_11.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmGct9jpCUM

[mowgli]

mike, the spaceframe won't be the main issue for a vosa test... its the twiddly things like lighting position, windscreen demister, sharp edges etc.. & using a ready made factory shell shape would make that a lot easier than a home made body..