985cc Turbocharged Nova Sprint Car

[scott.parker]

More pics are needed Colin, i love the work you do on this car, as imo your the only one who's bothering to see how far it can be taken to make a competitive nova, most people would of ruled them out long ago...

[novarally]

After doing some work on my Westfield yesterday, I noticed that the 6 point race harness in it seemed to be considerably lighter than the one in my Nova (both Willans Silverstone with the alloy adjusters). The Westfield uses the 'single seater' style harness with the short rear straps.

Putting them on the scales, the single seater harness is well over 1kg lighter than the 'saloon' version.

The main reasons for this are that the single seater harnesses bolt into place, rather than having the quick release clips that saloon harnesses have which attach to the eye bolts, and the design of the crutch strap differs.

So now I'm considering whether to weld in an extra bar on the roll cage to attach a single seater type harness. The extra bar will obviously add a bit of weight, but not as much as I'd be saving (the tube would be T45 steel).

See photos to explain things more clearly;

The current 'saloon' type harness I use;



And the single seater type;



To use the single seater harness I'd need to add an extra bar to the roll cage, something like this;



If I wanted to save even more weight, and had an awful lot of money, I could later upgrade to the ultimate in F1 single seater harnesses, and save another half a kilo;

http://www.willans.com/lightweight-s...-single-seater

[novarally]

A few more ongoing things;

A slightly smaller alloy radiator, and a Davies Craig electric water pump which I acquired from a Mini;



I'm still debating whether or not to fit the radiator into the back of the car. But I do want to fit the electric water pump so it can be left circulating coolant even when the engine's switched off.

I'm re-making the rear bonnet pin mountings, just to save a few more grammes;







The current mountings for the harness eye bolts are very heavy duty;



I have plans to cut these strengthening plates out, and revise the mountings, saving weight but without compromising strength.

The clutch actuation lever looks a prime candidate for being made out of something lighter, either alloy or titanium;



And if I can find someone to do it at a sensible price (any suggestions welcome), I'd like to get the exhaust downpipe and system fabricated in titanium;



Also acquired these rather natty Kevlar inner arch liners from a Corsa B kit car, which I'm hoping can be made to fit the Nova;

[The Simps]

Surely adding the harness bar will negate the weight saved on the harness?

Good to see you still pushing the boundaries with this colin

[mowgli]

colin, i reckon you might want to leave the gear lever alone.. the force put thru it will be quite big, even on a std clutch.

[novarally]

Surely adding the harness bar will negate the weight saved on the harness?

Good to see you still pushing the boundaries with this colin

I don't think a short length of T45 tubing will weigh anywhere close to the 1kg to 1.5kg saving on the harness.

[novarally]

colin, i reckon you might want to leave the gear lever alone.. the force put thru it will be quite big, even on a std clutch.

I think it would need to be done in titanium for that reason, but it's a heavy item, so cannot avoid my attentions. Also don't forget that on my car it's hydraulically activated, so it probably has less stress on it?

Force Racing (who are making my split rim wheels) have done a similar clutch lever in titanium for the Minis and had no issues with it.

[scott.parker]

Colin i really admire your determination to to find new ways to make this car lighter for increasing it's competitiveness, i don't mean to sound rude or disrespectful, but i know if i was 9st instead of my currant chunky 14! (put on while off work with my back) i would get quicker times on 1/4 mile runs, and have a slightly better handing car on track, have you been trying hard to cut your body weight too? as I'm sure some of them guys in the mini's are probably lighter then me, no?

[Mike]

There probably impossible to get hold off, BUT at work we/I make carbon fibre engine fans & the cowling for Porsche Le Man cars. The entire fan, its blades & housing/cowling are carbon fibre & perfectly balanced to +/- 0.3gram. Without the motor they weight about 100g.

[mowgli]

I think it would need to be done in titanium for that reason, but it's a heavy item, so cannot avoid my attentions. Also don't forget that on my car it's hydraulically activated, so it probably has less stress on it?

Force Racing (who are making my split rim wheels) have done a similar clutch lever in titanium for the Minis and had no issues with it.

is there any mileage in looking at the hydraulic setup used on the later f15 type boxes? as it is build in round the input shaft with the thrust bearing on it.