Spaceframe race car chassis - options

[Maker]

Anyone know anything about Formula student ? Its a competition that a huge amount of Universities and colleges take part in, designing and building a single seater racing car. As far as i know the chassis design is fixed, but the other parts like engine suspension can be varied.

I applied to be on the Sheffield Uni team but it's very hard to get on to, I think they take on something like ten students a year out of the two or three hundred that apply and unfortunately I didn't get it.

 

[mtt.tr]

Z cars

Not much more than a autograss car.

 

[stuvy]

Not much more than a autograss car.

They build the best rear space frame cars and are the best in the business for it

 

[mtt.tr]

They build the best rear space frame cars and are the best in the business for it

Pretty sure the trailing arms can be improved

 

[Ruffian]

They build the best rear space frame cars and are the best in the business for it

I would say yes they are good and have a following but it's nothing overly special.

Rage buggys are a better all round package.
If you want to go the whole hog I would look towards the American trophy trucks for a package.

But both of which dont help the OP in whether his project would be better off.

 

[carbon]

Built these rear suspension arms for a friends autograsss mini sometime ago to replace the ones that didn’t move.



migwelded tube

 

[PhillipM]

I would say yes they are good and have a following but it's nothing overly special.

Rage buggys are a better all round package.

I'd agree with this, and niether of them are particularly special either way.

Your main issue with building a spaceframe at home is not welding it, nor the materials, it's making sure it all meets the right race regs for what you're competing in (and will still meet future ones when finished, I've seen a few fall down there!) - and having sturdy enough jigs that you can keep it all flat and square when it's pulling around from welding it up, or enough adjustment available in your mountings that you can compensate for it.

 

[stuvy]

Factor in fully adjustable TCAs and adjustable rose joints for that

As for Z cars being average they tube designs are but they have been at the pointy end of the grid compared to many others that have came, gone and been initiated and subsequently gone yet again

 

[PhillipM]

Adjustable TCA's and joints only correct the static geometery, not the dynamic if your mounting points are out.

 

[stuvy]

Adjustable TCA's and joints only correct the static geometery, not the dynamic if your mounting points are out.

True but if you build a box chsssis without understanding of datum points there more likely to help than YouTube vids and guesswork

 

[mtt.tr]

Factor in fully adjustable TCAs and adjustable rose joints for that

As for Z cars being average they tube designs are but they have been at the pointy end of the grid compared to many others that have came, gone and been initiated and subsequently gone yet again

Its old hat what asphalt race cars use arms. Other than NASCAR no top draw race series use them.

 

[stuvy]

So what do top race series use other than oval aerodynamic tube for open wheelers? I’m keen to learn as having got back in to working for a race team that have 9/10 of the cars on the grid

 

[PhillipM]

Solid arms and shims on the upright and mounting points.

 

[8ob]

Is that yours 80b

Working on it Spencer, @fizzy has priced the carriage which is 3x pallet and I am chipping away at the seller. I fancy sinking it flush into the floor.

Bob

 

[Cornwallfrank]

Thanks for all the advice, not sure whether I should just have a re think reading some of it! Im off to see the bodywork people soon, Ill let you know where I go from here.

 

[Shox Dr]

Years ago I built a Dutton B Type from a factory (Tim Woolley) supplied kit, the mig welding on the chassis was very poor, both the fitting and the quality of welds. Many of them we cut off and rewelded.

I went down to the factory in 1980 to pickup a Phaeton. I was 16, I could gas and stick weld by then, and was horrified at the welds, especially the Macpherson struts I took down to be modified at an additional cost. The welding was that bad I binned them and modified another pair.

Anyone know anything about Formula student ? Its a competition that a huge amount of Universities and colleges take part in, designing and building a single seater racing car. As far as i know the chassis design is fixed, but the other parts like engine suspension can be varied.

In Teeside University Engineering Entrance lobby, there’s a FS car with Dampers I custom built and supplied/sponsored. We supplied around 7 uni’s with dampers. The American version [SAE] is far better, for companies to get involved with.


Tube all the way, you can build stuff silly light. While this is for an aircraft, it can withstand a 6g impact to the front. Note; there’s alot more reinforcement to go in yet will still only weigh 22kgs (Cockpit is mini sized)

 

[Cornwallfrank]

Thanks for all the info, seems the thread has gone off topic and I've possibly opened a can of worms, some people saying give a go, others blinding me with why I shouldn't.

I hope the project gets off the ground, especial thanks for the PM advice.

Frank

 

[KemppiFrog]

Not recent, but built a few space frame specials. The first was with 25 & 20 rhs stick welded. Still raced today after built in '74.. Next was a Porsche 917 look alike with bits of Lotus and a Renault turbo. Again, frame was 25 & 20 rhs.
Then, last year, I rebuilt a Ginetta G4 space frame, all 1" tube. About 30% replaced.
The regs sound quite heavy, but no doubt are based on experience? 50mm is pretty heafty for a chassis..

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Have you though of buying an existing, used, spaceframe and modifying that to your needs ? Could save a lot of work

 

[ronan]

Thanks for all the info, seems the thread has gone off topic and I've possibly opened a can of worms, some people saying give a go, others blinding me with why I shouldn't.

I hope the project gets off the ground, especial thanks for the PM advice.

Frank

Have a bash, at least you will learn something along the way.