SCCA Solo EP Double A-arm Build

Post by **duke** » 22 Nov 2008 00:59

I will post some pics in my project thread when I get home in a few days.

Post by **duke** » 24 Nov 2008 21:09

Here is a picture of how I braced the front x-member to prevent lateral movement.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 30 Nov 2008 18:44

Thank you for the photo. I'm still going to weld in the cross member since I had to clearance the frame rail close to the rear bolts. Sorry, no new pictures, I have been sizing the shocks and swaybars. Here is a picture of the old suspension in coil bind lifting the inside tire. Don't know who threw that cone under the car.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 07 Dec 2008 20:59

Quick Update. After weighing my options, I'm going to remake the upper A-arms to give me a little more clearance (and ease of mind) and allow me to install a longer shock and spring than originally designed. Going to go with QA1 double adjustable shocks all the way around. Just can't afford the Koni's right now. Should have more pictures by the weekend.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 11 Dec 2008 20:10

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 11 Dec 2008 20:15

Here is the static roll center and the RC with 3 inches (never going to get that far) of body roll.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 11 Dec 2008 20:22

I will not have to remake the upper arms after all. I used up to 3 inches of body roll to create the suspension geometry as worse case. Turns out that the car can not physically roll that much with only 4 inches of ground clearance so the upper arm only has to swing through an arch for less than 2 inches (using two inches as worse case). Going to run 600 lbs springs in the front after calculating effective wheel rates today. Hope to submit sponsorship proposal to QA1 by the weekend. Anyone know a contact there?

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 31 Dec 2008 21:15

Per Icehouse's request, I have moved up from strings to something a little fancier. These "adjustable" shocks allow me to position the suspension at the various roll angles to measure clearances, angles, swaybar twist, etc. The arms are done with the exception of finish welding the shock attachments and to locate the swaybar attachments. The chassis is welded up with the exception of the vertical tube that connects the lower frame rail to the upper arm hortizontal tube. I need to figure out how I am going to restrain the top of the steering box to prevent flexing. I managed to go with a longer shock (14-10") which will allow me to use a longer spring. Next challenge, finishing the steering.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 12 Jan 2009 12:37

Update: Done cutting, grinding, welding. Painting the engine compartment this week. Waiting for my "friend" to bring me a drag-link from a right hand drive 510 to mock up the steering. To reduce bump steer with the new suspension, I am inverting the arm off the steering box and idler arm. This requires the drag link to be flipped upside down which puts the draglink center "jog" on the wrong side. So a right hand drive will be the trick link and bolt right up.

Went with Speedway Engineering swaybars. Bolts in roughly where the tension rod mounts used to be on the frame rails (boy were those fun removing, thickest metal used on the 510 chassis).

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 20 Jan 2009 20:44

Engine compartment is painted. Not a Picasso, but then I'm not building a show car. Hope to have the car off the frame jig by Sunday night with the engine and transmission in by the following weekend. Still waiting for that right hand drag link.

zootowndime · Post by **zootowndime** » 20 Jan 2009 23:23

Looks great, can't wait to hear the results how she drives.

Post by **duke** » 21 Jan 2009 00:13

Looks great. I'm with you when it comes to paint, I just don't have the patience to make stuff show car nice.

A question about the steering box and idler arm. How are you going to address the taper in the mounting hole?

Keep up the nice work...it feels good when they are all back together.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 29 Jan 2009 19:41

So, I got the right hand drive drag link. Everything is as I expected except for the kickout in the middle is opposite from what I thought it would be (match the left hand drive). Have to wait until I have the engine and trans in to check clearances. Should have the car off the jig this weekend.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 31 Jan 2009 18:41

Progress... Lightened the swaybar arms as much as I dare. The bend adds a twisting force in addition to the bending force. Arms are longer that I would have liked, but needed to keep the bar out of the way. Need to fab the mounts on the lower a-arm for the swaybar. Also, fab-ed up some temporary steering arms so I can move the car around after I get it off the jig. Hope Icehouse approves.

The right hand drag link is in to check for tie-rod vs. frame rail clearance. Need to raise the inner tie-rod mounting more. Looks like a custom drag link might be required as I don't like the angle of the inner tie-rod rod end.

ktberube · Post by **ktberube** » 16 Feb 2009 20:19

Got the car off the frame jig and the engine and transmission in. Now I can do a little each night to make progress. The end links have not been mounted to the lower arm and steering arms are just temporary to move the car around.