Posted by: r_towle Jan 12 2004, 08:34 PM
I seem to recall a thread mentioning that the 911 front cross member that atttaches to the rear of the A-arms and supports the steering rack is made from aluminum???
I do remember moving one of those steel ones the other day and it weighed probably 30 lbs....
Rich
Posted by: SirAndy Jan 12 2004, 08:47 PM
QUOTE(r_towle @ Jan 12 2004, 06:34 PM)
is made from aluminum???
yupp, it sure is ...
Andy
Posted by: URY914 Jan 12 2004, 09:45 PM
Now you got me thinkin' ...
Paul
Posted by: URY914 Jan 12 2004, 10:03 PM
Alright, how much lighter is it???
Paul
Posted by: L8Apex Jan 12 2004, 10:10 PM
I'm not sure, but it is light!
Paul, I think me and you are in the same boat, you are getting lighter for autoX, but I am getting lighter for door to door racing. hehe. I'll still be the heavier one, especially with the six.
Posted by: ArtechnikA Jan 12 2004, 10:46 PM
QUOTE(r_towle @ Jan 12 2004, 06:34 PM)
I seem to recall a thread mentioning that the 911 front cross member that atttaches to the rear of the A-arms and supports the steering rack is made from aluminum???
not 'the' cross-member. 'A' crossmember. specifically, from I-series 911 (1976) and newer, through maybe 1989 (maybe later). 911S and 912E. notably, NOT the 2,7 Carrera RS.
it -is- lighter. it is also a lot more flexible. (unlike the 911 rear trailing arms, where the aluminum parts were more rigid than the steel ones they replaced, for a double benefit ...) it is not a -lot- lighter, and the weight is just about as low in the chassis as you can get.
i was enamored of the aluminum crossmember until i researched it more. (a reference in Frere's '911 Story' led me to believe it was responsible for a suspension geometry change, but in fact it is identical, dimensionally, to the steel ones, and the geometry change was made to the I-Series tub...). if you're into lightness for its own sake, you might save a pound or two. i prefer to retain rigidity in my front steering and suspension, and the 20 lbs i can "easily" take off the driver are located much higher in the chassis...
911.341.013.10 if you want to track it through the years ...
Posted by: URY914 Jan 13 2004, 10:21 AM
I agree that the weight is as about as low as possible in the car.
Unless it is free I won't looking to change mine to aluminum.
Paul