I was noticing lately that the Pelican board was getting weak in the areas of real good 914 posts. You know, less racing/autocross posts and more questions on how to remove the driver's seat and whats your favorite color. Now I know where everyone went! Glad I found you 'all.

I just ran my first autox last Sunday after cutting the roof and windshield off and adding a "semi" tube frame. I would have had FTD if I didn't hit that f-ing cone that moved on me. I'll post some pics of the car (semi-car) tonight when I get home.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) You gotta watch out for the *walking cones* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Hey glad you made the long trip to over here!!! Remember no lurking allowed...
I am really pissed that they allow the corner worker's to hook up string to the cones so they can move the suckers when you least expect it!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif)
Post some pics of the car with the mods, plus here the postings files can be bigger!!
Geoff

It's about time you showed up.
I'm sure that as time passes that there will be more of the
.....ah...more basic type posts here. I'm sure that Brad means the site to be all inclusive.

I, like yourself, am more interested in the more hard core
racin' topics, tho ( even tho I'm a lowely conehead). There seems to be a higher percentage of those here.

Geoff is right, we need pics of your car. I"m always lookin' to steal some good ideas (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hey URY914,

What kept you so long?

Post pics of the car a.s.a.p.!

Cheers,

Jeroen

Ok, here are some shots. It is NOT complete. I've still got to weld in the X door bars on the passenger side, fab a fiberglass cowl and passenger door and then do the rear fenders and roll bar in f/g.

more...

during the process...

OK that one was too big, Another try...

Last one for now. Let the flames begin...

Damn, Dude you've got balls!

I'd be scared to death cuttin' that much car!

Welcome URY,

I didnt feel right about going on the other lists and "telling everybody" where we where. It has given us some time to iron this thing out. I do plan a mass mailing to all the people who have posted to the old classifieds letting them know "hey we are over here now"

Car looks great. It appears your heading down the correct path. There is only one bar that concerns me. I'll explain later.

B

I realize the tubing is not the correct diameter for road racing. It is a autox car only with the intent to be as stiff AND as light as possible. Brad, it is not done yet and I may decide to change things still, so let me know your concerns. Also I have not tied the rear end into the main hoop yet. I'll do that when I cut the rear fenders off so I'll have room to work.
Paul

Hey Paul,

No flames from me, I can only applaud your effort and dedication (all that cutting ain't for the faint at heart)!

Couple of questions though...

why did you choose to have one bar from the main hoop to the front hoop instead of 2 at the sides?

did you start with a bolt-in rollbar/cage (the main hoop)

and most important, what's it weigh now (or what are you aiming at with once the fg rear fenders and targa bar have been installed)?

cheers,

Jeroen

Jeroen,
I decided on the single top bar going to the front for several reasons. I wanted to tie the structure at the top to the middle of the front hoop. The two smaller diagional bars which tie in the the front shock mounts need to be supported and tied into the structure. Also the doors will have X bars to tie the main hoop into the front hoop. I didn't have these in when I took the pics and at the angle of the camera you can't really see the one that is installed. The main hoop was a bolted in Autopower bar from I/O Port. It has since been welded in with big plates at the floor mounts. I will also tie the rear bars into the top of the main hoop. My theory is that no bars should just dead end into a hoop. You need to carry that bar through to the suspension points from front to back. You see what I mean as I keep working on it.

As far as what it weights now, I'm taking it to the PCA Club race at Sebring on Saturday to weight it. I know the roll bar structure is very heavy and the rear fenders also hold alot of bondo from it's years as a street car. My goal was between 1500 to 1600 pounds, but I'm thinking I can get it under 1500.

Hey Paul,

I noticed the x-bars at the driverside door

Since you don't need the full protection of door-bars, how about something like this?

cheers,

Jeroen

I think that you shouldn't have a 90 degree connection without a diagonal brace. In your drawing the front hoop needs a diagonal at the bottom. I forgot to say this before but I feel you need diagonal bracing everywhere you can. Look at an old picture of a 917. There is a diagonal brace even running over the top of the engine.

It is like a gate on a fence. the gate will sag and drag until you put that diagonal in from one corner to the other and it stiffens it up. Same thing with four pieces of tubing forming a square, throw in a small diameter diagonal from opposite corners and it will be much, much stiffer.

hey Paul,

hmmm... I beg to differ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
(not on the need of diagonal or x-bracing but on the interpretation)

I hope I can put this into words...

I "think" the way you are going now, the chassis will still (slightly) flex diagonally since you have most of the stress focussed at the feet of the front hoop and you only have one bar going from the mainhoop to the center of the front hoop

The bar you have from the top of the front-hoop going to the center of the door-diagonal will make the door diagonal bend
The centered bar you have from the main to the front hoop will only prevent this from happening if both left and right corners are equally loaded

If you have two bars from the top-main to the top-front hoop (one on each side) like in my drawing, the stress from the front top shock mounts is force to the top of the front hoop, and from there to the top and bottom of the main hoop, both going back to the top shock mounts in the back (or vice versa)

Again, I'm no engineer, nor do I play one on tv... just thinking out loud

Lets see if Brad or Tony C can budge in on this...

cheers,

Jeroen

Wau !!!! I don´t know what to say....... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

That is one of a kind race car !!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

It is really impressive. If I ever decide to build and have one, I know the way to go now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wavey.gif)

You’re defiantly getting there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) I’m impressed that you’re taking it this far. Keep the pictures coming as you progress with the project. It’s always nice to see one develop. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/boldblue.gif)