I really do like that frame, can you divulge supplier and price, or is that top secret info
IRS Chassis flex?
-
helowrench
- Posts: 1925
- Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:20 am
-
FJCamper
- Moderator
- Posts: 2910
- Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:19 pm
Beam support
Hi Helo-
Good eye.
The Porsche 356 had it's front axle beam, top and bottom, fully supported (almost) end to end.
The VW axle beam is supported only in the middle, and yes, it bends under load.
The 356 actually had a problem the VW didn't have ... the axle beams were mounted so rigidly that the trailing arms flexed in high-G turns!
VW axle beams and trailing arms flex together.
I would support the outer ends of the top torsion tube (easy enough) in that beautiful frame to keep it rigid. The top tube becomes the weak link in the chain, as not much else is going to give.
Handling would be affected by camber and toe changing as the top tube flexes. Camber is not so bad, but toe changes would induce self-steering right at the time you needed full control, screaming around a fast, high-G corner.
FJC
Good eye.
The Porsche 356 had it's front axle beam, top and bottom, fully supported (almost) end to end.
The VW axle beam is supported only in the middle, and yes, it bends under load.
The 356 actually had a problem the VW didn't have ... the axle beams were mounted so rigidly that the trailing arms flexed in high-G turns!
VW axle beams and trailing arms flex together.
I would support the outer ends of the top torsion tube (easy enough) in that beautiful frame to keep it rigid. The top tube becomes the weak link in the chain, as not much else is going to give.
Handling would be affected by camber and toe changing as the top tube flexes. Camber is not so bad, but toe changes would induce self-steering right at the time you needed full control, screaming around a fast, high-G corner.
FJC