What do you mean by "braced internally"? Inside the frame rail? Any pics of the gussets? I think pigpen has a valid point, since they aren't visible in the photos. At least not that I can see. It appears that you've just got a flat plate welded to the frame rail. In that case, the cyclical loading exerted by the flexing spring could indeed cause a fatigue failure. It certainly looks great! Very clean styling and nice details. Well done! Just make sure it functions as well as it looks.
I have cross bracing inside the rails to counteract the twist the rear perch spans 2 rails connecting the kick-up to rail. thanks rotton
So is this essentially what you have up front? You mentioned that you have it gusseted underneath. Are the gussets vertical, or did you just add some thickness by welding in a horizontal plate?
60's MG midgets used 1/4 eliptics and people road race those. I would bet this modified does no way much more then a Midget.
Now that this tread has been brought back to life,,,whats the story on the pickup in the background shot of the car when it was parked outside? HRP
You should have gone to Speedweek 2006, Rottonron was driving it all over the place. It's not as wild as the one man modified he is building now, but it's one KQQL traditional hiboy truck!.....everything he builds is KQQL!
This is just like they regular posts about how you "shouldn't" narrow an axle."It might break". ********. Ever look at a tube axle ? The ends are welded on. They support the weight of the front end in shear. Welded correctly,they don't break.Even in a crash. Ever see a proper welding test done ? 1/2" steel plates welded together and bent 180 degrees without tearing.The weld is centered on the bend. I used to machine the test plates before bending, it was interesting to see what is hidden inside some "welds"; and be able to predict which ones would fail.
That is one of the most impressive things that I have seen in a long time. Great job you've got skills!
Hat's off to you....Very cool project!! I really admire the car guys who are artists or artists who are into cars(don't know which comes first). I'm a moldmaker by trade, give me drawings, I can build complicated tools or just about anything else for that matter. But mmaannn, I envy the guys with vision and imagination, like Sir Rotten here. Keep posting, this is what I like about the HAMB
I second that!! It's one thing to ***emble, it's another thing to think outside of the box and bring new and different lines to an already proven concept and design! Art is beautiful.... art in automobiles is legendary!
Love the one man idea. Reminds me of old race cars / speedsters and the like. I think every rodder should have one, plus one for the old lady and anyone else in the family with a liscense! We could ride them in packs like bikers! Safer, too, as you can't fall over when "impaired" at stop lights!!!! Call them HAMB-sters! (not) Gary
Love the suspension. 1/4 eliphtics forever! Have them on two of my cars. Nice project. Very cool. 1/4 eliphtics always seem to raise a buch of critics. I dont know why this should be. They have been around for a 100 years without problems. Must be folks dont understand them or something. Once i used them once I can not go back to semi eliphtical . It seem foolish now. When i am away from car for a burger or somethng when i comeback there is always some one or more pouring over the front suspension trying to figure it out. it is a very sound stable design. Must be it is just unfamiliar that brings out the critics. That car is going to be a lot of fun. Most impressive. Don
I think,,,,,No I know I'm in LOVE!!!! Can I drive it when your finished????? Bad to Badest!!!!! Great Job.
I read through this thread again and reconsidered the safety concerns of the suspension. I think if I was to use that front end on a car, I'd consider adding a piece that projects out from the center of the front frame crossmember, level or slightly below the axle, then goes up and over the axle. That way, if the spring or more likely the perch broke, the car could only fall until that piece rested on the axle, preventing the frame from hitting the road. As it is now, it truly earns the ***le "suicide front end". Just a thought.