NC 20BPP Time Attack / Track Car - Build Thread

[orx626]

good to see a nc like this
great build up love the rx8 wheels on the nc
would look good on my car lol

look forward to seeing more danny

Cheers Rob .

I still have progress summaries from Jan '08 & Mar '08 to come...when I get a chance. Didn't get a chance to work on it at all in April...had other projects that needed to be addressed .

[Alex]

I'm impressed!

Nice job on the solidworks drawings too!

takes me back to first year uni

[orx626]

I'm impressed!

Nice job on the solidworks drawings too!

takes me back to first year uni

Now I'm feeling old SM! When I was in first year uni we were using Acad R11 .

[Caffeine]

Here's some more views of the Eaton M90 solid model....if you look carefully you can see some filleting detail that I just couldn't get to work .

Stop it! you're making me drool

Here's someone who really knows how to drive solidworks well

[rwf]

need to see more danny please

[Hammer]

It's great having a vision, then have the balls & skills (plus money) to actually do it. Goon for you.

I'm a captive audience. I think I'm not alone when I say, I wait with anticipation for the next installment.

Keep up the awesome work!! Very, Very cool

[rwf]

I'm a captive audience. I think I'm not alone when I say, I wait with anticipation for the next installment

me too lol

[Blue94t]

Very impressive project. If your other cars are anything to go by this looks like it will be another stunner.
Top attention to detail. Having done a few engine conversions I appreciate how hard it is to make the new motor look like a factory setup. Can't wait to see it with the sc all mounted up.
Jake

[PUR157]

It's great having a vision, then have the balls & skills (plus money) to actually do it. Goon for you.

Hammer hit the nail on the head... I can only aspire to be like that...

[orx626]

I really appreciate your support and positive feedback guys! It's certainly a substantial project (in terms of time and R & D), that will hopefully result in the car I dreamt it would be.

In late January I got some spare time to look at fitting an RX-8 differential into the NC rear suspension subframe. After putting a tape measure over both the NC and RX-8 diff 'ear' brackets I found that the RX-8 diff ear bracket mounting centres were indentical to the NC. NC diff ear bracket on right in below photo.




I also found that the studs in the diff housings also had the same spacing. However, the RX-8 diff housing has an extra bump that prevents the NC diff ear bracket from fitting. Note the narrowed section with ribbing on the RX-8 bracket. Net result.....I purchased an RX-8 diff ear bracket and bolted her in!




The next step was to look at a suitable solution for reinstating the structural connection between the gearbox extension housing and the nose of differential (better known as the PPF - Power Plant Frame). The NC like its predecessors uses a pressed aluminium section for the PPF (FWIW - NA & NB is a C-section whereas the NC is a Z-section). The RX-8 uses a fabricated steel member not unlike the item used in the FD RX-7. Besides being made of steel, the RX-8 PPF also has some torsional capacity as it is predominantly a closed section. I only needed a quick look at the NC PPF to realise that major rework was necessary to make it fit to both the RX-8 gearbox and diff attachment points. Once again the solution was to use the RX-8 item as this would give me the correct end connections....but it is also a nominal 370mm too long because of the shorter wheelbase of the NC. The next question that needed to be answered was where to remove this extra length. The RX-8 PPF section changes its shape all along its length so the goal was to find two positions along its length that were as close as possible in cross-section. The below photos show the end result. I used a diaphragm plate to assist with reconnecting the two slightly different cross-sections.

Once I fully weld it out, the excess diaphragm material will be removed back to the silhouette of the PPF cross-section.










In January I also began laying out the supercharger, air to water IC core and inlet manifold header plate to get a feel for the required manifolding and the necessary space.



Cheers,
Danny

[Caffeine]

Well, you've inspired me!

I'm currently laying out a modified locost clubman chassis in solidworks, based loosely on the drawings in Ron Champion's book [url=http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=build+sports+car]\"Build Your Own Sports Car for as Little as £250 and Race It!\"
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[orx626]

Well, you've inspired me!

Glad to be of assistance!

I'm currently laying out a modified locost clubman chassis in solidworks, based loosely on the drawings in Ron Champion's book [url=http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=build+sports+car]"Build Your Own Sports Car for as Little as £250 and Race It!"
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Building a Locost or equivalent is such a fantastic project....I learn't so much about vehicle design and chassis dynamics when I designed and built a Canstel Clubman (circa 1970ish kit). It was such a great experience..go for it Caffeine!!

Unlike the Locost or Lotus Super 7 / Caterham's the Canstel uses a backbone chassis a-la Lotus Espirit. Here's some piccies...The build went from 1999 to 2004. You will recognise some familiar components used in the build .































As you can see a lot of MX-5 bits were used.

Cheers,
Danny

[Hammer]

orx626, I take it you like building lifesize cars then?

[orx626]

orx626, I take it you like building lifesize cars then?

Yep yep yep!!! Although I do like scaled plastic and die-cast Mazda's as well . As most on the forum can tell by now, I'm just a little bit passionate about Mazda's .

Regards,
Danny

[Alex]

wow, road registered? (the clubman that is)