3pt prototype done Options

[Qucifer]

Ok guys, here is the prototype of the 3 point strut brace. I will build a jig off of this one. The production bars will be made of the same 1" diameter tubing with a .095 wall thickness. They will be fully welded, gusseted, and powder coated.

[Celiracer18]

looks beefy and heavy

[Qucifer]

it weighs about 10lbs, but its stiff.

[Qucifer]

Ok, I weighed it to get a more exact weight of the bar. As it is in the picture, it is 6.9lbs. Add another 1/2lb for gussets, weld and powder coat, and you are looking at 7.5lbs max. Thats less than a gallon of gasoline.

[DangerboyJr]

Thats awesome

[lubu]

Qucifer,

Its great to see that you're doing something for the 6gc community and i gotta say the 3pt is very well done. However I got a few things i wanna say. If you look at the joints you welded, the joint are sitting higher than the bolting plate and there is a bend at approx 90 degree, this will have an effect while driving:

When you steering hard at a corner forces apply to both of sides and if the material you used isnt strong enough it will bends in the directions showed.



Most the forces will dissipate as heat through the 90 degree bends and overtime one or more bend will eventually crack. The bendings not only causing failure in the bar but also reduce the handling because of bendings instead of a straight stiff bar holding the suspension tighly.
All strut bar bend (stress & strain) when turning but how much do they bend depend on how well the bar is made, if you have the joints welded like the Jpspeed 3pt then the bending is keep to a minimal level. Also it helps if you use strong material like re-enforced steel or titanium (lol)..

Once again looking at this 3pt I think its every well made, if you can weld it flat with the bolting plate then it will be a great product.

edit: i found a pic on the site showing a Jspeed bar..you can see how the joints are welded to the bolting plate..the angle is abt 160 degree and the material used is i think is steel..


This post has been edited by lubu: Oct 8, 2007 - 5:25 PM

[Qucifer]

Lubu, this is a prototype, basically a stencil to build a jig off of. It is only tack welded at this point. Every part that you higlighted on the picture is going to be supported by a gusset, so there will be no stretching or bending. I still have a few minor tweeks and stuff to do to the final design, but I am taking every precaution to make sure strength is not compromised. I orginally considered doing it the way you mention, if you look at the pics of my first prototype, the bar was cut at an angle, and welded to the flat plate. Doing it this way requires a very steep cut that is very hard to achieve.

Ill post a pic of what I am talking about.

You can see it almost looks like it is flat. Well, there is a cut on the bottom of the tube, allowing the bar to lay flat on the bracket. It does work, but the amount of time it takes to achieve those cuts makes it not feasible for me to make. The Jspeed design you posted has an angle machined onto the tower bracket that soaks up a lot of that tight angle. If you notice, the bar isnt even touching the bracket, just a thin angled gusset.

I assure you the finished peices will be very strong, and the price will be right. I do appreciate the constructive critisism though.

[lubu]

I knew its prototype but i didnt know that you were gonna use gussets, I guess you have it all figured out..my bad. Well hurry up so we can see the end product..

[Qucifer]

Im trying to get it done as soon as possible. I am balancing this with all my other work. I am actually going to be out of town for a week and a half starting on the 17th to design an under body brace for the S-13 240sx. I have a business partner in AZ who I do nissan work with. We are also going to be turning out 20 more S-13 strut tie bars while im out there. I hope to have a jig for this one built before I leave out of town, but it all depends on my other workload.

[ra65_22re]

how much will the 3pt bar cost? Looks really good and cant wait to see it finished

[j0e_p3t]

looks like its coming together nicely. can't wait to see how the final product turns out.

[Qucifer]

Thanks for the feedback. Im thinking $130 plus shipping for the 3 point. It will come powder coated.

For the single cross bar, unpowdercoated, unpainted, $50 plus shipping.

[xs94st]

looks like u got your stuff all straight man, can't wait to see em!

good luck with the 240 project out in AZ man!

[1bwilson]

If you need/want close up shots of a J-speed let me know. Got one hanging on the garage wall somewhere.

[Qucifer]

Just a couple more pics of the prototype off the car. Like I said, this one is not the final product, its just tacked together for jig building purposes.

[97lestyousay]

The j-speed bar is alluminum. I am interested in seeing what the finished
bar looks like, right now the tower and firewall mount points are very weak looking.
The bar itself looks plenty strong but where it mounts could use some serious reinforcment.
Props for the work.

[Qucifer]

The j-speed bar is alluminum. I am interested in seeing what the finished
bar looks like, right now the tower and firewall mount points are very weak looking.
The bar itself looks plenty strong but where it mounts could use some serious reinforcment.
Props for the work.

This is not the final product. The production bars will be very well reinforced.

[frosty]

I say get us a pic of the finished product (painter/powdercoated too) and gives us exact weights and things should roll.

What colours are you thinking of? silver is hot!

[Qucifer]

I say get us a pic of the finished product (painter/powdercoated too) and gives us exact weights and things should roll.

What colours are you thinking of? silver is hot!

I will definitely post pics of the final product when it is done. I just figured I would post pics of the progress so people could see what goes into something like this. Our 240sx design went through 3 major design changes before we were satisfied on a design for our first production run. This is on its second so far for the 6g bar, and there could be more.

Since I will have it done in a batch, i will do one color for all of them. I was thinking gunmetal grey, or wrinkle black. Im open to ideas on the color, so let me know.

[xs94st]

do u happen to have any pictures of the finished 240 bar?

on or off the car, don't really matter. i just wanna see how it ended up!

thanks Q