My TTD build thread

[sm76]

Well after working all last night and tonight since 5:30, I have a design that I am going to use. It is a little heavier than I originally hoped (135 lbs) and I'm blocking my rear view a little, but it should be very stiff and most importantly very safe. What I'm showing here is a worst case. I am applying a 27 kN force at the drivers upper front corner (just the main downtube) with no support from the A-piller or roof. My roll cage will be tied into the A and B pillars and the roof. This isn't a realistic case, but it shows how the roll cage acts as a unit to distribute the load.
I applied this type of load to a bunch of different points on about 10 different designs and every time I think about removing a bar, I see where it helps. It would suck to get hurt because I didn't want to carry 2 pounds here or there.

 

[aMaff]

It would suck to get hurt because I didn't want to carry 2 pounds here or there.

Exactly. That looks solid dude

 

[benjpi]

Nice! Just curious, how long did it take your computer to chew through the analysis on that?

 

[sm76]

Nice! Just curious, how long did it take your computer to chew through the analysis on that?

Each case takes about 20-25 minutes. I'm just running it on my desk top at work.

 

[silver slotege]

Definitely looks solid. With a direct hit on your end of the roof of over 6k lbs, and you get less than a 1/4" of deflection, yeah bro, you are stout!
Looks good!

 

[Tom03es]

Designing the cage is one thing, can you actually build it or get someone to build it to spec?

 

[sm76]

Designing the cage is one thing, can you actually build it or get someone to build it to spec?

My friend is picking up the tubing for me today and I will start building it this weekend. I will be doing all the fabrication myself.
This is only my second roll cage. Here are pictures of the first one I built: http://www.breesmotorsports.com/06GRM-Rollcage.html

 

[Tom03es]

awesome.

 

[sm76]

I was very disappointed to find out on Friday that my tubing did not arrive at the retailer from mill so I worked on other projects over the weekend. I took out all of the sound deadening on the floor of the car and was surprised that it weighed 21 lbs. I also did some work on the mounting pads for the bars on both my car and my friend's Miata for which I am also building a dash bar and door bars. The steel has arrived so I should have some pictures of the progress this week.

 

[silver slotege]

sweet. Post pics ASAP!

 

[Tom03es]

What's the competition like in TTD compared to TTE? Are you going to be able to compete at the National level in TTD like you did in TTE?

 

[sm76]

What's the competition like in TTD compared to TTE? Are you going to be able to compete at the National level in TTD like you did in TTE?

Last year I would have been 2nd place in TTD at Nationals; 0.6 seconds out of first place. I'm sure the TTD drivers will improve this year, but with 200 lbs less in the car and wider tires I should do fine in TTD. I am hoping for a 2 to 3 second improvement over last year.
I am planning on running both TTD and TTC at Nationals since they run in different groups. I have to see how light my car can get since I'll be able to remove all of my ballast when running in TTC. I was 2 seconds slower than the first place car in TTC last year.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

You do know that for about 1/3 the time you could have just removed your rear spoiler and put it back on after painting instead of masking it...

You should do a cage like Wes man's...

 

[sm76]

You do know that for about 1/3 the time you could have just removed your rear spoiler and put it back on after painting instead of masking it...

You should do a cage like Wes man's...

Masking took about 3 minutes, so I doubt it. Most of the horizontal section was covered with 12" wide masking paper. I do wish I would have known I was pulling the windshield before I painted though.

What does Wes man's cage look like?

 

[iracemine]

how much wider and how did you get the sound deadening off and be able to weigh it??? I figured it would be a total b****... like wire wheel or chemicals like that.

 

[aMaff]

I'm not sure how the TT classing works, but does that let you up tire size as well?

 

[sm76]

how much wider and how did you get the sound deadening off and be able to weigh it??? I figured it would be a total b****... like wire wheel or chemicals like that.

This year I am going to run a 235/40/17 on an 8" wide wheel. I ran 225/45/15 tires last year.

To get the sound deadening off, I froze it with dry ice and then hit it with a hammer to loosen it and then chipped off sections with a screwdriver. Some pieces came off in 3" by 12" sections and others were the size of a quarter. When I picked them off the floor I put them in a bag and weighed the bag.

 

[sm76]

I'm not sure how the TT classing works, but does that let you up tire size as well?

I think you are referring to running TTC? I get 20 more points to play with in TTC so I could spend them on whatever I want. I think going wider than a 235/40/17 would be tough without fender flares or cutting. You can't live with tires scraping in TT like you can in Autocross where runs are only a minute or two (unless its on a plastic liner, but that goes away on its own as I found out).

 

[iracemine]

neat. Thanks!!!(bow)

 

[Maxx Mazda]

What does Wes man's cage look like?

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79770 The fun starts a few pages later with the cage. Wes has a full out race car, it's sweet. You should make yours like his.