NS F355 Project (Page 2/73)
Yarmouth Fiero JUL 02, 09:01 PM
Hi Blooz

Here is a picture I just took showing how far the 3" x 5" frame extends past the original B pillar metal work. From the outer edge of the 3" x 5" to the outboard edge of the firewall is exactly 5" and this edge runs almost vertical. I am hoping the inner edge of the door scoop will clear this. If not, does this mean the scoop actually goes through the existing B pillar?



I added a dotted line to show where the 3" x 5" could be trimmed to clear the body work. I'll confirm the actual measurements before I start cutting steel.
Bloozberry JUL 02, 10:09 PM
That looks good... plenty of room for the scoops. Somehow in the other pictures it looked like the 3 X 5 was sticking much further out that that... maybe I got too much sun today too.
355Fiero JUL 02, 11:45 PM
Yarmouth Fiero;

Welcome to the world of replicas. You did the first part very well. Good call on not cutting the roof off. The Firro firewall is the weakest part of the frame as soon as you cut the roof out of the unibody.

The one lice I would recommend on your reinforcements is to make the bottom of the b-pillar wider so it gives more of a triangulation against the b-pillar. The bottom of the firewall is where it flexes the worst so making that the strongest will do you well when removing the roof.

Looks good. Looking forward to seeing more. I also sent you a pm about a body you might be interested in on East Coast.

Cheers
Don
ericjon262 JUL 03, 12:12 AM
I'm loving everything so far with one exception.... PLEASE don't do a SBC, there are so many cooler more unique combos out there to be done!

------------------
there's a Group on 60degreeV6.com for us 660 Fiero owners!

Fiero Owner's group on 60degreeV6.com

I know these lines Look crooked on paper, but I swear I've got them straight in my head.

Yarmouth Fiero JUL 03, 07:19 AM
Thanks Blooz, I took alot of pictures before I got a couple that didn't look weird. I even went back and marked the mock up with a few dimensions because the B pillar looked 8" wide at the top. I even ran out to double check what I had done because it didn't look right at all. Isn't that what they say " measure twice, shoot once". I'm hoping to get better with the camera as the build progresses.

I responded to your PM Don. Thanks for the advice regarding the shape of the B pillar. I agree that it should be angled inward however I was trying to keep it just a little wider than the existing B pillar metal work to allow a strong connection between the two pieces. I will be altering the actual configuration of the cardboard mock up for a number of reasons and I'll try to incorportate your suggestion at the same time.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding engine choice ericjon262. I agree that the SBC in the fiero may be a little "90's" and I am certainly open to suggestions regarding other engine choices. I haven't made a final commitment to engine selection yet and I'll certainly check out the link you provided.
fieroguru JUL 03, 07:39 AM
I like your plans with the chassis reinforcement, but I wouldn't have it stay so close to the B-pillar and angle it as much as possible to get it as close as possible to the strut tower. The strut tower is the main load point for the rear and tying your reinforcement directly into it should work better than just reinforcing the passenger compartment and relying on the longer rear frame rails to take it from there. Here is the last one I did with 2x3 1/8" wall, it was for a stock body, so the fuel filler tube kept me from going any further back (but you could always add some gussets or smaller tube triangulation):


For the front, I sectioned into the lower a-piller frame and inserted the tube. With the angles of the tubes, I was able to tack everything in place, remove the tubes for full welding, then slide them back into place for welding to the chassis.


Here is a teaser pic for the underside:
Bloozberry JUL 03, 07:49 AM
Oooo... a flat panel bottom... cool.
Yarmouth Fiero JUL 03, 07:56 AM
Awesome pictures and suggestions fieroguru. It never occured to me to move the support further back. I love this idea and it makes sense structurally. I love how you handled the A pillar and transverse stiffening too.

Did you build a jig to rotate your chassis? That is a whole new way to look at a fiero.....that's not sitting in a ditch.

Mind if I ask what wall thickness you use for your structural tubes?
Yarmouth Fiero JUL 03, 08:04 AM
Sorry Fieroguru. I see you stated 1/8" wall tubing. I was a little mesmerized by the pictures
fieroguru JUL 03, 12:02 PM
I am away from the computer for a couple of days, but I can pm you more pictures after the 4 th if you would like.