NS F355 Project (Page 3/73)
fieroguru JUL 03, 12:35 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.
Yarmouth Fiero JUL 04, 09:30 PM
Thanks for the great pics in the PM Fieroguru. As you suggested, we made a change to the position and angle of the 3 x 5 so that it passes past the B pillar and then angles upward to the top longitudinal frame as far back as possible. We set the stock wheel in place with the 3" frame extension and using the dimensions from Blooz's Stage 3 drawing for wheel diameter and width, ride height and rear track dimension we located the point of intersection of the new frame and the top longitudinal that should be well clear of the suspension travel. Using the photos Don posted as a rough guide for the location of the fuel fill, I think we arrived at a suitable rough layout for this part of the frame reinforcement. Although at the moment, my hopes of using the door intakes to feed airflow into the engine compartment may be impeded. We may refine this frame a little further.




Next step is to rough in a design for the A pillar reinforcement.
355Fiero JUL 05, 03:50 PM
Graham;

Looks good for reinforcing. You may want to also put some plate gusseting in between the brace going up to the upper frame rail and the firewall. This will add additional strength to the bottom of the Fiero firewall which is what flexes the most after cutting off the roof.

Another item you can use to reinfirce the firewall is a set of 1/8 or 3/16" plates cut at tapered angles on top of the back of the centre console and welded to the firewall. The bottom of the braces would be about2.5-3" wide and the top can be down to 1-1.5" wide and you sit these on each of the rails that run along the top of the centre console. This ties the firewall into the centre console very well which is a key structural piece of the unibody.

Keep the pics coming.

Cheers
Don
Yarmouth Fiero JUL 05, 03:57 PM
Thanks for the advice Don. I'm a ship builder so I certainly like the idea of lots of gussets. I'll bring more cardboard home tonight. I also printed off some full size images of Ferarri wheels to hide those nasty stock wheel that came with the car in 1985. They are in amazing shape though for being 28 years old.
Bloozberry JUL 05, 06:51 PM
Those stock steelies look better than the styrofoam ones I made for my car! The rear ones were still on it when you came to visit if I recall.
Yarmouth Fiero JUL 05, 09:32 PM
Good-bye steelies....hello Ferrari wheels..........whoa baby.... who ordered the 21" wheels? I gotta check the print scale on that plotter

Yarmouth Fiero JUL 06, 09:40 PM
Sadly... its always the youngest of the family who draws the short straw for the fun jobs.........like drilling out the old cradle bushings and deburring the new steel inventory

Sure its fun to burn wire but I keep telling them they'll appreciate their car more if they do all the little jobs along the way.



edit: removed photo of family member

[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 02-23-2015).]

Yarmouth Fiero AUG 11, 10:31 PM
Progress is slowly moving forward with a focus on the 3" frame extension. As well, I have been working on a 3D model of the chassis using RHINO which I will use to not only document the chassis modifications but also construct an accurate 3D model of the entire chassis which can then be used develop a body, using the original Fiero body mount points where possible.

While I use RHINO for work, measuring the Fiero chassis with all its stamped sheet metal panels and translating this into a somewhat accurate 3D drawing is proving to be a huge challange and thus a slow, time consuming process. But like all Fiero projects, baby steps are the only way to go.

Here is an image of the driver side rear upper and lower chassis frame rails showing the 3" chassis extension with extension pieces in place as well as the sheet metal to blend the extensions seamlessly into the existing frame rails.



The upper frame rail extension piece was fabricated from 1/16" sheet and formed to duplicate the non rectangular cross section of the upper frame rail. The peice is 8" long which will allow the part to be inserted 2 1/2" into each end of the original frame rail with a 3" extension. The part couldn't be much longer as the frame rail changes cross section geometry beyond this point. I added a few 3/4" dia holes in the sides of the frame rails to allow for plug welding of the extensions.

The extensions are tacked welded in place in these photos. Also note our typical Yarmouth foggy summer weather has quickly turned my newly fabricated parts a bright red on the surface. Once full welding commences, this nasty red oxide will be history.



The lower frame rail extension pieces were fabricated from 4" x 2" x 1/8" HSS which were split and rewelded to form the necessary 4" x 1 3/4" x 1/8" dimensions. They were also given a 5 deg kink about mid length to match the original frame rail geometry. Again, the pieces are 8" long due to the narrowing of the lower frame rail geometry.



The rear section of the chassis was then moved in position and the alignment checked in 6 positions before the parts were tacked in place. The alignment was then checked a second time. Before the chassis was ever cut, datum points were punched into the chassis on either side of the cut to allow for realignment and confirmation of the stretched length during assembly as well as before and after welding.





Once final welding is complete, new sheet metal parts will be added to cover the extension pieces and welded to make the final installation both strong and hopefully somewhat invisible to the casual observer.

Following completion of the chassis stretch, installation of the rocker panel reinforcement and firewall strengthening will begin, prior to removal of the roof on this Spyder project. The design work for this is well underway.
84se2m4 AUG 12, 01:51 AM
Wooo another nova scotian! The car is coming along, best of luck!
Sage AUG 12, 11:25 AM
Subscribed!

HAGO!