NS F355 Project (Page 44/73)
davylong86 AUG 15, 11:47 AM
Very nice! I don't think I ever saw black rotors before,but I like them.
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 15, 12:14 PM
The black rotors are in keeping with the "all black and gold theme" for our build. I guess the rotor surface won't be black for long though davylong86.

The rear calipers will probably be the Wilwood 4 piston forged superlite as well as the Wilwood MC4 mechanical cailper for parking brake duty. I may order the MC4 just to see if there is going to be an issue with rattle as you had suggested Blooz.

Edit: The MC4 comes in black as well



[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 08-15-2014).]

Yarmouth Fiero AUG 15, 02:42 PM
Taking advantage of the fast few days of my vacation, I thought I'd try to make some progress worthy of a thread update. Although it is kind of nice to post pics of new equipment once in a while.

As mentioned earlier, I plan to move my strut towers outward to allow the suspension to follow the 8" track width increase for this build. After removing most of the trunk sheet metal I realized the only thing holding the lower frame rails was the strut towers. At the same time, Blooz confirmed that out rear bumper was going to have to be moved atleast 2" forward to clear the 355 body we will be using. This seemed like a good time to move the bumper and secure the lower frame rails before any more chassis was chopped away.

So keeping with the planned 2" bumper move, I marked off the lower drivers side lower frame rail and proceeded to cut the required 2" of material off.







Originally, my plan was to make new flanges which would be welded to the shortened lower frame rail and allow me to secure the OEM bumper back in place. However, looking at what I had cut off and the fine condition of the OEM flanges, I decided to reuse them by removing the connecting sheet metal and separating them into two individual flanges. Not only were they in good shape, but they had dandy stiffeners already moulded into them which made them plenty stiff.



So I cleaned up the flanges and clamped them in place to see how they fit. I think they will be fine and once I have the passanger side done, I'll bolt them to the rear bumper to ensure they line up properly before welding them to the shortened lower frame rail.

Here is a pic of them clamped in place as well as a pic showing the difference in lower frame rail length with only the drivers side shortened so far.
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 15, 07:40 PM
So here is the rear bumper in its new location with both lower frame rails shortened 2". Doesn't look like much I know ........ but it's a few hours work so I'll post it anyway ha-ha-ha.
Bloozberry AUG 15, 09:39 PM
Looks good... I'll be following suit very shortly.
Yarmouth Fiero SEP 01, 03:26 PM
Every now and then, I seem to get a little bogged down in design details, trying to figure everything out to three decimal places, hesitating to buy components once I seem to find what I want that will fit my design.................. such has been the case for the rear suspension. As I mentioned, I plan to move the strut towers outward to compensate for the 8" track width increase of the 355 and the design has been going pretty good, albeit slow-w-w-w-w. I decided that the struts would move outward about 2 1/2" and the last 1 1/2" would be completed with a custom bracket to connect the rear spindles to the lower end of the struts. I decided on QA1 Front Pro Coil Strut System and specifically the 82 - 92 Camaro / Firebird Coil Over Single Adjustable Struts ( 18 position ). They have the length I need with the travel I require with lots of adjustablility for fine tuning static length and dynamic response. I also ordered the camber / caster adjustment plates for the top end. So they are on order from my favorite speed shop.

Continuning on with the design of the new strut towers that will suit the forthcoming coil over struts, it became apparent that the stock lower frame rails of the Fiero were now going to be significantly inboard of where they should actually be in relation to the new strut towers. So I've been crawling in and out of the chassis looking at this issue from every possible angle and I have decided to remove the stock lower frame rails, cutting them at the point of the original 3" chassis stretch. Rather than try to reuse the odd shaped stock rails, I have decided to fabricate new rails that will run straight back, parallel to each other. I will probably use 4" x 1 1/2" x 1/8" HSS and run them all the way back to the rear bumper, while incorporating a wider section in way of the engine cradle rear mounts. I had planned on designing and building a new engine cradle anyway that better suited the SBC installation so I may as well make it a little wider and give myself as much room in the engine bay as possible. As you will see below, the new lower frame rails should also eliminate the usual interference of the SBC with the lower frame rail on the passenger side.

Here are a few drawings showing the stock lower frame rails in blue, the revised lower frame rails in purple and a couple close ups showing the relationship of the SBC with the lower frame rail ( roughly).

Stock Lower Frame Rails


Modified Lower Frame Rails


SBC Interference


SBC Interference Corrected


And just when I think my plan is ready to carve in stone......... I get a suggestion from two different PFF members this week to consider going longitudinal. Back to the drawing board perhaps.
RCR SEP 01, 06:10 PM
I saw your post in Blooz's thread. It's been discussed numerous times over at MM's. I don't think there is a transaxle option for a V8 that will fit in the 3" stretch longitudinally. Chrysler V6 is an option, but I don't think that is your direction. Obviously there have been several performance car options with the latitudinal engine. It's not necessarily the optimal, but obviously it can be done effectively.

Bob

[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 09-01-2014).]

355Fiero SEP 02, 04:44 PM
The SBC is one of the longer V8's. I had done some measuring a few years ago with measurements I obtained from an 016 Audi transaxle into a 3" stretch. The 016 could withstand the SBC torque with the reinforcing plate by Jim Dinner and no clutch drops from the green lights...... The Audi 016 is the shortest transaxle between the bell housing face and the axle centre. I have a Porsche G50 but it is a couple inches longer between the bell house and axles.

I have drawings with the Audi lengths and widths etc. somewhere that I can send you Graham. I figured the SBC length, then the Audi transaxle bell housing face to axle centre put the axle centres about 1.5"-2" behind the suspension hub centres. That put a small angle on the axles and CV joints but nothing that would cause issues over the long term.

You would need to add in a box to the firewall upper portion to clear some of the upper SBC parts and you would need to remove the lower frame box that covers the fuel pipe etc. Or cut some out of the middle portion of the lower box. This is required to clear the harmonic balancer. You also need to use a custom low profile accessories setup that puts the A/C, alt etc. lower to miss the angled Fiero firewall.

It is tight and I am sure I missed some important interference areas when I was eyeballing it but with your full 3D cad, you can draw a transaxle and mate it to the SBC you already have and see where the interference will really be. The beauty of CAD.....

There are other, (better in my opinion), options for a V8 than an SBC unless you already have one ready to go though.

Good luck with your decision and I will track those drawings down and send off to you in email.

Cheers
Don
Yarmouth Fiero SEP 02, 07:25 PM
Thanks for the info Don. I got the drawings of the gearbox in my email. Very interesting option and one I will consider exploring. With regard to engine option, I don't have an engine yet but have been eyeing a nice Edelbrock Crate engine but its overall height as set up is a little concerning for the low deck of the 355 body.
RCR SEP 03, 07:04 AM
How much clearance does the 355 deck have? I find it interesting because my 308 has enough room to put a 6-71 blower on my Aurora. OK, maybe not that much, but it is way above the original Fiero deck.



Bob