NS F355 Project (Page 7/73)
355Fiero OCT 20, 09:49 PM
Hey Yarmouth Fiero.

I am glad Bloozberry convinced you to grab two extended screens. You will not be sorry to do the extra work for the much better end look. I wanted one or two of those myself but I just wasn't willing to take the chance of having more windscreens being broken again in shipping....

That reinforcing is looking really good as well, keep up the great work.

Cheers
Don
Yarmouth Fiero OCT 20, 10:07 PM
Hi Don

I am glad I went ahead with the purchase as well Don. I know they will certainly add that special look to our 355's. The windshields looked to be very good quality and luckily they all made it safely back to NS. To be honest, I doubt they would have in the hands of a random shipper. Thanks again for the heads up on the purchase. I opted not to get the extended tray. We'll mock up a welded in tray .........eventually.
Bloozberry OCT 20, 10:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by Yarmouth Fiero:
I never really considered solid bushings on this project. I know earlier I mentioned still being undecided about engine/ trans set up but reading and rereading your thread sure makes the decision easier.



I'd just like to suggest that before you finalize the location for the solid bushings, that you should consider whether or not you will want to raise the cradle to reduce the wheel to fender gap issue on the fiberglass kit you are considering.
Yarmouth Fiero OCT 20, 10:43 PM
I agree Blooz. As we have discussed, I need to match my 85 chassis to your final chassis geometry as close as possible so that the fit of the 355 body is suitable. I still have a ton of work on the chassis reinforcements to keep me busy for a while yet so I'll hold off on finallizing the suspension geometry for now.
Yarmouth Fiero OCT 27, 05:46 PM
Today we worked on the drivers side chassis reinforcement and got all the pieces fabricated and tacked together. It sure would be nice to have the car about 3 feet higher off the floor when working on the chassis. I'll add a car hoist to my Christmas wish list. I'm sure I'm not the first.

The 3" x 3" x 1/8" HSS fit very well tucked in where the original chassis structure once existed.



At the front end I used 1.5" x 3" x 1/8" HSS and made relief cuts to allow the tubing to follow the shape of the front side of the A pillar. I'll cap off the top end with a piece of plate during final welding.



At the back I used the 3" x 3" x 1/8" HSS and tapered the top end down to match the width of the upper frame rail. I added a doubler plate between the end of the tubing and the frame rail to make a better welded connection and help transfer the load to the frame rail. I also added a gusset at the lower end of the tubing. I'll add a second gusset to the inside surface once I take it all off the chassis for welding.



It all looks pretty robust at this point. The key will be to get a good welded connection between the chassis and the tube frame.




I have a gusset for the front end but I suspect it may interfere with the door so I'll leave it off until the body is being fitted.



The obvious question with this reinforcement is regarding the location of the fuel fill. I measured the loaction on Blooz's 355 body and found it to be 19" aft of the door frame. I think this is pretty close to the fiero fuel fill location.



I mocked up the loaction using this distance and my fiero fuel fill pipe. It appears that the fill / vent pipes will clear the new frame reinforcement....barely.





I also took the time to do a little inspirational decorating in the garage. The boys have decided our project car will be gloss black with gloss black wheels with a machined lip. They feel it looks " Sinister".



Next step is to repeat this exercise for the passanger side and then have everything welded prior to final fitting to the chassis. Luckily, it can be removed and fitted in one piece.
Sage OCT 27, 11:27 PM


Looks great so far.

Any plans/need to tie the added stiffners together side to side?

Doesn't seem like there would be any need, but curious as to your thoughts on it.

HAGO!
85LAMB OCT 27, 11:43 PM
very nice work

If you don't mind...

I would suggest bolting a door before welding the lower brace.
I am afraid that it might not open all the way since it might hit the brace.

Keep up the good work
Yarmouth Fiero OCT 28, 06:51 AM
Sage, with regard to side to side stiffening, yes, I am planning on connecting the new vertical frame to the rear lower frame rail. Also, I will be installing a triangulated truss of 1" x 1 1/2" x 1/8" HSS against the back of the firewall to connect all 4 frame rails together to add transverse support to the chassis. In the front of the car, I will incorporate transverse stiffening in the extended windshield lower support. These additions will certainly increase the chassis stiffness above what the current roof structure is providing.



With regard to the door test fit 85LAMB, the drivers side door is sitting just out of view of the pictures. By the end of the day, the boys were itching to head out with friends to cruise so I didn't get a chance to test fit it, perhaps today though. I forget what its like to be young and have a life.

[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 10-28-2012).]

Sage OCT 28, 10:01 AM
Exellent! Kind of what came to mind for me, but much better design!

Not sure how "heavy" the stock would have to be, seems like it just needs to tie everything together, that the brunt of work will be taken on by your rocker rails. Will sure help with frame twist! You shouldn't have any after that's complete. Negligable at any rate.

Glad to hear you don't have the boys chained in place, after all, "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy".

Very nice work!

HAGO!
Yarmouth Fiero OCT 28, 01:18 PM
Sage, I agree that perhaps the 1" x 1 1/2" may be a little over kill. It happen to be what I had in stock at work at the time but I may look for some 3/4" x 1" instead. When the firewall truss is complete I plan to cover it with insulation and a heat shield. I have a supplier that makes our exhaust blankets and they do a silver silicone finish that would look very nice on the firewall.