[Paxterra]

thanks for the feedback

[mizlplix]

Your square door openings are problematic. They do not put the chassis stresses anywhere. They just end at the door uprights.

Study a drag racing chassis. See how they"X" the door bars to allow the stresses to carry through.

"Gussetts are your friend". I do not see too many.

Other than that, carry on.

Miz

[Paxterra]

Thanks for the input. I've changed the door opening adding a forward gusset and a rearward side-impact barrier. This makes the door opening smaller and moves the stress away from those nasty 90 degree angles.

I plan both roadster and coup version and the coupe will not need nearly as much bracing as the roadster. This makes entry/exit a little easier since the coupe has to deal with the roofline.

I'll add a photo since this is a sharp group here.

Good critique, Thanks.

[Paxterra]

http://www.jerrybickel.com/images/chassis_schematic.jpg

Imagine getting in and out of this. I don't want to climb through the window like a Nascar driver. That is why I use very heavy gauge tubing. It is 1.75" 0.120 wall DOM tube. This stuff is really stiff. Yes,it has a weight penalty but this is not a race car. I'm limiting the speed to 85 mph. I'm more interested in daily driver comfort and safety.

Also, the doors will be structural on this design, carrying some of the flexing forces.

I really appreciate the perspectives on this forum. It is very down-to-earth.

[Paxterra]

I should have called it a wind turbine car.

[mizlplix]

I think I will start a thread called "A Hot Air Car".....LOL

OK, As to the chassis diagram you posted above, The door bar scheme would be good in an open roadster design. They are always needing stiffness and the ultra important side impact protection in a "street" chassis. Access/egress would'nt be too bad like in a coupe.

With a roof structure added to your top roadster design (making it a coupe), you just need a few small mods to be good-to-go. The opening is necessary and must be designed around.

You are correct in the weight trade-off in the .125 tubing. But you can add another reason....life span. A lighter chassis WILL crack with age.

I was a chassis specialist for 35 years. It was my "meat-n-potatoes".

Miz

[Duncan]

Hi Paxterra

My humble opinion - lose the doors if its a roadster just step over the side - running boards help if you are old and stiff like me

I get worse - Lose the windscreen - a wind deflector means that you can lose the wipers and de-mister

I operate on the KISS principle - if you have doors they will probably have to meet standards - no doors no problem

Duncan's Dubious Device - Page 2 - DIY Electric Car Forums

I must update my build