MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Performance Related => Topic started by: Paulm on May 8, 2010, 19:18

Title: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: Paulm on May 8, 2010, 19:18
* Mods please move if this is in the wrong section *

Now that Ive got the breast plate sorted, I've started on the full body brace, its going to be a step forward over whats previsouly been made for a few reasons.

1) I'll be using 6082-T6 aluminium rather than steel or 6061 ali. 6082 is the strongest ali of all the 6000 series aluminums ,while stil being easy to machine and obviously much lighter than steel and more resistant to rusting etc.
2) Instead of using 40mm tube with a 1.5mm wall thickness, I'll be using 50mm x 25mm box section with a 3mm wall thickness. A stronger section that'll be more robust for knocks and dings that'll happen to it durings it life.
3) Price - It should work out much cheaper than the next best thing. Especially where theres shipping, vat and duty to put on  top of the inital cost, especially with the exchange rate as it is at the moment.

PS heres a pic of the breast plate, I've had a delivery of the ali, so I'll be measuring up tomorrow, with perhaps a few welds done here and there.

(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/Subarupaul/MR2%20V8%20build%20diary/P1010016.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/Subarupaul/MR2%20V8%20build%20diary/P1010015.jpg)
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Anonymous on May 9, 2010, 23:19
interested in a price for a breastplate  s:D :D s:D  


craig
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: StuM on May 9, 2010, 23:25
Quote from: "cdm1"interested in a price for a breastplate  s:D :D s:D  


craig

Craig - Paul has a thread for the BPs here (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=29393&start=0#p361201)

Cheers,
Stu
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Two's Company on May 10, 2010, 12:54
Quite a few members have Corky breastplates which sometimes suffers the brunt of bigger speed bumps so worth making sure the strengthening tubes aren't too low.
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Paulm on May 10, 2010, 13:57
Good point, I'll keep it in mind, ISTR the corkys BP is either 28 or 31mm thick. I'm aiming at 25mm, so it'll be slimmer but not by much   s:? :? s:?
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Two's Company on May 10, 2010, 17:23
It doesn't happen much - on mine it was only when it was lowered by 30mm with a passenger on one set of speed bumps.  Just be mindful of it not being too low (but don't compromise the plate).   s:D :D s:D

Edit - see scraping here  l viewtopic.php?f=47&t=17955 (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=17955) l
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Paulm on May 10, 2010, 19:49
Yeah, It certainly lokks like inch tube on top of the 6mm plate, I should be no more than 25mm, as I'm taking the time to recess the 'tube' into the plate, saving those extra few mm.
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Paulm on May 18, 2010, 21:05
Completed my test pieces tonight, its looking quite nice and strong...love the shinyness of an aluminiuim weld    s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Kool PT on May 19, 2010, 12:34
do you have a rough, rough idea of the price you'll be looking for when these are finished?

also are these compatable with all front and rear lower braces or do they replace them?
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Paulm on May 19, 2010, 17:03
Its looking about £275 to £300, which also include new bolts of the correct length obviously quite a bit cheaper then the £600 that corkies is, but its still a chunk of change.

Cant see  any reason why it wont work with other front and rear braces as there a common design, but to be honest if they didnt i'd be happy to adapt it to fit, plus I'll be doing my own front brace next anyway.
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Paulm on May 23, 2010, 17:26
Managed to get a couple of hours in the garage this afternoon, for a bit of welding..

(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/Subarupaul/P1010146.jpg)

(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/Subarupaul/P1010145.jpg)

Wont get much else done this week, as its manic for me at work for until next tuesday, but will hopefully get an hour or two.
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: grsymons on May 23, 2010, 19:17
Looking good so far.   s8) 8) s8)
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Anonymous on May 31, 2010, 02:09
what's the latest on these?
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Paulm on May 31, 2010, 11:06
Should have it finished today !
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace
Post by: Kool PT on May 31, 2010, 12:06
please note my interest.
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: Paulm on May 31, 2010, 19:04
Noted   s:D :D s:D  
Not quite finished, just got the stretchers from the front mouting point back to the breatplate to weld on. Then some end caps and it'll be done.

So far its bloody stiff, mouting it on, it would rather lift the car, then flex the brace, but i guess thats what its there for !

(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/Subarupaul/MR2%20V8%20build%20diary/P1010160.jpg)
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: loadswine on May 31, 2010, 19:11
Nice job there Paul.   s8) 8) s8)
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: Paulm on June 1, 2010, 21:47
Worked out a price fro these now, one off would be £280 including new bolts all round, a 5 off price would be £250 pounds. If anyone would like me to set up a group buy, let me know. Thats for 6082 aluminium, which is the strongest of the 6000 series. Weight is approx 6kg. For reference a corkies in 6061 ali, currently comes in at £559 before shipping but including vat and duty.

Paul   s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: uktotty on June 1, 2010, 22:23
how do you propose to fit it? If you lift a wheel the chassis will flex.
Do you have a pit or do you use ramps etc?
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: Kool PT on June 1, 2010, 22:47
inTerested in a gb...
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: grsymons on June 2, 2010, 00:06
count me in for one paul
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: Paulm on June 2, 2010, 09:32
Quote from: "uktotty"how do you propose to fit it? If you lift a wheel the chassis will flex.
Do you have a pit or do you use ramps etc?

I just use a pair of axle staands set to the same height and check the level of ths sills
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: Paulm on June 2, 2010, 09:50
Group buy interest is here

http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=29393&p=361201#p361201
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- picture update
Post by: Paulm on June 5, 2010, 12:45
Got the floorpan brace finished and fitted today

(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/Subarupaul/MR2%20V8%20build%20diary/P1010161.jpg)

(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f228/Subarupaul/MR2%20V8%20build%20diary/P1010164.jpg)
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: grsymons on June 5, 2010, 13:54
nice one, once you are ready to go in to production pm me your paypal addy and how much you want up front   s:P :P s:P
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: Paulm on June 5, 2010, 17:06
I guess we'll give at week and close the GB at the end of this week and I'll get on with making them !   s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: Anonymous on June 9, 2010, 13:35
please put me down for one   s:D :D s:D  
let me know when you're ready for me
gav
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: philster_d on June 9, 2010, 21:50
Can you drive it over a few speedbumps and then take some more pics.  s:) :) s:)


Phil
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: Anonymous on June 9, 2010, 22:11
 s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: Paulm on June 9, 2010, 22:22
Whose saying I havent already !   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: muffdan on June 9, 2010, 23:35
It's a fair point. My TTE brace (which is comparatively low profile) is a mess of dents and scrapes.  s:( :( s:(
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: OlberJ on June 10, 2010, 00:32
Quote from: "Paulm"Whose saying I havent already !   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
s:shock: :shock: s:shock:   But that would mean......
 

 s:o :o s:o    s:o :o s:o    s:o :o s:o    s:o :o s:o
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: Paulm on June 10, 2010, 08:10
Quote from: "muffdan"It's a fair point. My TTE brace (which is comparatively low profile) is a mess of dents and scrapes.  s:( :( s:(
By how much is your car lowered Dan ?
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: muffdan on June 10, 2010, 08:13
30mm on TTE's for most of the brace's life. Currently still 30mm but on Tein Super Streets.
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: philster_d on June 10, 2010, 12:43
Mine was lowered too, but its the place that gets the brunt of it.

Phil
Title: Re: Ultimate Floorpan brace- Done
Post by: Paulm on June 10, 2010, 16:24
Yeah, theres not that much you can do if you go down 30mm, the brace sits 3mm lower floorpan runners at the back but its in the middle thats the problem with lowered cars, I guess the long and the short of it is ,if you lower the car too much and then drive over speed bumps with any brace, guess whats going to happen.