newbie here couple of questions?

[ant]

hi im new here
im only 15 and i have built 2 trikes, i am now going to build a spaceframed ford anglia 105e.
i am planning on using a 1.6 zetec se engine and a type 9 gearbox. i like the idea of the se engine because it is a pretty unexplored engine and is very light, looking at some data on them i think it should be quite easy to make a reasonable amount of power from this engine, however i am going to build the rest of the car so that it can take a fair amount more power, then if i ever have enough money to make more power i wont have to worry about uprating the rest of the car. i am going to stick with a live axle but it will be 4 linked and i am planning to use equal length wishbone front suspension , based on sierra uprights. with a pushrod/pullrod damper.
i am planning on building the shell up to still have a steel floor but for the floor to be in line with the bottom of the sills, giving the car a flat bottom, i understand that this will need to slop upwards towards the rear where i plan to fit a rear diffuser.

the car will be a track toy but will stay road legal.

does anyone have any information on the tuning of the zetec se engine? is there any race series or race cars that use this engine?

any advice would be appreciated.
thanks
ant

heres some pictures of my trikes:
the little c90 powered on i built when i was 12

xj900 engined one nearly finished

[morninggents]

The trikes look awsome bits of kit and welcome to 10 Tenths.
For Zetec engine tuning I believe Burtons at Ilford do a lot of stuff for this unit.

[ant]

yes burtons do do a few bits for the engine mate but not loads... i have found a man who is putting one in a kaddet and he has told me of a few places to speak to
im going to order uprights soon, then i just need to find an engine and im ready to start building it... does anyone have any general advice about building spaceframes..... i know the following:
no T loadings
a tube should have more than one use
start from the wheels up
dont over engineer brackets
get all weight as low as possible

any other advice please?

thanks

[terence]

Going by the fantastic effort you have made with the trikes Ant,I think the only advice you need is,carry on the good work! As for the space frame,work out the triagulations from the door appertures,if your having doors that is.
I take it you will be using a 50mm main hoop,which will be the "B" pillar and work out from there.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Going by the fantastic effort you have made with the trikes Ant,I think the only advice you need is,carry on the good work!

[JamesH]

"Race car chassis design and construction" by Forbes Aird is a decent read. Chapter 4 for Spaceframes.

James

[Al Weyman]

Nice to see a young guy doing some hands on work well done they look great!

[275 GTB-4]

Welcome Ant...I want to be like you when I grow up!! Best of luck with the project

[ant]

thanks for the comments

im going to order my uprights soon... im going to get them from rally design, im trying to decide/ calculate weather or not to use their lower ball joints? as this will make it very difficult to make the lower wishbone adjustable on all 3 points, is this a bad disadvantage or dosent it really matter as it will be adjustable on the 2 points that mount to the chassis? not sure about that?


thanks

[JamesH]

In my limited experience most (race) cars would only have upper adjustable BJ's, plus track rods. You can give forward back adjustability at the other end of the wishbones by making the brackets larger if you need that. In/Out would only increase track, but I suppose would be useful for curing bump steer.

James

[ant]

o.k thanks mate