40 replies to this topic

[Mopar Rob]

I didn't want to hijack Brian's R-Geo R&D Chassis Build so I started a new thread for mine.

I decided I'm going to build a plumber design chassis with the front wheels attached to the pans.



The .025" R&D Samurai plate is extremely light weight at 26.1 grams. For comparison Rick's normal Samurai plate weighs 33.2 grams and one by another manufacturer weighed 43 + grams



I went with a double rail configuration. This has worked well for me during testing on a swoopy Gerding king.





My goal is a under 100 gram car when it's finished.

[One_Track_Mind]

Now why didn't I think of that?

Anxious to see the front axle setup. With the plumber.

Cool build, Rob

This is one of the reasons you've got a spot here on Slotblog for Everyone to find your work. Exquisite Designs!

[One27ray]

I second that Brian, should be and interesting build. Great start Rob.
Both you guys do excellent job's on your builds, so we can learn some tips on building chassis.

i-ray

[68Caddy]

Bring it on Rob this is way cool to watch, yours and Brian's at the same time.
Love to see the rest of the plumer action.



Nesta

[Pablo]

Rick B. is da man.
That fold in the sheet is going to revolutionize everything, I think.
That was the first lesson in 7th grade shop class; a bend in sheet metal makes it stronger.
Yes, it creates some weight above ground zero, but it's an excellent tradeoff to increase strength while allowing the use of lighter sheet. Creates an air channel, also ?
Go Brain , Go Rob !

[Mopar Rob]

I spent most of my day outdoors so I didn't have much time to work on the chassis. I attached the front plumber hinge, a little bracing and the front axle.





Current weight is 46.5 grams as pictured. The pin tubes will add about 1 gram so that doesn't leave much room to make my 100 gram goal. I probably added a gram or two by the length of wire for my hinge and the added bracing for the pan. I want the chassis to be as robust as possible, besides there's a 100 gram minimum for IRRA Can-Am

[One_Track_Mind]

are you putting on the guide reinforcement? that's going to add a gram or two?

[Mr. Frank]

NICE BUILD, Rob.... LOOKS GREAT..... Is that the one for me your working on ??

Mr. Frank

[Mopar Rob]

are you putting on the guide reinforcement? that's going to add a gram or two?

No, I doubt it. It's getting too heavy

[Marty Stanley]

No, I doubt it. It's getting too heavy

Nice job! I'm thinking that's .055 wire for the main rails?

I've got a similar build with the .032 plate. Works really well!

Keep them coming.

[Mopar Rob]

Nice job! I'm thinking that's .055 wire for the main rails?

.

Thanks Marty, close it's a .055" & .062" rail

[Mopar Rob]

A better view of the hinge. A friend pointed out that the axle is hiding the hinge in the photo I posted



What I thought worked out nice was the strenghtening ribe in the center served a double purpose offering support for my hinge.

[Dennis Krivacek]

Pablo,

If memory serves me correctly, the first person that I ever saw doing beading on chassis
was Brian McPherson.

Rick B. is da man.
That fold in the sheet is going to revolutionize everything, I think.
That was the first lesson in 7th grade shop class; a bend in sheet metal makes it stronger.
Yes, it creates some weight above ground zero, but it's an excellent tradeoff to increase strength while allowing the use of lighter sheet. Creates an air channel, also ?
Go Brain , Go Rob !

[Ron Hershman]

That was the first lesson in 7th grade shop class; a bend in sheet metal makes it stronger.

Yep but race a Parma FCR car lately? Bend-o-matic brass plate with stamped/bent ridges.

Pablo,

If memory serves me correctly, the first person that I ever saw doing beading on chassis
was Brian McPherson.

Champion Thumper in the 80's was the first chassis to have beading...then the Parma Rental chassis, then the FCR chassis

[One_Track_Mind]

How about Retro chassis then Ron?
Who was the first to show them?

Riddle me that one Batman!

[Rick]

I believe Brian was the first to post his ribbed pans , here on the blog. I had been messing with this about 2 years ago and like many projects got shelved in the garage for other tinkering. When Brian posted his picture, it woke that old project back up again and I then finished it. But the first to post gets the credit, as it should be. Me and Brian just have rudimentary tools at our disposal, LOL, and have to do the best one can do with the tools you have.

SO Brian you are the first and the inspiration for others to follow...............

[Pablo]

I bow to the gentleman innovator, Brian "Brain" Mcp

Is that what it's called - "beading" ??

[Rick]

I bow to the gentleman innovator, Brian "Brain" Mcp

Is that what it's called - "beading" ??

Yes, you could call it beading. They have a machine called a bead roller that you can do this type of thing on, but would make a real mess of a chassis plate. Forming brass creates a lot of collaterial changes. This is more forming to make the bead. Just as a guide tongue is formed, coining is an incorrect term we use in here, but we all know what is being talked about. Coining is like when you "strike" a coin.............

[Ron Hershman]

How about Retro chassis then Ron?
Who was the first to show them?

Riddle me that one Batman!

I am thinking that maybe it was Neil Easterday may have tried it about 4 years ago and a picture was posted on here somewhere back then in a race report maybe from a retro race at Fast Eddy's.

You are the most recent to show one Brian.

Oh and RJR had a bend-o-matic Flexi chassis in 1996 or 97 with ridges stamped in it too.

[Mopar Rob]

Anyway the chassis is finished



I connected the pans with a simple piece of .047" wire inside .062" ID square tubing for the stop



And for those who are concerned about their weight




Now to assemble it into a finished car and paint the body

[Dennis Krivacek]

I stand corrected!

Yep but race a Parma FCR car lately? Bend-o-matic brass plate with stamped/bent ridges.




Champion Thumper in the 80's was the first chassis to have beading...then the Parma Rental chassis, then the FCR chassis

[68Caddy]

Go Penguins. Love hockey myself.
Got to get one of those kits.


Nesta

[Rick]

Rob, it came out really nice. Front axle look like it needs a little haircut too. 50 grams with front axle should come in a tad under 100 grams complete? Waiting to find you final tally.

This is #2. Will need some performance reports when possible.

[Chris Barnes]

Rob,

Looks good. James Merriman built a RGeo Samurai 3 Plumber car a couple of months ago and blew us away in Abbeville. If I am not mistaken, the chassis is with Chris in Spain at this time. Be glad to know if it works as well there as it did here.

[Mopar Rob]

Rob, it came out really nice. Front axle look like it needs a little haircut too. 50 grams with front axle should come in a tad under 100 grams complete? Waiting to find you final tally.

This is #2. Will need some performance reports when possible.

It's a little over 102 grams with an FK motor. I foget the difference in weight between an FK and PD other than the PD is lighter so it might be a 100 gram or less Can-Am? When I was assembling it, I then decided to put a guide reinforcement on which increased the chassis weight by about 2 grams. I could have also saved a little weight using Alpha 20 gauge lead wire and doing some other stuff, but with the 100 gram minimum IRRA rule it didn't seem worth the effort.