G/F class lakester in Wichita, Kansas

[Stainless1]

Hey John, I also have scales if you need them in the future.... I need to come over and see your art in progress

[ggl205]

I have finally completed front suspension and steering. The big holdup was finding clevis' that fit 3/8" rod ends! Stiletto offers them as an option for their rack & pinion systems but just try to buy them separately. Anyway, these clevis' are kind of a strange duck. They take 3/8" rod ends but require a .500" wide slot to fit the rod end ball. Almost every 3/8" clevis I found had a .375" width slot. Not sure what goes in these clevis' but a 3/8" rod end will not fit. So, I thought I was forced making these parts when I did an unusual Internet search. I asked for a birdcage clevis. Behold! Four of them popped up and all fit a 3/8" rod end and a .060" AN washer to fill the gap (slot width is .560"). They even had the 5/8" threaded shank that fit my tie rods. Speedway Motors sells them but I figure it is common among circle track racers.

Nuts and bolts are not tight but just wanted to see if everything fit (they do). Spring rates and damper valving will be accomplished soon after the car is completed. Time is almost here to bolt front section to the main tub. It will look more like a race car then.

John  

[Jack Gifford]

Seems like undue concern to use clevises there, if the rods are merely in single-shear at their outer ends.

Nice looking work!

[ggl205]

Making a little more progress on the lakester. Coolant, coolant recovery, heat exchangers, dry sump system plumbing, sequential shift, and parachute are now complete. Fuel and fire plumbing are next.

John

[revolutionary]

looking at the front suspension it looks like you have some nice anti dive and caster. It doesn't look like a lot of king pin inclination though, from the picture. Do you have a good idea where your scrub radius will end up?

[ggl205]

Scrub is .370" positive.

John

[ggl205]

Time to build a body beginning with the nose. I really need to get this part right or everything after it is way less effective. To retain desired shape we made a 3D printed copy in six sections. We will laminate top and bottom with .010" thick twill and epoxy resin.

John

[Elmo Rodge]

More specifically, .010" thick Twill what?  Also that seems a bit thin. What did you print with as far as material goes? By the way it sure looks good.  Wayno

[ggl205]

More specifically, .010" thick Twill what?   Also that seems a bit thin. What did you print with as far as material goes? By the way it sure looks good.   Wayno

Wayno, twill is the fiberglass weave I will use. It conforms well to compound curves and has decent strength properties. Yes, two layers of .010" thick fiberglass cloth does sound thin but it will be used primarily to reinforce the .060" ABS from the 3D printer. Depending on smoothness of surface, I may use a finishing cloth that can be sanded smooth. Epoxy resin should also help with additional strength.

If this works out, I may use the process in areas like recesses for access panels, an aero bubble for exhaust tube clearance and any area of the body I may have trouble shaping correctly.

John

[Frank06]

Interesting and innovative use of 3D printing; it (the printer) must be a monster!

[Kansas Bad Man]

If you need any of the body work stuff, English wheel planishing hammer hand hammers and so on your welcome. have finished my buck today so I will be starting on my sit on Vincent tomorrow, drop by. cheers, BTW the little car looks good. max

[ggl205]

Hi Max. I am at your disposal. I will contact you this week.

John

[ggl205]

Interesting and innovative use of 3D printing; it (the printer) must be a monster!

Not small, not big. The nose was printed in six small sections and on one palate. They broke off like puzzle pieces, then glued together with super glue.

John

[ggl205]

The "buck" is now complete and ready for styrene or ABS cover. This body is more than 95% straight lines front to back and vertical features are gentle arcs so covering in sheet should be easy enough. Once done, the first 60 degree day we get out here, fiberglass layup begins.

John

[SPARKY]

hmmmm that maybe a bad perpective!!