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Too big to fail
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Cab Stiffening Idea
I've had a couple of ideas for stiffening up my cab, and was too lazy to go to the gym tonight, so I executed one of them.
Basically it's a simple bar that goes between where the seat belt retractors used to be. It's .125 square mild steel tubing - just had it laying around. I chose this over round stock so I can make a shelf out of it, ala RS America. I had to cut the support in half and weld it in the car, because I couldn't get it in otherwise. Next I'll figure a way to tie it into the roll bar, but I want to keep the roll bar removable. I'm also not 100% certain that's the best way to route the belts. Before I put this brace in, I could push on the area by the stock cab belt mount and visibly move the body and make it squeak. Not any more!   
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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10-29-2003, 08:01 PM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 55,975
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You are just a fabricating machine! Cool! Any progress or more ideas for the door bar?
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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10-29-2003, 08:09 PM
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Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 13,333
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I clicked on the subject, expecting to see this, again:
 But that's good work, Thom.
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Jack Olsen 1972 911 My new video about my garage. • A video from German TV about my 911 |
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10-29-2003, 09:00 PM
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Information Junky
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: an island, upper left coast, USA
Posts: 73,189
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I'm having a hard time trying to imagine how that sqr tubing is going to add any meaningful stiffness.
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Everyone you meet knows something you don't. - - - and a whole bunch of crap that is wrong. Disclaimer: the above was 2¢ worth. More information is available as my professional opinion, which is provided for an exorbitant fee. 
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10-29-2003, 09:06 PM
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Hey...they used my car for that ad.
My car gets it stiff enough already... but I like the ideas if I were ever to track it. |
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10-29-2003, 09:07 PM
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Quote:
Mike
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Mike 1976 Euro 911 3.2 w/10.3 compression & SSIs 22/29 torsions, 22/22 adjustable sways, Carrera brakes |
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10-30-2003, 04:48 AM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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Quote:
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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10-30-2003, 04:58 AM
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Quote:
Mike
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Mike 1976 Euro 911 3.2 w/10.3 compression & SSIs 22/29 torsions, 22/22 adjustable sways, Carrera brakes |
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10-30-2003, 05:22 AM
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RETIRED
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A squeak is a flex...no squeaky, no flexy.....
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1983/3.6, backdate to long hood 2012 ML350 3.0 Turbo Diesel |
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10-30-2003, 06:12 AM
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Too big to fail
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The goal is to reduce longitudinal flex, which results in squeaking among other things. I've accomplished this to a degree. As part of my test last night, I did some speed bumps, and noticed that I don't get as much shake when the last wheel comes down off the bump.
The other changes I noticed are a more solid sound and feel when I close the doors, and now the passenger-side window is no longer aligned perfectly with the top rubber - I'd spent hours getting that right. In hindsight, maybe I should have done the welding with the top up... So yes, I added a few pounds, but I think I improved the overall stiffness of the chassis. Is the tradeoff worth it? We'll find out on 11/9 when I take it to Sears Point. (edited for spelink)
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs Last edited by widebody911; 10-30-2003 at 08:08 AM.. |
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10-30-2003, 07:48 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Galivants Ferry, SC
Posts: 10,550
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Thom:
You indeed may have improved the rigidity...but I tend to agree with the voices that say a cross brace will do less improvement than the lack of stiffness in the longitudinal door area. Look at your car from a distance from the side....open the doors...and you'll see what I mean. Not as bad as a 914, which looks like a pair of boxes connected by floor sheet metal when viewed this way. My point? the same amount of steel and weight...applied in some fashion along the length ( not width) of the car...especially in the door opening area..may have served you better. BTW... I saw earlier threads on such mods you were proposing, so what happened? Probably interefered with "streetability" too much, I would imagine. ---Wil Ferch
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Wil Ferch 85 Carrera ( gone, but not forgotten ) |
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10-30-2003, 08:11 AM
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Too big to fail
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Quote:
I have a friend who's a CE that builds his own offroad race cars. When we both get some time free, we're going to sit down and evaluate my chassis and how I can strengthen it without adding too much material. Oh, and he has a hydraulic tubing bender that he wants to 'store' in my new shop to clear some space in his garage 
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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10-30-2003, 08:20 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Galivants Ferry, SC
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Thom:
An "X" brace in the door....but asymmetrical...may work. More like a "U" on top of another, but upside down "U". Leaves a wide space for legs to swing over. Not as efficient as a pure "X", but triangulating the front and rear edges of the door-openings will do a *lot*. ---Wil
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Wil Ferch 85 Carrera ( gone, but not forgotten ) Last edited by Wil Ferch; 10-30-2003 at 11:08 AM.. |
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10-30-2003, 09:19 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Venice Beach, California
Posts: 838
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To Stiffen it up you need to weld in a sister inner rocker. This the piece the factory installs on all cabs and targas.
# 911.501.962.46 and 911.501.961.46
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Racing Porsche for over 30 years. http://www.OttosVenice.com Check out the Porsche Owners Club Track event Videos |
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10-30-2003, 11:28 AM
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Time for a coupe.
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.. |
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10-30-2003, 11:51 AM
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time for a full cage...and a carbon fiber roof
Jim
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Jim Hamilton If everything seems under control, your not going fast enough. |
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10-30-2003, 11:56 AM
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Too big to fail
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Quote:
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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10-30-2003, 01:17 PM
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I think The Racers Group has them,
I assume you are refering to the roof? Jim
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Jim Hamilton If everything seems under control, your not going fast enough. |
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10-30-2003, 01:26 PM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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I think Thom's end goal is this:
 
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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10-30-2003, 01:29 PM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 55,975
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I want to see the rest of that car. I dig vintage cars!
__________________
Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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10-30-2003, 01:35 PM
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993 Cab
1976 Porsche 911
Da cab
1978 Porsche SC Targa 3.6
68, 70, 88, 99 Porsche 911 
