ERA Chassis

[Ant]

Hi Bob

I have been cruising on your website and specificaly looking at your chassis information, I am very impressed with all your information, and chassis design!

My chassis is made of 4x3x125W RHS Tubing and looks almost identical, also at the diff end which is boxed and very strong, and constructed for the Ford 8.8, they still have the Jaguar chassis available. Almac cars here have tried to duplicate the front X member and interior look, plus have taken into consideration the classic they are reproducing and of course an open roof car. I measured the distance between center of main tube to other tube center it is 26" so thats quite wide as well!
I look at my chassis periodically and think I can improve it, I agree if I was going to build a chassis for performance etc the "Backbone" would be seriously considered!

My question is lets say this chassis and body fixing is very similar to ERA , my roll bar is mounted on strong bracing behind rear firewall above rear axle area, has a long diagonal foreward brace, and shorter rearward brace, the foreward brace goes down to the main chassis rail, in the passenger area, distance about in line with windscreen, this should add some strength, but what I am thinking of is doing two foreward braces, which would be attached to a supported area of the roll bar mounting brace, but would only be about 10-12" apart in center of car, 4" below bodywork, so in effect from the roll bar area to say clutch area is strengthened for racing, these braces would be removable, the drivers brace would mean moving my original looking park brake elsewhere - BUT all this could be doing is localised strengthening and not achieving much, plus I have thought of solid mounting the engine/transmission to firm up that area?

Also in the engine area that has a lenthways unbraced area of 3.9' to fit power plant etc, am considering fitting a round tube in about the mounts area that connects the main rails crossways, pending sump design but don't know if any benefits would come, I see by your chassis drawing this has a similar area?

I think I underestimate the benefits of a strong ladder chassis and correctly sprung suspension, and probably should leave well enough alone!

Ant