First look at JBL 4.6/BB touring car chassis

[mylesdw]

Originally Posted by Richard Hudgins

Which ball joint are you referring to?

If you mean the spherical unit on the race chassis, I think that we have different opinions about dodgy.

The bearing that I use has a radial load rating of 55,696 lbs. and an axial load rating of 19340 lbs.

I'm sure you know a lot more about this than I, it was a rather flippant remark; I have no doubts about the strength of your bearing but feeding all the suspension forces as a cyclic bending force through the threaded portion of the bearing does make me wonder.

[jmarsey]

Yeah Richard! What were you thinking????

[Richard Hudgins]

Originally Posted by mylesdw

I'm sure you know a lot more about this than I, it was a rather flippant remark; I have no doubts about the strength of your bearing but feeding all the suspension forces as a cyclic bending force through the threaded portion of the bearing does make me wonder.

Myles,

You are absolutely correct. The threaded bit is not at all optimum.

But the loads were considered and the threaded bit is adequate for the application as long as the chassis is subjected to loads below 25G's.

I really doubt that fatigue will become a problem with this joint as the teflon will cold flow and fail well before cyclic material failure occurs.

In other words, the joint will become loose and vibration will occur, hopefully prompting the driver to look into the reason for the above.

There are units out there with >50k miles and the joints are just like new.

I am amazed!!!!!!!!

Really!! You would think that the life would be much shorter.

But there you are.

[Aussie Mike]

Hi Richard,

I changed my tie rod ends to 5/8" teflon lined 4130 rod ends. My main concern about them was keeping the dust and dirt out of them. Do you use any kind of dust cap or seal arrangement on the rod ends in your suspension or is the dust and dirt not a problem?

Cheers

[mylesdw]

Originally Posted by Richard Hudgins

There are units out there with >50k miles and the joints are just like new.

Surely the nature of fatigue failure is that the part can appear 'just like new' right up until the point that it fails.

I guess that some things like this may look wrong 'on paper' but in practice the failure never occurs; The proof of the pudding is in the eating and >50K is a pretty good practical test.

On the subject of 'that' front suspension: why did you go for rocker arms and inboard springs? I always thought that was for aerodynamic reasons on open wheeled cars. Just interested.

[mylesdw]

Thanks Richard, certainly appreciate the time taken to answer these questions.

[PatBuckley]

Great looking, Richard.....as are all your cars.

I think more manufacturers should be concerned about getting their cars registered - not just in California. Of course ignoring the issue is akin to Remington continuing to make typewriters.

Good luck with it.

[Richard Hudgins]

Originally Posted by PatBuckley

Great looking, Richard.....as are all your cars.

I think more manufacturers should be concerned about getting their cars registered - not just in California. Of course ignoring the issue is akin to Remington continuing to make typewriters.

Good luck with it.

Thanks Pat,

I think that California folks are dreaming if they think they are going get a pass on smog rules much longer.

SB100 does not cover the amount of cars that are built per year for CA use and I doubt it will be around that much longer......

I agree on the rest of the states as well. My thoughts are to provide a 50 state platform so the vehicle can be legal from the emissions standpoint.

That way at least someone who wants this type of car has a chance with the various state DMV's.

[Aussie Mike]

We've been in the grip of emissions laws down here for years. Pretty much the only options for V8s now are the 5.4 Quad cam Ford or the LS1/LS2 Chev. All new builds will have to meet Euro 3 next year.

Cheers

[Ant]

Aussie Mike,

With your current and new emission laws, if you started a build and had the first inspection before a new law comes in, are you exempt from changes in law?

Reason is with NZ low volume certification vehicles any current law at time of initial certification stands eg type of lights, steering shaft modifications, I think the engine should be the same, otherwise we get the "moving the goal posts syndrome"