FIA Frame survey for TTR

[mj_duell]

O.K. been doing some thinking,
How would a 289 style, 3 inch diameter main tube, MKII coil-sprung chassis sound? It would be able to accept 8.8 IRS or 8.8 solid axle with a pan-hard rod? This would be the best of all worlds IMHO. Your thoughts?



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[Three Peaks]

Mike,
I would think that would be a perfect offering as long as some options were available such as:

Coil over shock mounting option

Adjustable suspension front and rear for the Independent suspension

A nice hard top or Lemans style top

Any other thoughts on options?

Bob

[mj_duell]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Mike,
I would think that would be a perfect offering as long as some options were available such as:

Coil over shock mounting option

Adjustable suspension front and rear for the Independent suspension

A nice hard top or Lemans style top

Any other thoughts on options?

Bob

Hi Bob,
We would be using Bilstein coil-overs on the 289 chassis as a standard. The front suspention and IRS would be adjustable via heim type joints as well.
We will have soft-top and LeMans top options, Goodyear tire option and a few more.

Now, for the good stuff. We are well into developing something and have been for a while. I will not go into details yet because we are waiting to hear from a few suppliers and do not have a launch date. Things I know at the momment: We will only be selling turnkey minus versions of this roller which will be constructed entirely in the U.S. There will be four available color choices, Viking Blue, Rangoon Red, Guardmen Blue and Wimbleton White to start. The first 5 TTR/FIA turnkey minus rollers will be sold for a great price (around $30,000.00), just add motor, tranny, battery and driveshaft. Regular price will be around $31,500.00 without a top. The first 5 might include a LeMans top at no extra charge to get the ball rolling. We are going to try to be as accurate as possible and believe it can be done for a great price. That is all I have for now. There has been a ton of calls and I know people are interested. I promise to have a solid production date in the next 3-4 weeks.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[ffindling]

Originally Posted by mj_duell

There will be four available color choices, Viking Blue, Rangoon Red, Guardmen Blue and Wimbleton White to start. The first 5 TTR/FIA turnkey minus rollers will be sold for a great price (around $30,000.00), just add motor, tranny, battery and driveshaft. Regular price will be around $31,500.00 without a top. The first 5 might include a LeMans top at no extra charge to get the ball rolling. We are going to try to be as accurate as possible and believe it can be done for a great price. That is all I have for now. There has been a ton of calls and I know people are interested. I promise to have a solid production date in the next 3-4 weeks.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

Mike....

How about real 6 pin drive hubs? No adapters please!!!!!


....Fred

[mj_duell]

Originally Posted by ffindling

Mike....

How about real 6 pin drive hubs? No adapters please!!!!!


....Fred

Hi Fred,

I know purist would like to see 6 pin drives, but adapters would allow for a wide range of wheels and would keep the turnkey minus price in the low 30's. The hubs are expensive. However, it may be a good idea for us to offer 6 pin drive hubs as an option.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

[ffindling]

Originally Posted by mj_duell

I know purist would like to see 6 pin drives, but adapters would allow for a wide range of wheels and would keep the turnkey minus price in the low 30's. The hubs are expensive. However, it may be a good idea for us to offer 6 pin drive hubs as an option.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

Hi Mike....

Please consider offering 6 pin drive hubs as on option. Yes, they're expensive and you need to keep your roller price reasonable, but I think you find that quite a few people will opt for them if they are available. Also,
you would be joining the ranks of the very few replica builders who do
offer them, optionally or otherwise. I can think of only several other builders
that do offer them, SA, ERA, SPF, Kirkham, FFR, and Cutting Edge.
"Little" things like pin-drive hubs and floor-mount pedals are often overlooked
but I think they DO have the potential to attract buyers to your product
that otherwise might pass it by.
I agree with others in this thread about transverse leaf springs. When someone mentions "transverse leaf spring," the first thing in many peoples
mind are vintage Fords like the Model T. Ol' Henry really liked them and
Ford didn't move away from them until after his death. But I think they're
vastly under-rated as a suspension system. C4 and up Vettes use them on
both ends and VB&P (Vette Brakes and Products) even offers a kit to
convert C2/C3 front ends to leaf spring. (SKU 42030) Leaf springs are
equally effective, if not better than coil springs, at transmitting suspension loads to the chassis. The question seems to centre more on the use of a leaf
spring as an upright/wheel location element which isn't done with the Vette.
But combining a transverse leaf spring with a modern unequal-length a-arm
arrangement could be very effective and while it may suffer in terms of
historical accuracy, it would retain the spirit of the originals.


.....Fred

[mj_duell]

Originally Posted by ffindling

Hi Mike....

Please consider offering 6 pin drive hubs as on option. Yes, they're expensive and you need to keep your roller price reasonable, but I think you find that quite a few people will opt for them if they are available. Also,
you would be joining the ranks of the very few replica builders who do
offer them, optionally or otherwise. I can think of only several other builders
that do offer them, SA, ERA, SPF, Kirkham, FFR, and Cutting Edge.
"Little" things like pin-drive hubs and floor-mount pedals are often overlooked
but I think they DO have the potential to attract buyers to your product
that otherwise might pass it by.
I agree with others in this thread about transverse leaf springs. When someone mentions "transverse leaf spring," the first thing in many peoples
mind are vintage Fords like the Model T. Ol' Henry really liked them and
Ford didn't move away from them until after his death. But I think they're
vastly under-rated as a suspension system. C4 and up Vettes use them on
both ends and VB&P (Vette Brakes and Products) even offers a kit to
convert C2/C3 front ends to leaf spring. (SKU 42030) Leaf springs are
equally effective, if not better than coil springs, at transmitting suspension loads to the chassis. The question seems to centre more on the use of a leaf
spring as an upright/wheel location element which isn't done with the Vette.
But combining a transverse leaf spring with a modern unequal-length a-arm
arrangement could be very effective and while it may suffer in terms of
historical accuracy, it would retain the spirit of the originals.


.....Fred

Hi Fred,
I don't see a problem in offering the pin-drives as an option. I was unaware that FFR had this option and I was unable to find it on their web-site. I do want to get as close as we can as far as accuracy and I do agree that the drives will get us that much closer. We already have the AC floor pedal set-up as per original and I am working on other vintage details like offering both the FIA and 289 Comp dash. One new option maybe the modified boot (trunk) lid for the LeMans Top option. The lid would be halved and then open in reverse. This would allow trunk usage without the top being removed and still be period correct. I am thinking a list of small detail options like number lights and hood rivets is a good idea as well. We will be going coil-over for the suspension as well, but may work-in a leaf-spring option later as some seem to like the "correctness". I will have a detailed turnkey minus break-down of parts and options in about a week or two.



--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.