HEL Performance 2012 Time Attack Build
05-10-2011, 03:32 AM
#523
Originally Posted by Ultra_Nexus' timestamp='1302717283' post='20462640
A wheel forged from billet...well, this is a contradiction. Since forging uses liquid alloy, the second it is melted, it doesn't matter whether or not it was a billet as the inherent structural properties you get from a billet dissapear. Obviously, these will be replaced with the forged properties.
Forging doesn't involve liquid (or molten) alloy. It involves taking a lump of metal and plastically deforming it into the shape you want, ususally when its hot but certainly not molten.
By plastically deforming it you stretch and elongate the grain structure which is what makes forged products stronger than cast. Porosity is not that much of an issue in a proper pressure die casting, its purely the grain structure in the forged part that allows the wheel manufacturer to use less material to get the same strength.
A proper, fully forged wheel like the one in MB's second video is forged and then spun into the final shape. There is minimal machining and what machining there is won't
affect the strength of the wheel or the grain structure.
I'm not commenting on whether Rota wheels are any good or not, but there is no doubt that a properly designed and manufactured forged wheel will be lighter and stronger than the equivilent cast wheel. But they will obviously be more expensive because the tooling required to forge the wheel alone is way more expensive to make than a die casting die.
I seem to recall that the wheels were cold forged as opposed to hot forged and the machining was restricted to the bead seat and mounting face.Forging a liquid or molten metal would be interesting!
This is a worthy thread, The photos are relevant and are a record of the build. The write ups are understated and interesting. More like this needed.
05-13-2011, 02:28 AM
#525
Cross member removed.
Total weight of removed item before lightening - 5.2kg.
Total weight after lightening - 3.8kg.
New T45 tube coming on monday.
Total weight - 1.9kg
Nice 3.3kg weight saving on a bar less than 1m long....
We've also been modifying the centre tunnel in the car as the sides of the seat catch the original outer section of it. We've taken this back to just past the gear lever to allow a little more of that all important leg room for the driver as his knees are right up round the steering wheel when in the seat.
A little weight removed from the rear too...The BTCC fuel tank will sit low down in the middle hole, and the 2 holes either side will be covered by carbon panels.
Most of this bar will be going this week too, leaving only around 3" at either side to allow fitment of the bonnet catches and to retain the OEM radiator mounts.
Total weight of removed item before lightening - 5.2kg.
Total weight after lightening - 3.8kg.
New T45 tube coming on monday.
Total weight - 1.9kg
Nice 3.3kg weight saving on a bar less than 1m long....
We've also been modifying the centre tunnel in the car as the sides of the seat catch the original outer section of it. We've taken this back to just past the gear lever to allow a little more of that all important leg room for the driver as his knees are right up round the steering wheel when in the seat.
A little weight removed from the rear too...The BTCC fuel tank will sit low down in the middle hole, and the 2 holes either side will be covered by carbon panels.
Most of this bar will be going this week too, leaving only around 3" at either side to allow fitment of the bonnet catches and to retain the OEM radiator mounts.
05-13-2011, 10:04 PM
#527
Just waiting for a slightly modified seat to arrive which will allow us to move the seat another 50-60mm back. Currently the B pillar on the roll cage stops the seat going fully back to the edge of the drivers side floor. So Corbeau are making us a bespoke seat without the 'wings' on the Revolution seat to allow this to happen. Once we've put the seat mounts in when that arrives, she shall go straight into the spray booth!
05-17-2011, 10:36 AM
#528
A little bit more bodywork. Modifying the front end a bit more to allow more room for the intercooler/oil cooler/radiator set up, and to allow for easy engine removal as we are still toying with the idea of having 2 engines, one NA, so we can run it in different series...
05-20-2011, 07:36 AM
#529
The filling nozzle for the airjack lance arrived this morning. First thought on its placement was to put it on a hole already on the car (the aerial) -
Anyone else think of a more original/better place to have this? Alot of people have them coming out the front/back bumper or light area so wanting to do something a bit different here.
Anyone else think of a more original/better place to have this? Alot of people have them coming out the front/back bumper or light area so wanting to do something a bit different here.
05-20-2011, 07:45 AM
#530
Registered User
Makes sense as the hole is already there and it's easily accessible. How important is it that you can gain access to it instantly? Could it fit in behind the fuel filler flap? Would that put it on the wrong side for pit access?