Cowl Braces
#22
From a recent FB post, looks like FM has something in the works with Paco Motorsports (they make the eccentric locks).
Quote from the post:
Quote from the post:
Check out the upcoming Strong Arms! A bolt-on structural reinforcement for NA and NB Miatas to stiffen up the front end. This is a prototype set, there are still a few changes to be made. Expect a weight of 7 lbs or less per side and under $250/set.
#30
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Just noticed, but does that rear gusset/strut section actually cover up part of the wheel well? the part where those of us running 9s or 10s almost rub to begin with.
Being paco, they are probably marketed to the offload/lifted crowd which wouldnt be an issue for them.
Being paco, they are probably marketed to the offload/lifted crowd which wouldnt be an issue for them.
#31
Gotta love poco. he takes his inspiration from off-road trophy trucks.
A story some might enjoy about trophy trucks.
I got a call in from a desert racer.
Racer: My truck does not want to stop. at 100mph it's terrifying. the problem is we have to use 15" wheels.
OG: We can get allot of brake into a 15"wheel. nascar for example.
Racer: great, we keep melting the brake lines and piston seats.
OG: holy cow! how much does your truck weigh?
Racer: 7000 lbs with spare tires.
OG:..... I think you're screwed.
turns out that with all the regulations and trying to keep the truck as light as possible. they were forced to use 11.75" brakes and dynalights. same stuff we use on out 2000lbs cars that don't have 150lbs of tire.
A story some might enjoy about trophy trucks.
I got a call in from a desert racer.
Racer: My truck does not want to stop. at 100mph it's terrifying. the problem is we have to use 15" wheels.
OG: We can get allot of brake into a 15"wheel. nascar for example.
Racer: great, we keep melting the brake lines and piston seats.
OG: holy cow! how much does your truck weigh?
Racer: 7000 lbs with spare tires.
OG:..... I think you're screwed.
turns out that with all the regulations and trying to keep the truck as light as possible. they were forced to use 11.75" brakes and dynalights. same stuff we use on out 2000lbs cars that don't have 150lbs of tire.
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OG Racing
Your Source For Motorsports Safety Equipment
WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
#32
I think at a certain point you just have to admit the fender brace idea is not perfect. That's a huge brace and I'm sure it stiffens up that area more effectively than any other brace. But none of them tie in directly to the shock tower. That's a lot of weight to add only to have thin OE sheetmetal still in the load path.
Any increase in stiffness is good, but I feel like these 7lb plate steel contraptions (Boss Frog and Paco) fall into the overkill side of things, and the weight/benefit ratio isn't quite there compared to a simple triangulated design.
Also, I hate when people cut their logo into something that's supposed to be structural. It screams "This section is unnecessary".
Any increase in stiffness is good, but I feel like these 7lb plate steel contraptions (Boss Frog and Paco) fall into the overkill side of things, and the weight/benefit ratio isn't quite there compared to a simple triangulated design.
Also, I hate when people cut their logo into something that's supposed to be structural. It screams "This section is unnecessary".
#34
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Join Date: Aug 2009
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If it makes your car understeer, then address the understeer through the alignment/springs/antiroll bars. A change in the balance from installing these would mean your chassis is flexing enough that it's acting as a spring and part of the suspension. That's a bug, not a feature.
The only time you don't want a stiffer frame is when you own a unimog. Whether or not the weight penalty is worth the price of fixing it is the question you should be asking.
The only time you don't want a stiffer frame is when you own a unimog. Whether or not the weight penalty is worth the price of fixing it is the question you should be asking.
Cowl shake reduction - yes. Stiffer upper spring/shock mount area - certainly should help, especially as spring rates increase. But I have no good way to measure that flex on the track.
Stiffer is better. Flimsy isn't as good.
If adding these promotes understeer in a particular car then the car really needed them badly.
Stiffer is better. Flimsy isn't as good.
If adding these promotes understeer in a particular car then the car really needed them badly.
#35
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Adding a boat anchor to the front of the car... not high on my to-do list. Heavy for the sake of being strong is appropriate for... tanks. Not Miatas. A good design from a performance perspective balances strength with weight. Hint: plate steel is the wrong approach. IMO saying it's made by an offroad-focused company doesn't justify anything, the GOOD off road race stuff still keeps a close eye on the weight of things, just scaled up for the higher loads of the heavier vehicle, because the lighter vehicle is faster, regardless of the terrain.
#37
.
On the other hand, making it so is unbelievably expensive and time consuming.
We are probably going to go with a Blackbird street cage, door bars, everything but the bars at the top of the doors and some tubular work on the front end to reduce weight and to tie everything together....$$,$$$.$$
Not many guys are going to do that stuff on anything other than a race car.
#38
Yeah, I went with the V8R braces in the end. I didn't need overkill and read the positive comments about the Garage Star and V8R versions. We'll see about ride quality in the Northeast after this winter and minimal road maintenance locally! I've sacrificed that all along the way with FM springs & 15" Proxes, but oh, the turn in. I made some other purchases while waiting for the snow to melt, MS and FMII on the horizon!
#39
Gotta love poco. he takes his inspiration from off-road trophy trucks.
A story some might enjoy about trophy trucks.
I got a call in from a desert racer.
Racer: My truck does not want to stop. at 100mph it's terrifying. the problem is we have to use 15" wheels.
OG: We can get allot of brake into a 15"wheel. nascar for example.
Racer: great, we keep melting the brake lines and piston seats.
OG: holy cow! how much does your truck weigh?
Racer: 7000 lbs with spare tires.
OG:..... I think you're screwed.
turns out that with all the regulations and trying to keep the truck as light as possible. they were forced to use 11.75" brakes and dynalights. same stuff we use on out 2000lbs cars that don't have 150lbs of tire.
A story some might enjoy about trophy trucks.
I got a call in from a desert racer.
Racer: My truck does not want to stop. at 100mph it's terrifying. the problem is we have to use 15" wheels.
OG: We can get allot of brake into a 15"wheel. nascar for example.
Racer: great, we keep melting the brake lines and piston seats.
OG: holy cow! how much does your truck weigh?
Racer: 7000 lbs with spare tires.
OG:..... I think you're screwed.
turns out that with all the regulations and trying to keep the truck as light as possible. they were forced to use 11.75" brakes and dynalights. same stuff we use on out 2000lbs cars that don't have 150lbs of tire.
#40
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iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 21,053
Total Cats: 3,128
Gotta love poco. he takes his inspiration from off-road trophy trucks.
A story some might enjoy about trophy trucks.
I got a call in from a desert racer.
Racer: My truck does not want to stop. at 100mph it's terrifying. the problem is we have to use 15" wheels.
OG: We can get allot of brake into a 15"wheel. nascar for example.
Racer: great, we keep melting the brake lines and piston seats.
OG: holy cow! how much does your truck weigh?
Racer: 7000 lbs with spare tires.
OG:..... I think you're screwed.
turns out that with all the regulations and trying to keep the truck as light as possible. they were forced to use 11.75" brakes and dynalights. same stuff we use on out 2000lbs cars that don't have 150lbs of tire.
A story some might enjoy about trophy trucks.
I got a call in from a desert racer.
Racer: My truck does not want to stop. at 100mph it's terrifying. the problem is we have to use 15" wheels.
OG: We can get allot of brake into a 15"wheel. nascar for example.
Racer: great, we keep melting the brake lines and piston seats.
OG: holy cow! how much does your truck weigh?
Racer: 7000 lbs with spare tires.
OG:..... I think you're screwed.
turns out that with all the regulations and trying to keep the truck as light as possible. they were forced to use 11.75" brakes and dynalights. same stuff we use on out 2000lbs cars that don't have 150lbs of tire.
Dana44 Jaguar setup:
Or a supplemental disc brake on the driveshaft(s)?
Or two calipers per rotor (which I've seen somewhere)?