[DeTomaso] Aluminum Chassis Brace Set-up

John Taphorn jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com
Sun Mar 4 22:03:47 EST 2007




  FWIW, John Taphorn put together a collection of adjustable threaded aluminum bars, sphere balls, and mounting brackets that he ordered from racing catalogs that replicates the Precision ProFormance / Hall set of front and rear upper braces very inexpensively (less than $100 I think).

  John - Can you send us any pics of your chassis braces and/or a link to a webpage with pics?  Also, can you comment on your findings concerning the necessity of the lower chassis braces?  Also, can you send us your parts list (sources and part nos) if you still have it?
  http://realbig.com/detomaso/2000-11/10.html

  Cheers!
  Garth

  Garth

  The only posted pics are in a cooling system article on the Space City Website  http://www.spacecitypanteras.com/technical.html

  For the record, I first did this in 1992 with the rear bar and at the time I am not aware of any vendor who practiced this approach.  When I expanded the application in 2002 it was an attempt to improve upon the design of Halls approach; yet , I doubt that I was successful in this regard.  Anyway, my point is that I was unaware of any vendor offering the aluminum bar with aluminum rod end set up when I went with this approach.

  The advantage to this approach includes:

  Cost - the parts are available through Speedway Motors and they are very inexpensive
  Set-up - The individuals layout of the bars in front enable you to optimize the location of the front crossbar between the shock mounting points and still get the brake master cylinder out of the car.  The Hall unit misses the top of the shock towers by several inches. 
  Weight - They are so light it is laughable.  They weigh nothing.

  Disadvantages;

  1) I suspect that the rod ends do not fight twisting forces.  By design, the rod end will rotate.
  2) I haven't found the pieces I need to tie the two rear bars together in a parallelogram.  While, I have a few ideas.  None are elegant enough to motivate me to apply them.  I am still considering my options and welcome other's insight.

  Does it work.  Honestly, I do not know.  The car was off the road for so long when I added the braces that could give a fair opinion whether or not they do.  

  If anyone truly wants to take this path, I'll get you a parts list.  

  JT
   


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