December 31st was a bad day....

[TwedleJoe]

Without going into detail about "how", let me start with the "what" ............... a bent rear chassis on my late model SV.

 

But I guess a little "how" might help to visualize. The rear wheel was hit hard enough from the side to break it from all spokes and shove it into the lower chassis and wheel well.

 

Front to back, damage starts with bending of the square tubing right where the A-Frame bolt connects forward of the rear wheel, and ends with the round tubing right at the first rear chassis upright back of the wheel. The round chassis uprights both in front of and behind the rear wheel are slightly bent (1/4" deflection inward at the most). Finally, the lower round chassis tubing that runs the width of the back (and connects the apex of the A-Arm and the frame cross braces) is deflected 1/2" across a 8" length just past the cross brace on the opposite side from energy transfer at the braces. Surprisingly little damage to the rear aluminum panel with some slight damage inside the rear wing area on the side that was hit. Best I can tell, the main "mechanical" thing for me to get right is the location of the rear Watts Link bolt as it was pulled forward with the damage (rear Watts Link arm also bent inward from being smacked with the wheel).

 

I am replacing a LOT of suspension parts (DeDion, Watts Links, A-Frame, anti-roll bar, etc.), but am debating what to do with the chassis and rear panel. I can order (or at least try to order) a sub chassis and panels and just clip the whole tail off. I would still have the square tubing that is bent (and the inserts for the ARB bolts pulled out) to deal with but hey, that's why the make brazing rods I guess. The thought of bending that rear panel around the upper an lower horizontal tubing scares the bejesus out of me though.

 

Questions abound but primarily, has anyone had experience, and hopefully luck, straightening or repairing the tube frame? I am in Houston and would also appreciate any connections to shops anywhere around here that could help assess and/or repair.

 

Happy (not really) to post pictures and will find a place to chronicle the repair work.

[James A]

Joe, I am in Houston also and have both a street/autocross 7 and race one in SCCA E Production. We have done extensive repair and chassis strengthening to the race car. I would be happy to come by some time a take a look at your chassis. You will have several options to repair or replace sections of the chassis, it depends on the damage. There are a couple of good local shops that can do this work. It sounds like you may have have a case of replacing the rear frame in total.

Just PM me if you would like to talk.

Jim

[James A]

I think this is what you might need: http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/category.php?id_category=410

[TwedleJoe]

PM sent........thx