Plastic Fantastic tew

[SuperBuickGuy]

What happened?

it cracked because the body shop didn't put the door on right then slammed the door rather then aligned the pin.

[Loren]

my windshield

What happened?

[SuperBuickGuy]

I swear I should put the dash on with velcro
rewiring lights


but it's 3 degrees in my shop.... so I spent time trying to decide what I'm going to do about a stereo (soundbar suggestions are welcome)

I also talked to CIRO today about a rear wing.... he runs a C3 as well, so lots of talking there....

[SuperBuickGuy]

In other news, signed up for Optima 2022 at Portland International Raceway .... since I've actually run that track, it should be a good time.

[SuperBuickGuy]

i bet you say that to all the girls....

I do, I do

[fatguyzinc]

.................Nice box, though.

i bet you say that to all the girls....

[SuperBuickGuy]

clever solution to a problem

they remove the springs from the lights - which means the headlights can flop up and down, but if you jam the slots with bolts... no jiggle, no flop

and they go up

[SuperBuickGuy]

not enough to make any difference at all. Further, the body mounts are in the wrong spot to give any strength. Keep firmly in mind that GM build these in fiberglass and in no way relied upon the body as part of the suspension - funny thing about fiberglass, you make it too stiff and it cracks all over the place. Or, simply let the guy who designed it convince you - he said that the body was only there to keep the rain off (Duntov). Or refer to the GM race book and look up what body mods you need to make to stiffen the frame (none).

That little rod does nothing at all - if it did then my windshield would still be crack free.

Nice box, though.

[fatguyzinc]

you're welcome to try, but since I build and race these, you might find me a bit hard to convince...

yeah.... me too.

ok, not throwing shade here ( you constantly amaze me
with the stuff you do ) so please keep that in mind.....

just looking at the VERY rudimentary pics below, which are my attempt
at an ultra realistic and detailed C3 tub for the 'vert and birdcage for a t-top,
lets try and figure out which one has more strength, torsional or otherwise.

i know which 'box' will flex more--the 3 sided one. its simple physics.
for the doubters out there, just go build both out of any scrap (bed frames even,
or 1x1 box, all thread, whatever you want...) and pick up 1 corner then
do as kc and the sunshine band says and shake shake shake.

now do the same to the one with the "t-top" and rear halo. i know which one
*IM* betting on to flex more.

and yes ive done it, thats how i convinced leon to do a cage in his ragtop
454/4spd-- after new body mounts, reglassing firewall, door hinges...--
because he was convinced "that little bitty center bar aint doing [email protected]".

we emulated the shape of the t-top with twin 1-5/8" tubing for the center bar,
the difference was night and day--although im 100% certain it was more
because we 'closed the box' with what basically was a 6pt cage.

but as always its your car, your money.....

[SuperBuickGuy]

In today's news, Corvettes work in the snow

I bet I drove a whole 50 feet without slipping, sliding or running over children

Luigi, though, doesn't want to take chances

[SuperBuickGuy]

never mind. i was gonna do some "mansplaining" but aint gonna
make a difference either way.

you're welcome to try, but since I build and race these, you might find me a bit hard to convince...

[fatguyzinc]

never mind. i was gonna do some "mansplaining" but aint gonna
make a difference either way.

[Loren]

Well it's gotta provide --a little-- but I know what you're meaning.

I've been hanging my coupe body (sans front clip) by the corners at the upper windshield posts (and at rear window corners) and without the T-bar I don't think I'd do that on a convertible, but talking about ultimate strength where stuff bends, and flexibility within the material springback where stuff shakes, are indeed two different things.

[SuperBuickGuy]

jack the car up behind the front wheel on the frame then open the door... there is twist there but my point was following yours - that the little T bar provides nothing in way of strength to the chassis.

[Loren]

NTITEB (That means NotThatI'mTheExpertBut A photo that to me shows that coupe or convertible, doors are part of a structural "path" of the C3 body; opening and closing wear alone cannot account for how pounded-to-pieces these hinge bushings from my '72 are. The triangle of the upper and lower hinge on the door post, and the latch at rear, is likely part of what prevents cowl shake and all points need to be snug when the door shuts. I.E., my car even though a coupe would probably shake if I just stuck these back in without repair.