Diff Plates Flexing MX5 based saturn chassis.
 

Has anyone beefed up the diff plates (cp26)?
I have just tacked mine on and they can be flexed by hand.
I know this will reduce when fully welded but im considering replacing them with 5mm and cutting down d12 to suit.
Should I bother or leave them as they are?
Will it have a knock on affect on anything else?

Cheers

Andy

Aren't they supposed to be 5mm anyway? I'm pretty sure that's what Spud told me to use when I did mine.

i used 3mm, thats what spud's guide said. was a bit in the same boat about the flex, but reckon it will be ok. if not ill strengthen them up!

u use 5mm john?

Hi,
Should be an easy fix if you are worried about it. I will have a look tomorrow on my chassis and if it is a problem I wil probably press up a "U" profile joining both diff mounting points and also bolt down to diff plates around the diff mount.
I made mine from 3mm steel as per the drawings and my chassis is painted so wouldn't like cutting and welding parts to it now.:eek:

Johno

Thanks for the replies. It definitely says 3mm in the guide, page 2 i think.

Did you use 5mm then skov? if so, no problems further along in the build?
(i know its only 2mm but you never know).

I think I used 6mm! Might be a tad heavy, but it certainly doesn't flex :D

That should help as a retro fit.
Im going to make some 5 or 6mm plates at work tomorrow.
I can do some extras if anyone wants some.

Here is the back end I'm building.

http://flic.kr/p/bp7ffX

http://flic.kr/p/bp7fbR

Paul

ive not hauled my diff out yet, but is there any pics of them, would it be possible to weld in some 25*3mm flat in line with the inboard ends of the diff mounting plates, meaning that the diff mounting holes would be 3mm recessed, but would add the required rigidity?

just an idea....

Here's some pics of my 1.6 diff if it helps Stew:

cheers matey, ill have a look and see if i can brace it somehow. dont really fancy adding additional 3mm plate underneath to strengthen it, as it will drop the diff 3mm lower, and my idea of a 25x3mm strip prob wont work either.

ive had a look at my factory built chassis. its 3mm and the rear driveline is installed but it seems very solid. The diff is also supported by the length of tube underneath that stops this from moving forward and backwards. If you were planning to strengthen it you could add another plate on top then the diff wouldn't be 3 mm lower.

not planning on any additional support on mine though.

That design is very weak, there isn't any diagonal bracing of any kind and will fail during use.

If you're going to have a dig at anything Mark then at least have the balls to do it under your own regular login allowing other users to know who is making these comments and the reasons why. You are still a director of Vodou auto kits aren't you?

Back to the subject of the diff plates, the design of the chassis was intended to follow the Haynes chassis with only minimal / relevant changes required to fit mazda running gear. The car has had some good abuse now and thrashing about the estate, had a good look over the full chassis and everything looks fine, after all most of the weight of the diff is taken by the bottom fixing rather than hanging off the top frame. If there is any doubt though then sure upgrade the plate to 5mm.

All the Best.....AndyH

Update:

I made some new plates from 5mm at work earlier.
Just been out in the shed and have cut the old 3mm ones off and replacing them with the new 5mm ones.
I'm much happier now. I cant get them to flex at all by hand.

Andy



Who were your replying to auto7?

im sure the 3mm is fine too andy. nowt wrong with the design too. everything on your guide fits in perfect so far with my build anyway. :) im gonna leave mine till i fit the diff, then have a look at it from there. im not keen on the negative comments either, i like the good old saying of,

"if you have nothing nice (or constructive) to say, then dont say anything at all!!"

cheers,
stew

Auto/Mark,

I normally keep well outside of the politics in this forum but really agree with the other users who have realised.

If you cannot say anything positive then maybee don't say it... or at least provide some evidence like structural analysis.

I did have a look at all of the post you have written and all of them seem to be derogatory and negative.

Once I've finalised my chassis design (Nicknamed the Raptor) for an MX5 donor I'll make the plans available. It's a really nice design which looks good and has additional bracing in some area's similar to the aussie mods. Welding should be finished and pics to be posted within a fortnight.

Paul

I was sent a link to this thread so I thought I best have a look to see what all the fuss is about, I see I am being accused of being someone else yet again........:D

For the last time, I am not auto 7 !! :rolleyes:
I barely remember my login details using my own name let alone having other user names !!:D

Isn't it funny the tangents some forum threads go off in!

There is nothing funny about the lengths some people will go too to spread their poison i am talking mainly about some people on here who have all the opinions but not the guts/skills to stand up and be counted in their own right amongst the likes of saturn/nts and talon

Since the newyear I have enjoyed the forum since a few new people have started building it started feeling positive again but I guess this is too much for some people and they just cant help themselves and feel the need to belittle peoples achievements just to make their own miserable existance feel justified

These people should leave this forum to those of us that want to build a roadster to whoevers design they choose

If you cant say anything positive get off this forum and dont come back people will take positive and constructive feedback but dont start just making random comments about things you know nothing about

I'm sorry Mark but you've gone too far now, i have had enough of biting my tongue for a while now. The two jpg's below show the ip address of auto7 and MarkB for the two posts put up on this thread. This Auto7 might be sneaking onto your pc when you're not there mind (as well as a few others in the past) but i'll let other people make their own minds up. A lot of work went into making the guide / addendum for the mx5 changes for the Haynes chassis and also making it available to all other builders, how many other kit car makers have / would do that.

It is not a case of other people getting hounded as trouble makers for pointing out that something maybe wrong but more a case of taking any opportunity to make derogatory remarks against certain things for their own ulterior motives or sour grapes. Nothing is perfect and there will always be better ways or different opinions of ways of doing things, that's what used to make this forum so good and helpful in the past and that's what the self build roadster is all about for those that actually ARE / HAVE built one.

By the way the jpg's where not provided by any moderators - i do have other sources.

Please everybody get on with your builds and enjoy the satisfaction and achievement that comes with it but some things just had to be said.