Using XR3 components for 4-wheel custom car
Jun 28, 2012 17:24:05 GMT -3
Post by reincarnate on Jun 28, 2012 17:24:05 GMT -3
So, I'm bringing over this thread from the XR3 Yahoo group (posted as "datsuntrike") as this is pretty radically different from the standard XR3 build. Vic, not sure is this is the best place to post this one, but feel free to move thread as needed.
The idea is to use either:
-significant portions of the XR3 assemblies and/or component designs and connecting them in a new way to make a custom 4 wheeler rolling frame...
AND/OR
-using the plans as "inspiration" for a modified design more appropriate for a custom 4 wheeler.
Part of the reason I'm using these plans is that they contain within them methods of building a car from the ground up. I believe that many of these techniques can be adapted to fit other vehicle schema. But as I go through this, I will probably run into problems and have to come up with varying degrees of work arounds and different solutions. In other words, I'm going into this project with eyes wide open.
I'm going to be using a fiberglass body design that my father already built, originally as a parade vehicle. It's reminiscent of a 50s chevy, but as he was an artist, he tweaked the body style. It's not quite plug and play but is almost the correct proportions. I will mostly need to thin out the width which will involve slicing a cross section out of the middle. So I have some width to play with but it will be at least 72" wide, if not a little wider. I can only take out so much. I plan to use the existing body as a template from which to build the new body with the foam and fiberglass method.
Here are the end goals of this vehicle (in no particular order):
-4 wheels
-Independent suspension all around
-Airbags all around
-Disc brakes all around
-Front and rear track of 66"
-Easy to source or reproduce major parts
-Lightweight components
-Front wheel drive
-Low center of gravity
-Pure battery electric vehicle
-Pre battery rolling weight of 1000lbs
-Post battery weight of between 1500-2000lbs (battery weight will be determined by budget)
-Up to 3 passengers and 300lbs extra cargo capacity, so to use round figures ~3000lbs GVWR. I'd rather overbuild the frame, than underbuild. Air bags can be adjusted for wide range of weight.
-Safe and street/highway legal
-Gull wing doors
-Trunk and hood hatches for servicing and cargo storage
-Ducts for climate control
-Comfortable around town cruiser
Other amenities to consider for future add-ons:
-EPS (electronic power-assist steering)
-A/C
-Air bag adjustment kit (air tank and compressor)
-Car-puter (possibly as simple as an iPad or Android tablet integration)
Platforms or approaches I've looked at for inspiration or borrowing from:
-VW bug, bus, or other like ghia, rabbit et al
-Dune buggy/sandrails, Manx
-Locost
-Jaguar, Cobra, Corvette and basically other cars with IRS
-And probably others I can't think of at the moment...
The reason I'm going with the XR3 platform for this application is that it fits the above goals quite well, besides not being a 4 wheeler. The idea was to make two of the rear assemblies and then mount those along with the front assembly to a tube frame that connects the front and rear, rather than the tunnel design. The problem with this approach is that the rear suspension design wouldn't have any camber to compensate for body roll. However, since this project is designed for cruising, it may not be much of an issue. Although, I am considering adapting some form of semi-trailing arm design that does incorporate camber movement.
Electric drive components will be selected once the bulk of the frame and body have been built and will largely be determined by budget. As the DIY EV market is just starting to enter a renaissance period, I have a feeling we will be seeing quite a few new upstarts in the near future. ...so the landscape will likely change by the time I get there.
That's all that I can type up right now, but I'll update as I get more specifics. I didn't want to start a build diary yet, as it hasn't officially started, but hopefully will get things going during the summer.
The idea is to use either:
-significant portions of the XR3 assemblies and/or component designs and connecting them in a new way to make a custom 4 wheeler rolling frame...
AND/OR
-using the plans as "inspiration" for a modified design more appropriate for a custom 4 wheeler.
Part of the reason I'm using these plans is that they contain within them methods of building a car from the ground up. I believe that many of these techniques can be adapted to fit other vehicle schema. But as I go through this, I will probably run into problems and have to come up with varying degrees of work arounds and different solutions. In other words, I'm going into this project with eyes wide open.
I'm going to be using a fiberglass body design that my father already built, originally as a parade vehicle. It's reminiscent of a 50s chevy, but as he was an artist, he tweaked the body style. It's not quite plug and play but is almost the correct proportions. I will mostly need to thin out the width which will involve slicing a cross section out of the middle. So I have some width to play with but it will be at least 72" wide, if not a little wider. I can only take out so much. I plan to use the existing body as a template from which to build the new body with the foam and fiberglass method.
Here are the end goals of this vehicle (in no particular order):
-4 wheels
-Independent suspension all around
-Airbags all around
-Disc brakes all around
-Front and rear track of 66"
-Easy to source or reproduce major parts
-Lightweight components
-Front wheel drive
-Low center of gravity
-Pure battery electric vehicle
-Pre battery rolling weight of 1000lbs
-Post battery weight of between 1500-2000lbs (battery weight will be determined by budget)
-Up to 3 passengers and 300lbs extra cargo capacity, so to use round figures ~3000lbs GVWR. I'd rather overbuild the frame, than underbuild. Air bags can be adjusted for wide range of weight.
-Safe and street/highway legal
-Gull wing doors
-Trunk and hood hatches for servicing and cargo storage
-Ducts for climate control
-Comfortable around town cruiser
Other amenities to consider for future add-ons:
-EPS (electronic power-assist steering)
-A/C
-Air bag adjustment kit (air tank and compressor)
-Car-puter (possibly as simple as an iPad or Android tablet integration)
Platforms or approaches I've looked at for inspiration or borrowing from:
-VW bug, bus, or other like ghia, rabbit et al
-Dune buggy/sandrails, Manx
-Locost
-Jaguar, Cobra, Corvette and basically other cars with IRS
-And probably others I can't think of at the moment...
The reason I'm going with the XR3 platform for this application is that it fits the above goals quite well, besides not being a 4 wheeler. The idea was to make two of the rear assemblies and then mount those along with the front assembly to a tube frame that connects the front and rear, rather than the tunnel design. The problem with this approach is that the rear suspension design wouldn't have any camber to compensate for body roll. However, since this project is designed for cruising, it may not be much of an issue. Although, I am considering adapting some form of semi-trailing arm design that does incorporate camber movement.
Electric drive components will be selected once the bulk of the frame and body have been built and will largely be determined by budget. As the DIY EV market is just starting to enter a renaissance period, I have a feeling we will be seeing quite a few new upstarts in the near future. ...so the landscape will likely change by the time I get there.
That's all that I can type up right now, but I'll update as I get more specifics. I didn't want to start a build diary yet, as it hasn't officially started, but hopefully will get things going during the summer.
