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Thread: Testing: strut tower movement

  1. #21
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    I got a bit farther with the fabrication process. I notched both mounting pieces to fit their locations. Just more angle grinder work really. Both pieces fit pretty nicely now. They seat properly to the top of the strut tower. Its not super pretty, but its a prototype. If it works, I'll make it prettier.

    Passenger side.

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    Driver's side.

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    Yes, my name is Tim for those who don't know.

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    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


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    2of9 (12-11-2018),inuvik (12-10-2018)

  3. #22
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Alright, lets get this bar finished. I had to wait for the cross bar to come in, but I did get it welded up.

    I got one end clamped where I wanted it, then held the other end by hand as I tack welded it. I then removed the clamp and tacked the other side.

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    I then removed the bar for final welding. Here are the tacks.

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    And, the finished weld.

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    The full bar.

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    And, here it is reinstalled on the car.

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    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


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    2of9 (12-11-2018),Alex1a1f (12-11-2018),Angrybeaver (01-04-2019),Marklovski (12-11-2018)

  5. #23
    Senior Member Alex1a1f's Avatar
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    Looks great Daox! Any thoughts so far?
    (blank signature)

  6. #24
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    Whoa! Really neat!

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 43.4 mpg (US) ... 18.5 km/L ... 5.4 L/100 km ... 52.2 mpg (Imp)


  7. #25
    Still Plays With Cars Loren's Avatar
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    Nice! I wasn't sure you could get across there with a straight piece of bar. Did you check it for interference throughout the range of motion of the engine mounts? It looks like it's probably okay.

    Looking forward to driving impressions.
    Simplify and add lightness.

  8. #26
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Thanks guys. I am pretty happy with how it came out too. It really fits in there nicely. Its tucked up pretty close to the firewall / hood edge. But, there is plenty of room for the engine to move. In this thread, I tested how much the engine moved. From my measurements, it looks to move about a max of 5/8" forward or rearward. There is roughly 1" of clearance between the bar and the rear of the airbox. So, clearing it shouldn't be a problem at all.

    I am really happy I was able to get a straight bar in there. That is one of the things I really did not like about the Ultra Racing design. Yeah, it looks nice all bent and contoured, but straight is stronger. Stronger means you can reduce weight. The UR bar looks really big and bulky to me. Its just not necessary.

    I will get to testing and post back here.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


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    inuvik (12-11-2018)

  10. #27
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Alright, testing is done.

    I improved the testing procedure somewhat this time around. I actually held the metal mounting plate down with bolts on the valve cover. It is still far from perfect, especially since the engine is on rubber mounts. But it is a good amount better than the last test where the plate was simply set on the engine. This does show through in the repeatability of the results.

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    I again jacked the car up as close to the wheel as was possible on the control arm. This sadly isn't super close to the wheel, but its the best I can do.

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    I jacked the car up to the same height each time for testing. I believe it was 17.5" to the bottom of the rim edge.

    I zeroed out the indicator each time to zero. I recorded the distance it traveled after jacking it up. The distance shown is actually away from the dial indicator, not towards it. I also recorded the number it came back to after letting the car back down. I did this twice with no bar, and twice with the bar installed to make sure the numbers were right. I did seemingly loose my data on the 2nd jacking with no bar, but I do remember the numbers were consistent.

    I think that about sums up the testing procedure. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.


    These are the results.

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    So, not too awe inspiring to say the least. I know I was a bit disappointed after spending the time to make the bar.

    I did also go for a drive before doing any testing on it. I didn't want the numbers to muddy my butt dyno impressions. I had come to the same conclusion as the testing though. There was no perceivable difference with our without the bar in place.

    In conclusion, this means one of two things. It means that Mitsu either did a great job with their chassis, or that my testing is just not capable of showing what we're looking to see. Either way, I don't think the strut bar does enough to make a noticeable difference in handling for street use as I felt no difference with it installed.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  11. #28
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    I suppose another test I could run would be a actual handling test. At full wheel lock see what speed can be achieved with and without the bar? I may even be able to measure g-force.
    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


  12. #29
    Still Plays With Cars Loren's Avatar
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    I don't think a performance test like that would be conclusive.

    Thanks for doing all of this testing! With the firewall being so close to the strut towers, I didn't expect there would be a lot of horizontal movement in the towers.

    What about vertical movement? Like when you hit a bump or a hole. Is the top of the tower flexing up and down?
    Simplify and add lightness.

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    Daox (12-13-2018)

  14. #30
    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Another thing to add. The distances shown are actually a distance away from the dial indicator, not towards it. To me, this mostly seems like the engine shifting on its mounts as the car is jacked up. I do find it very hard to believe that there is that little chassis flexing going on. If it really is that stiff, its quite impressive.

    I'm not sure a good way to test vertical movement. You'd really want to do road testing for that I think. The shock loading is what you'd really want to see.


    Custom Mirage products: Cruise control kit, Glove box light, MAF sensor housing, Rear sway bar, Upper grill block

    Current project: DIY Nitrous oxide setup for ~$100

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage DE 1.2 manual: 47.2 mpg (US) ... 20.1 km/L ... 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.7 mpg (Imp)


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