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V1 Desert Sasqwatch #155 Track (mods) - 08 SS/TC crate LNF F40
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Not really. They will be coated internally, as best as possible, with POR15. Keep in mind I live in the desert, so rust through is something we are not too concerned about. The only tubes that are my concern are the bottom frame tubes that will be 'wet', since I'm capping them for the radiator passages rather than pulling hoses.
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Phoenix is officially into hibernation season - 110 degrees plus - for the foreseeable future. 
Monsoon will be here soon to add humidity into the mix and working on the Goblin will be very limited once again until about the end of September. The price paid for 2-3 months of really hot weather (spending most of it indoors or in the swimming pool) for the 9-10 months of okay/good/great/perfect weather the rest of the year.
Monsoon will be here soon to add humidity into the mix and working on the Goblin will be very limited once again until about the end of September. The price paid for 2-3 months of really hot weather (spending most of it indoors or in the swimming pool) for the 9-10 months of okay/good/great/perfect weather the rest of the year.
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Goblin family, it saddened me to learn about the passing of Zack Allyn and the logical concerns for safety after looking at the photos from his accident. Seeing the shearing of the frame tubes at the weld connections kicked my engineer brain into analysis mode - knowing that once a tube connection is sheared it can no longer absorb accident forces. So I'm spending some time going over the frame to analyze how accident forces would stress the cockpit area of the frame - between the A-pillar/front cage tubes and the front of the B-pillar rollbar - that is the zone of the vehicle that must remain intact if crash survivability is expected.
Granted, there are crash scenarios that are not survivable no matter how much roll cage is in place, but maximizing the integrity of the existing DF track frame roll bars is the path I will be taking in this analysis. The most important factor is keeping the frame tubes connected together throughout the dynamics (of any kind of accident) to dissipate the forces through the frame members AND keep the cockpit area intact with minimal collapse or intrusion. The DF frame tubes, being DOM Plymouth Tubes, are up to task, but as with all tube frames the weld joints are the weak points. Reinforcement of weld connections, using gussets, is the most logical choice to beef-up the weld joints. Not all weld joints in the frame need reinforcement, only the key weld joints for the cockpit area to maintain integrity is my focus.
I'm in no way indicating that the DF frame has deficient welds or design, I'm going over and above their industry accepted design criteria. Zack's accident and passing hits closer to home for me than I almost care to admit. I will do everything within my knowledge to make my Goblin more survivable and I will share my changes with everyone. More to come.
Granted, there are crash scenarios that are not survivable no matter how much roll cage is in place, but maximizing the integrity of the existing DF track frame roll bars is the path I will be taking in this analysis. The most important factor is keeping the frame tubes connected together throughout the dynamics (of any kind of accident) to dissipate the forces through the frame members AND keep the cockpit area intact with minimal collapse or intrusion. The DF frame tubes, being DOM Plymouth Tubes, are up to task, but as with all tube frames the weld joints are the weak points. Reinforcement of weld connections, using gussets, is the most logical choice to beef-up the weld joints. Not all weld joints in the frame need reinforcement, only the key weld joints for the cockpit area to maintain integrity is my focus.
I'm in no way indicating that the DF frame has deficient welds or design, I'm going over and above their industry accepted design criteria. Zack's accident and passing hits closer to home for me than I almost care to admit. I will do everything within my knowledge to make my Goblin more survivable and I will share my changes with everyone. More to come.
escapepilot
Goblin Guru
- escapepilot Goblin Guru
I can somewhat relate to how you feel. He was part of the Goblin family even if I hadn’t chatted with him. I spent some time chatting with his mom and feel like I got to know him a little.
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Enjoying vacation. Visited Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. Very moving experience being a veteran. And Mighty MO is an impressive lady too.
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Back from vacation, loved Kauai. Unfortunately my cell phone suffered a significant accident and was a goner. Lost almost all of my photos - backup doesn't work if your in an area that has no cell coverage. So I don't have any photos to share - only memories now.
Anyway, I'm back in the garage - its moderately cool at 85 degrees this morning (on its way to 112 today). Doing some major disassembly to get ready for some frame welding. See post #705 above for the reason behind this exercise. I will be posting pics as I progress and provide explanation for the welds and added structure.
Also, the bolt in harness bar I made a while back won't work with my new aluminum seats - the shoulder harness feed-thru holes are about 2 inches shorter than the original cheap seats I had. So I need to do something different, probably weld in a bar about 2.5 inches lower and do double duty with a seat back brace for the new seats too. Since I will not be using the bolt in harness bar, if anyone wants it send me a PM.
A couple photos for reference.
So I don't have any photos to share - only memories now.Anyway, I'm back in the garage - its moderately cool at 85 degrees this morning (on its way to 112 today). Doing some major disassembly to get ready for some frame welding. See post #705 above for the reason behind this exercise. I will be posting pics as I progress and provide explanation for the welds and added structure.
Also, the bolt in harness bar I made a while back won't work with my new aluminum seats - the shoulder harness feed-thru holes are about 2 inches shorter than the original cheap seats I had. So I need to do something different, probably weld in a bar about 2.5 inches lower and do double duty with a seat back brace for the new seats too. Since I will not be using the bolt in harness bar, if anyone wants it send me a PM.
A couple photos for reference.
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Major disassembly.
comegetjoe
Goblin Guru
- comegetjoe Goblin Guru
Oh Baby! Look at all of that clean engine/trans porn!
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Engine and transmission back on the engine stand. Time to start the safety program, as per post #705 above. Much more to come.
Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
Time to start the safety - peace of mind - surgery on my frame. I don't plan on having an accident and hope that no one else in our family ever does - but a few pounds of prevention may be worth a whole lot more in cure. At this point in the plan steel gussets (approximate total weight 11.5 lbs) and additional triangulation tubes will be installed at the, what I believe through some analysis, critical frame tube welds in an attempt to strengthen those connections. A secondary benefit is a slightly more rigid frame, mostly in the center 1/3 of the car, but this was not a goal.
I'm using 20 of the folded sheet metal and about 36 of the steel plate gussets (90 and 60 degree, with speedholes and without). I will post photos of the installed locations and provide some narrative why they are welded in there.
As I stated in post #705 above, one on the key factors to help survive an accident - for one that is probably survivable - is keeping the cockpit area intact. The frame tubes, in cross-braced and triangulation configuration, will absorb impact forces as long as they stay connected to each other. As soon as a weld joint breaks and the connection(s) are lost the tubes will typically fold up and no longer act as a 'cage' around the cockpit. My goal is to enhance the weld joints in this area to help keep these frame tubes connected.
More to come.
I'm using 20 of the folded sheet metal and about 36 of the steel plate gussets (90 and 60 degree, with speedholes and without). I will post photos of the installed locations and provide some narrative why they are welded in there.
As I stated in post #705 above, one on the key factors to help survive an accident - for one that is probably survivable - is keeping the cockpit area intact. The frame tubes, in cross-braced and triangulation configuration, will absorb impact forces as long as they stay connected to each other. As soon as a weld joint breaks and the connection(s) are lost the tubes will typically fold up and no longer act as a 'cage' around the cockpit. My goal is to enhance the weld joints in this area to help keep these frame tubes connected.
More to come.
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Ross
Goblin Professor
- Ross Goblin Professor
Yes, I recommend MOOG K201285 spherical swingarm bushing.. these bushings didn't work. also recommend getting 4 of the DF bushings and 2 of the DF sleeves to freshen up the other swingarm bushings.
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Desert Sasqwatch
Bigfoot Goblin
- Desert Sasqwatch Bigfoot Goblin
