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Thread: 2006 AUS Formula Ford

  1. #1
    We came across this "prototype" Borland 2006 Aus Formula Ford at the "Speed on Tweed" event a while ago

    what do you guys think about it?

    http://www.uq.edu.au/fsae/2006_formula_ford/index.htm

  2. #2
    We came across this "prototype" Borland 2006 Aus Formula Ford at the "Speed on Tweed" event a while ago

    what do you guys think about it?

    http://www.uq.edu.au/fsae/2006_formula_ford/index.htm

  3. #3
    Looks great, nicely executed suspension and whole package, but I guess you'd expect that. Aerofoil section looks trick, we tried it in 2004, but had a small prob with buckling..... Linear pots are set up well, and the ARB is neat too.
    Andrew Costin
    Engine Team Leader 2005
    General Nuisance 2006
    team Swinburne
    Swinburne University

    It's not true that life is one damn thing after another; it is one damn thing over and over.

  4. #4
    It looks an awful lot like the 2003-2005 Van Dieman Chassis that we race here in Formula 2000 and F2000 Pacific. Everything from the suspension link design, uprights, pedals, body, Hewland 4 speed box, it looks very similar.
    Ricky
    Cal State Long Beach

  5. #5
    the hight of the rear roll centre is worrying me

    im surprised the ARB's are not driver adjustable blade units (or at least the rear)

    the rear ARB mounts look a bit suspect (depends on how much the ARB is doing though)

    i don't like that the front ARB links are mounted in shear at the rockers

    rod ends seem giant, and there seems to be non-heat-treated rod ends on the ARB links?

    too much scrub and not enough castor angle, castor trail looks ok

    at least there's not bags of kingpin

    no way near enough toe stiffness at the front, and the rear looks suspect also

    not enough Ackerman (considering the rack placement)

    A lack of camber on this beast

    too much rising rate front and rear

    i don't like the front rocker mounting

    phosphate, cadmium, or electrodeless nickel coatings on billet parts would be better than black oxide

    the front upright assembly is beastly

    are the uprights heat treated 4130 fabrications?, or just mild steel?

    disks are too thick

    the front pads are obviously overhanging the disks

    what positive locking mechanism is used on the front callipers?

    i like the brake lines

    why the k-nut fascination? AN364/AN316 or DIN985/DIN980V are adequate

    wheel studs should not be welded to hubs

    front live spindle retaining bolt is gigantic

    why the psudo-top-hat design to mount the front disks?

    i hate the steering joint and it's arrangement (the slop was unbelievable)

    the whole arrangement of mounting the steering mechanism is dodgy, and IMO it would struggle to pass tech in FSAE

    i hope those drive shafts are heat treated!!!

    tiewire on the driveshaft fasteners would be better (ahhhh the search for H3 fasteners, or the trouble of making your own)

    i'd be fascinated to twist one of these from hub to hub

    im not sure about how much stiffness the front engine mounts will allow either

    i know nothing of aero, i wont comment, but i'd like to see the Monash boys' opinions

    WTF is the go with the seat?

    not sure about the safety belt mounting either

    is the master isolation switch accessible to a marshal?

    fire extinguisher under the drivers legs?

    pedals are cramped

    the throttle body must be an "emergency" job

    what is that inlet manifold made out of? and the exhaust headers?

    i don't like dodgy hose clamps

    overall, it looks good, simple, but a bit chunky

  6. #6
    Frank,

    As someone who has driven a variety of different formula fords over the years I would have to question some of your remarks.

    Roll Centre Height - Any F/ford with some form of speed has a rear roll centre at about 40 - 55 mm above the ground and some from where from 0 to 10 below the ground at the front. That is what works. Testing has proved this.


    Discs - Considering a set of discs only lasts 2 to 3 rounds and a couple of tests days, and considering you do 8 rounds and 10+ test days a year... well they wear out pretty quick unless you have the bucks to blow on AP's which are a fair bit heavier as well.



    Fire Extinguisher - It is a bomb activated by a button or pull cable with nozzles in the cockpit in the engine bay. I'm tippin the driver ain't gonna try and grab the thing out from under his legs when his rig is on fire...

    Pedals – Ain't much room down there, are compared with some other cars the room in this jigga is good. Some cars you can barely fit your foot on the throttle without hitting the break.

    Master Switch - The car i drove last year it was under my legs.

    Apart from that, a spectrum is a pretty dodgy piece of kit compared with a Mygale (French) or a VD (English). I ain't a fan of it, but thought I should just points some things out which are pretty much common practice in F/Ford world wide.

  7. #7
    I didn't realise that was a "bomb", oops

    the disks get chewed out?, OMG, are they mild steel disks VS really abrasive pads?

    I superimposed a sketch over that rear view photo, and i reccon the rear roll centre height on that thing must be 125-150mm

    if it's 40-60mm, and i got it wrong, then yeah no problems. but i doubt it's 40-60mm

    thanks for the corrections, i'm simply working from what i see in the pics

    James, have you ever twisted one of these cars (hub to hub)?

  8. #8
    They run a control pad now, basically the same pad everyone has been running for years, its just a Ferodo DS2500. Last year we needed a new set of pads every meeting, then finished them off in testing, and I think we went through about 4 sets of discs, or got the f@#ked ones machined. You just start getting a massive shudder through the pedal when they get down. The discs were made by DBA, I think the material is just no good. Previously I drove a Mygale which had AP discs, they have been run on the car for 3 years and have been ground once. So you get what you pay for more or less.

    The Roll Centre is really that high??? Scary if that is right..!

    We twisted one years ago and I can't remember a thing..! All I know is that we made more mounting points for the engine to bolt up to. Thats when we were running the Kent Engine tho.

    Hopefully that helps..!

  9. #9
    "too much scrub and not enough castor angle, castor trail looks ok"

    How much scrub and castor angle do you think it should have?

    "at least there's not bags of kingpin"

    Typically you have a tradeoff between low scrub and low kingpin inclination, should the car have less scrub and more kimgpin in your opinion? How much do you think is okay?

    "no way near enough toe stiffness at the front, and the rear looks suspect also"

    I suppose the more the merrier, but what makes you say not nearly enough?

    "not enough Ackerman (considering the rack placement)"

    How much ackerman do you think it should have?

    "A lack of camber on this beast"

    Do you mean static camber? seems like that would be easily adjustable.

    "too much rising rate front and rear"

    What sort of motion ratio curve do you favor, and wow that's impressive if you can tell this by looking

    "i don't like the front rocker mounting"
    Why?

    "phosphate, cadmium, or electrodeless nickel coatings on billet parts would be better than black oxide"

    Yeah, but $$

    "why the psudo-top-hat design to mount the front disks?"

    I agree seems half assed

    "i hate the steering joint and it's arrangement (the slop was unbelievable)"

    Yeah, why are they useing a HUGE u joint for that, can't they get an apex joint on this thing, they used one on the shifter.
    Michigan Technological University Formula SAE Alumni

  10. #10
    Anyone know what shocks those are?

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