I was just contemplating the possible fully independent rear of my street rod (40 Ford truck jag style) and realized that the same setup might be adapted to a Spitfire, without modifying any part of the body or frame! If you utilized the GT6 Rotoflex rear uprights/hubs but instead of using the lower wishbones you would have to make up some special axle shafts. These would serve as the lower wishbone (while the spring as it does now serves as the upper wishbone). The benefit would be no sliding joint! You would have to modify the Rotoflex joint at the hub by removing the tri-Y and replacing it with a conventional u-joint (not all that difficult, I have already done that on mine) In fact, I could just disconnect the lower wishbones on mine if I just make up a special fixed length axle shafts. Since mine already uses larger TR6 u-joints, loading capacity of the joint has been increased. The only drawbacks I can see are that the hub bearings would be loaded more than they are now, and the very small Allen bolts (and smallish Spitfire u-joints, but that can be changed) would be handling all the side loads, but it would appear that they do that in a stock spitfire anyway - What do you all think? Am I missing something (I must be)? It seams to simple. The advantage is that you eliminate the sliding joint, and it's inherent problems. And as I mentioned no mods to the frame or bodywork. A much simpler change to make and fully reversible. The only down side I can think of Is the difference in track might not be ideal or may cause a slight problem when traveling from full bounce to jounce, but that already happens to some degree anyway, and this would be even less than what is already occurring. Certainly much less camber change!
Barry Schwartz (San Diego) [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
