Frame Idea 2

[plkracer]

I've been designing another frame over the past few days for my cousin. He's been wanting to build one since i started mine, but he hasn't found the right design yet. I'm making this buggy very roomy, he is 6'4" and 225lbs, so he is a tight fit in the barracuda. I really like the look of the short nose. It makes it look more truck/rhino like.

This is the basic idea of what the frame will look like, don't mind the thing behind the cab on the bottom frame. That was for an engine mounting idea, but I will just extend those two tubes so they meet up with the main one. The chassis tubes will all be 1.5 inch dom, and the bracing will be 1 inch. I don't have 1.5 inch tubing in solidworks, so it looks a little small.

I made the b pillar tilted backwards to accomidate a seat that is also tipped backwards. I was disappointed by the barracuda because there is 4 inches of room wasted behind the bottom of the seat. My main goal here was to compact everything up while also keeping it roomy. The cab in this buggy is a couple inches wider, and a couple inches taller than the barracuda. The length of the cab will be about the same with the chnage in the mounting position of the seat, and can be made a couple inches longer depending on the location of the rack.

Engine selection will be very broad. He's been talking about using a motorcyle engine because they are relatively cheap, but he's not sure about the shifting. There is plenty of room in the engine compartment to fit a sled engine and the pipes. There is about 20-24 inches in front of the tube where the rear suspension will mount. If we go to a sled engine, I will most likely use a double jack shaft setup in a cassette. It should be fairly compact, and it will fit in between the 4 tubes for the rear suspension. A motorcycle engine will also use a single jackshaft, so ground clearance is maximized. An engine that will put out 80-100hp is probably the best bet for this buggy. *

The buggy will be a multi purpose rig, mostly used for the dirt, a little sand, and some woods riding so it will be outfitted with a arms all around, which will also simplify construction and keep costs down. Wheelbase is right around 80 inches, can be made shorter or longer depending on where you want the wheel in relation to the arms. The shortest I would go is probably 78 to fit inside the rules for racing, but it can also be extended past 82. The width is currently up in the air. He wants a wide buggy, but then a trailer may be needed. I can fit a buggy that is 65 inches wide in the back of my pickup. With that width, I am hoping to get 12 inches of wheel travel (true). If I widen it to 70-72 inches, I am looking to get 16, depending on the drivelines used. I'd like to keep weight under 800lbs, it would be better if it were around 700.

My next step is to model the suspension. I had a basic idea of where everything is to go, but I am not that familiar with mounting the suspension to the frame in SW.

[K-fab]

Looks nice.

I like the way you've brought up the bars from the upper frame rail and the B-pillar to meet the hood line at the A-pillar.

Gives it some nice swoop.

[plkracer]

I really liked that look to, but they may have to go if they pose a problem with entry and exit of the car.

[nutnbolt2002]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the distance the 2 lower front tubes are apart and what size rack do you plan on using?

[WelderPat]

X or V brace the roof

[Creativeness]

How large will the window opening be? Shouldn't be to bothersome to exit and enter.

[plkracer]

Here is an update. I stretched the front out 2 inches without changing the length of the buggy, which allowed the a pillar to come to the ground at a straight angle. It also allowed better mounts, and geometry.

[plkracer]

The front tubes are 15 inches apart, on the outside. This allows ample room for your feet, and two pedals. Thanks for the suggestion WelderPat. I will change the roof, and post an updated picture. The window opening will be about 2 feet at the rear, and 20 inches at the front. It should be plenty of room, but I don't want the bar to be in the way in case of an accident. I won't know until we start to frame it.

[plkracer]

Here is the roof update.

[plkracer]

Keep in mind that I still need to brace the b pillar toward the bottom, and put in a harness bar. I was going to model a seat and then stick it in there, and shove it all the way back, and see where the bars will fit.