Transmission horn reinforcment

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:14 am

I just thought I would post this for reference. It works well. But not on a Manx.

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:17 am

That's impressive. It looks like it would work on a Manx 2.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:32 am

yes looks impressive but it seams to me that just running a piece of tubing from the top of the shock mount (same place that one is attached) straight to the frame horn would do just as much with less weight and much less work.

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:39 am

The tubing is triagulated to prevent flex of the shock mount and or the frame horn. A straight piece of tubing would push the cast shock mount arm away from the frame centerline as the frame horn flexed up. It would do the opposite when the horn flexes down causing some nasty oscillation and consequently wheel hop and broken parts.

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:44 am

The cast shock arms really aren't that strong. They do flex and sometimes break.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:54 am

Wouldn't work with IRS.

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:18 am

Not a chance!

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 11:05 am

I recon the comercially available ones are much better. Welding steel to cast is never 100% succesful. http://www.csp-shop.de/cgi-bin/shop2/sh ... 8878748821 (go to bottom of transmission/brackets)

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:31 pm

When properly done, the strength of the weld that holds the tubing to the cast shock tower will far exceed the stress put on it. I have welded tabs on the cast shock mounts to mount suspension limit straps on an off road buggy. The weld, tab or the cast iron has never failed. Granted welding mild steel to cast is not as strong as mild steel to mild steel but it's plenty strong enough in this application. In a high HP drag race application this method helps the car launch straighter then the bolt on bars, by eliminating all the flex and twisting of the horns and towers from the torque of the engine and tires.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:03 pm

I don't really know the difference between cast iron and cast steel. Carbon content? I have welded to the shock towers several times and it welded just like any other steel. I have tried to weld to cast iron and not had the same luck. Therefore, I believe the shock towers are not cast iron, but cast something else (steel?). VW engineers thought it was ok to weld it to the torsion tube to support the body and shocks. Most of the rail buggies I have seen are also welded to it. With as much triangulation and bracing in that picture I don't believe there would be a problem. Sure cast isn't as strong, but plenty strong for that. I'm not an engineer, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night.

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:27 pm

None of you have ever seen my welding obviously!!!