Re: [DML] Getting rid of trailing arm setup (was Stainless Frame Features)

["John Dore" <dmcjohn@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Martin,

Thanks for the info. I was actually going to email you and ask if you 
still had the alpine! Oh well...

There are 2 ways of getting a back seat into a DeLorean as far as I 
can see. Either lengthen the wheelbase, which means making a custom 
longer center section for the frame, and doing lots of fiberglass 
work, and custom roof and rear quarter stainless panels. I could 
still move the battery location and electrics to free up a bit of 
room back there, which would minimise the amount by which the 
wheelbase would need to be lengthened by.

Or, keep the wheelbase, get rid of trailing arm setup, and build a 
completely custom rear end for the DeLorean chassis, using twin A 
arms (double wishbones!). I know the leg room is going to be very 
tight back there, and maybe its too tight, but with the front seats 
pulled forward, there might be enough room. Anyway, its more for kids 
than adults...

I'm keeping an open mind on both options until I do more reading etc. 
Maybe the best way to do it would be a combination of the 2 ideas.

I don't know much about the Alpines, having never seen one, but would 
love to see the frame setup at the rear to see if any ideas from it 
could be used. Do you have any pics of the rear suspension?

Thanks,
John

PS, in Stainless Steel Illusion, there is an illustration from 1975 
of a 4 seater DeLorean. It is based on the lengthened wheelbase 
method, and actually doesn't look bad. I know a longer wheelbase 
isn't going to help with cornering ability, but this car will be just 
used for cruising, not racing.

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Martin Gutkowski - DMC Ltd 
<martin@...> wrote:
>
> 
> > On a side note, did you (or anyone else on the list) ever consider
> > redesigning the rear suspension completely, and eliminating the
> > trailing arm setup altogether? I'm planning on making a 4 seater
> > DeLorean next year (2 + 2 setup), with a small back seat suitable 
for
> > children or adults who don't mind being a bit squashed. Similar 
size
> > to the Porsche 911 back seat or Renault Alpine...
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Woah - hold on there for a moment.... The back end of an Alpine GTA 
is 
> very (very) different from the DeLorean. Let's start with the fact 
that 
> it doesn't have a backbone chassis, it's a steel/fibreglass 
monocoque 
> (yes, that's correct, they can't split their frames from their 
> underbodies without cutting fibreglass), and move onto the fact 
that the 
> car is longer to accomodate the rear seats (more of your legs go 
under 
> the dash if you get my meaning). I don't think there's enough room 
in 
> the rear of a D for a seat of any sort, even without the trailing 
arms. 
> Just look how close the rear wheels are to the back of the seats. A 
GTA 
> might have the same engine and transmission but it's a totally 
different 
> animal at the rear. You should see the gearshift linkage - it's 
> comically simple compared to the DeLorean. The hybrid 
wishbone.trailing 
> arm setup of the DeLorean is a Lotus design from the Elan/Esprit 
and 
> does some clever rear wheel steering when under body-roll (a 
function 
> that I still think is the reason for the single shear traling arm 
bolt 
> setup). It also provides a lightweight but extremely strong 
tranfter of 
> thrust and drag (okay, TABs notwithstanding!). It's not there to 
get in 
> the way of back seats, it serves a very definite purpose. Without 
> redesigning the whole chassis, I think you'd be well advised to 
leave 
> them alone.
> 
> >
> > I'm just starting to research the Alpine at the moment, but it
> > appears to have upper and lower A arms (and rear roll bar) 
instead of
> > the upper and lower links and trailing arm setup of the DeLorean.
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> We had a scrap Renault Alpine GTA V6 Turbo for a while, and sent it 
on 
> its way after pulling the engine and gearbox. It's still being 
parted 
> out and the rear end was in good shape apart from being shockingly 
rusty 
> (when you're used to DeLoreans that are 10 years older!). The 
suspension 
> is referred to as double wishbone
> 
> Best Wishes
> 
> Martin





To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/