Chassis

ft/lbs/deg.

lotus Elise :8000
Porsche 911 :10,000
Mclearn F1 :25,000
Mazda Miata :3800
Porsche 906 :1700
Porsche 904 :1500
Mclearn M6B :6000

Using the chassis stiffness of modern cars as a banchmark it is reasonable to think that a car such as an Ultima should have a stiffness of over 10,000 ft/lbs/deg.

The stiffness of the ultima frame is 3300 ft/lbs/deg. Once the motor mount is removed to make way for the BMW V12 this goes down to 2100 ft/lbs/deg..



	4/27/03 3:17 PM

A Jig was constructed in order to accurately measure Chassis Stiffness on the ULTIMA GTR Chassis.



	4/27/03 3:17 PM

The X braces in the engine compartment brought the stiffness from 2100 ft/lbs/deg. to 4400 ft/lbs/deg.



	1/9/03 4:21 PM

The 1" carbon honeycomb floor caused no improvement in the stiffness.



	3/6/03 8:21 AM

This 12" 400 gram piece of tubing brought the stiffness from 4400 ft/lbs/deg. to 5500 ft/lbs/deg.



	3/6/03 8:24 AM



	4/24/03 12:31 PM

The 30 lb engine undertray brought stiffness from 5500 ft/lbs/deg. to 6900 ft/lbs/deg.



	3/6/03 8:20 AM

Rear bulkhead reinforcement. 900 grams of tubing brought stiffness from 6900 ft/lbs/deg. to 8100 ft/lbs/deg.

Covering the outside of the framewith 1.2 mm aircraft aluminum. 8100 ft/lbs/deg. to 8800 ft/lbs/deg.



	3/6/03 8:22 AM

Roof sheet metal brought stiffness from 8800 ft/lbs/deg. to 9500 ft/lbs/deg.