2 Seat Race Frame & Susp.

[TutTech]

This was going to be for my wife Pepper but it is going out to a customer first. So it will be the new 2 seat Mini Lites race car.

This is the 2 seat Race frame and parts suspension package.

[TutTech]

Frame is really coming a long.
The main structure is done and I am adding in webbing and the racer bars and supports as this will be a race car.

Here is an updated pic.


I was able to also build a pair of rear arms as I had the fixture table set up for the single seater I just built two of each sides and then mounted them up on both cars.
Here they are side by side.. which shows you the size difference.
It seems like a lot but at only 12 inches wider in the cab, it's 50 wide inside of cab, I don't think it's to crazy for a two seater.


If you run exactly the same parts as the single seater you will be just at 82inches wide to outside of the tires.
So really only 10 inches wider then the single seater that is 72 inches wide in the rear to the outside of the tires.

Here is a quick pic of some of the welds I did that turned out really good I think.



Well next is to finish the front suspension on the other single seater and then design and build the new wider front end on this two seater.

[TutTech]

Just a quick update.. I designed and built the front suspension.

The car using the same parts and rim tire combo from the single seater looks like it will be 80-82 inches wide to the outside of the tires.
Approx. 10 inches wider then the single seater.. if using same rims and tires and parts.

It is also 4 inches longer in the motor compartment to fit larger then the 600cc engine that the standard frame was designed for.
So cars are 9ft 8 inches long approx.

[TutTech]

Here it is with the mock up body on it.. to help get an idea of it's size.
It is 9 feet 8 inches long. The extra 4 inches is in the motor compartment to help fit the bigger bike engines that will be powering the bigger 2 seat cars.

Only 4 inches longer then the single seater and 11 inches wider at the widest outside point of the tires.

Body should look the same as the single seater from the side no difference.... only from the front is the car wider.. wheel base the same etc.

[Baja Frank 50]

Hi Tut,I have been following your work over at Tut Tech and you do awesome work.
I,m an avid offroader on two wheels but I have always had a soft spot for 4 wheels.
I'm looking forward to how this buggy comes out.
Keep up the good work

[TutTech]

Thank you sir and I will keep updating as I go for you and hopefully anyone else following a long to see what they think of it.

I really like how it's going.. shoot from the side it looks almost exactly like the single seater.. just from the front or dead on at the back do you really see it's a two seater.. So I like it a lot actually.

Thanks for taking the time to post and give feedback very much appreciated.

[Baja Frank 50]

Good Morning
I have acouple of questions if you have the time.
Do you follow some kind of guidelines as far as length,width and bracing
of the frame?
What kind of material is the tubing? and are you welding with Mig.
I'm sure you have been asked all these questions before so I apologize if you are
repeating yourself.

Thanks for taking the time.

[TutTech]

I do use a set of "Rules" actually I go off the Score off road racing handbook to pass tech inspections to be able to desert race on all my cars.
Score is one of the largest organizations and has a rule book just for racing with all the rules for tubing type, size, thickness per weight of your buggy, bracing, triangulation and gussets you would need to pass tech for racing.

That is one of the main reasons my cars are built from 1.5 inch tubing instead of 1.25.
1.5 is stronger so you could run a thinner tubing and be lighter then the smaller OD of the 1.25 as it would have to be twice as thick to be just as strong.
So that is one of my biggest differences on my smaller cars.
Next would be the full size bulkheads, heims, rear .250 thick wall pivot tube and full automotive size parts I build my cars out of.

These are not small motorcycle made cars, these are real cars made smaller through testing and design to use a motorcycle engine.
Kinda different as most people use motorcycle or quad parts and build a bigger car.. I went the other way around.


Anyways, then depending on what your going to be doing with it.
Racing... I meet all rules.
Play.. I do all the correct size bars and bracing called out for in the Score rule book but I can go thinner on the thickness of materials as your not abusing it as hard or as long as a desert race. Plus the chances of you taking a hit or side impact from a 4,000 pound trophy truck is much less likely.. you just need to protect yourself from rollovers and maybe a rock or tree???

But yes I bring all my racing experience, rule set and building of buggies over the past 12 years with me into the design and development of these Mini Lites.

I weld everything with Mig at this size and level of racing, Mig welding has prooven to work out very well.

As I said for materials I use different combinations depending on what your car is going to be used for. I would recommend certain materials for certain things I.E. racing then lots of chromoly especially on all your suspension parts etc.
But do to price, customer demands etc. I will use either steel or chromoly.
I will just build accordingly.. plus my cars are a little over built actually for safety and for the best interest of everyone.


No worries about the questions.. I know my post is long but most all the questions I could answer I have put into my build log... but again no worries please ask and I will be more then happy to try to answer all of them.

Also your more then welcome to email me too.
tutcote@yahoo.com


Thanks for the questions.

[TutTech]

up dated pics.

Back cage work and rear housing done.
(optional double rear bumper.. I don't like to put these in depending on your rear housing, setup, etc. This is for our car and works on most cars.. but double rear cage is optional.)





front arms and tie rods all done



rear arms all done



here's the spindle kit for it ready to be welded up to go on



That pretty much wraps up the frame and suspension package on this car.

[lost26]

Can't wait to get mine ordered....(selling my other buggy now...) What kind of speed do you think you will see on the 2 seater with say a 900 or larger engine? I check back here just about daily to see your progress..Thanks