2017 Ford Fiesta S

[LionsTooth]

I will start a thread on the install of the 6 point chassis brace and the 88 durometer bushing AWR lower transmission mount as soon as i can find out when i will have it in my hands.

Appreciated!

 

[scotman]

That 6 point is very nice. I'm starting to think that I should've gotten the 4 point. The clearance with road debris would be an issue as you stated. I'm curious to hear how the driving feel will be like with that bar on stock height!

I hope/plan that it drives like a normal Fiesta. I have a "plan B" for a DOM tube frame under the canopy if things are too flexible. I don't want creaks and groans from the chassis or a situation where the windshield breaks because of the body flexing when driven over uneven surfaces.
I do not think the windshield will break. I used the butchered Fiesta sedan I purchased for parts as a guinea pig to observe what happens when the roof is cut off behind the windshield structure. Everything held up fine. But, the lack of chassis stiffness made the car ride kind of mushy. Don't know how else to describe it.

 

[FiEscort]

I hope/plan that it drives like a normal Fiesta. I have a "plan B" for a DOM tube frame under the canopy if things are too flexible. I don't want creaks and groans from the chassis or a situation where the windshield breaks because of the body flexing when driven over uneven surfaces.
I do not think the windshield will break. I used the butchered Fiesta sedan I purchased for parts as a guinea pig to observe what happens when the roof is cut off behind the windshield structure. Everything held up fine. But, the lack of chassis stiffness made the car ride kind of mushy. Don't know how else to describe it.

I look forward to seeing the progress with this! I am curious to see the results as you are basing the style on the reference vehicle. I see why you chose to use the 6-point since it will feel mushy based on the testing you conducted.

They were built in limited numbers by Ghia design in Italy. Primarily for wealthy people who wanted a land tender for their yacht or as a shuttle on large estates. The Fiat 500 and the Fiesta both have a certain charm that is amplified when the roof goes away.
Just to steer this thread back on course, FiEscort is nicely demonstrating that the Fiesta can be transformed into something unique to the owner. One just needs to plan and select the parts with some thought!

Thanks for the compliment!

 

[scotman]

I look forward to seeing the progress with this! I am curious to see the results as you are basing the style on the reference vehicle. I see why you chose to use the 6-point since it will feel mushy based on the testing you conducted.


Thanks for the compliment!

Thank you for finding the improved lower DCT mount.
That 6 point brace solved the concern in the front. The next big task was shoring up the rear strut towers. Without a roof those towers are not tied to much more than sheet metal. I had to create a tubular subframe to weld into the body tub that holds the towers in a fixed position, preferably the correct position. I think that is why the butchered Fiesta i bought was so mushy.
All the rigidity was lost when the previous owner cut the rear bulkhead away. I couldn't observe what was happening at the rear when driving it. But, i will guess that the alignment was changing as i drove down the road! It was very strange.

 

[econoboxrocks]

A rear strut brace could help here.

 

[scotman]

That's a distinct possibility. The rear seat backs are not going to fold down. So, the bar or X brace, depending on how well the added subframe "controls" the body flex, would come into play there.
Each of the chassis brace solutions has a plan "B" just in case.
I dont have any method of checking the chassis tub "flex" beyond a couple of telescoping aluminum tubes that are mounted to the A pillar and the C pillars on a left to right plane and a similar one on a elevated bracket between the the left rear drivers seat anchor bolt position and the right hand C pillar. I just paint the tubes that telescope with inspection ink and observe the magnitude of movement from the telltale marks. It's crude as shit. But it works.
I will create a build thread in the next week to move the discussion about this to its own place. This is such an unconventional project for me because i am not making any performance upgrades to this car. The bodywork and chassis mods are all i can deal with.

 

[scotman]

That 6 point is very nice. I'm starting to think that I should've gotten the 4 point. The clearance with road debris would be an issue as you stated. I'm curious to hear how the driving feel will be like with that bar on stock height!

Hey FiEscort! Have you seen these braces? Whoosh in Las Vegas is offering a line of monocoque aluminum triple forged chassis braces. Claims to offer both strength and ground clearance. They are called S Wave.
Take a good look and opine!

 

[LionsTooth]

Hey FiEscort! Have you seen these braces? Whoosh in Las Vegas is offering a line of monocoque aluminum triple forged chassis braces. Claims to offer both strength and ground clearance. They are called S Wave. Take a good look and opine!

I like the 4-point flat tubing for sure.

 

[FiEscort]

Hey FiEscort! Have you seen these braces? Whoosh in Las Vegas is offering a line of monocoque aluminum triple forged chassis braces. Claims to offer both strength and ground clearance. They are called S Wave.
Take a good look and opine! View attachment 4558

These braces look nice and the low profile is good for clearance issues. I see the claim, but wonder if chromoly is superior in strength?

 

[FiEscort]

I like the 4-point flat tubing for sure.

I agree!

 

[LionsTooth]

These braces look nice and the low profile is good for clearance issues. I see the claim, but wonder if chromoly is superior in strength?

Chrome-moly across that short distance is plenty strong but it depends on the wall thickness.....020" would not do...right? I would have to see what the wall thickness is before I sink $300 in that piece. It should have an inspection/weld-vent hole you could use a caliper hook into to verify the thickness. No details on the webpage.

 

[LionsTooth]

Chrome-moly across that short distance is plenty strong but it depends on the wall thickness.....020" would not do...right? I would have to see what the wall thickness is before I sink $300 in that piece. It should have an inspection/weld-vent hole you could use a caliper hook into to verify the thickness. No details on the webpage.

I just put in a wall thickness question to the ST forum where Ron (Whoosh-man) hangs out. Stand by.

 

[scotman]

Consistent wall thickness is very important. That's why certified DOM steel tube is so expensive. I spent over $300 for five, DOM certified 12 ft lengths in a couple of diameters. That's some spendy stuff right there!

 

[LionsTooth]

Consistent wall thickness is very important. That's why certified DOM steel tube is so expensive. I spent over $300 for five, DOM certified 12 ft lengths in a couple of diameters. That's some spendy stuff right there!

He never got back to me and I know he totally trolls that forum. Seems a bit suspicious, but that could just be me. I just don't want to buy something with straw tubing.

 

[scotman]

He never got back to me and I know he totally trolls that forum. Seems a bit suspicious, but that could just be me. I just don't want to buy something with straw tubing.

I think he may be waiting for a reply. I'm looking forward to visiting Whoosh as well as Shelby American the next time I visit Las Vegas.

 

[LionsTooth]

I think he may be waiting for a reply. I'm looking forward to visiting Whoosh as well as Shelby American the next time I visit Las Vegas.

Would be nice if he said at least that much....just sayin'.

 

[scotman]

Yup! I am very curious about the S-wave 6 point brace. I will call Ron before Friday and get more information.

 

[LionsTooth]

He never got back to me and I know he totally trolls that forum. Seems a bit suspicious, but that could just be me. I just don't want to buy something with straw tubing.

On the ST forum, Ron has started braces are expected soon from SWAVE...so maybe an answer to the tubing-wall-thickness question will come soon, as well.

 

[LionsTooth]

On the ST forum, Ron has started braces are expected soon from SWAVE...so maybe an answer to the tubing-wall-thickness question will come soon, as well.

https://www.autospecialists.co.uk/p...-front-lower-4-point-subframe-brace-f-eb-102/

 

[econoboxrocks]

One ST guy has it and he raved about it. https://www.fiestastforum.com/threa...ont-4-point-traction-brace.26329/#post-438775