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Body Rigidity

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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 01:52 AM
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Thumbs up Body Rigidity

I was playing Gran Turismo and was just going through my garage and the shop and saw the rigidity refresher which got me thinking: how long/hard can you drive your car before compromising the rigidity of fresh steel?

I do take my car to the track, autocross, and go on a canyon run once in a while that have resulted in my fair share of spins and slides. Now, I realize my skill is not at a high enough level for a minute difference in body rigidity to even matter but doesn't this all add up eventually?

Also, now that I think about it, my friend (whose name I'm withholding ) and I dented one of my frame rails on a jack stand when he jacked the other side of the car too high. It's been about a year since and I haven't really noticed anything, but would this come back and bite me one day when I'm skilled enough to consistently push on a track?
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 04:07 AM
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Leave it up to Honda's Engineers, I'm sure they know what their doing... (just look at their incredibly impressive reliability record)
I highly doubt the chassis is subjected to loads exceeding the yielding point. I'd be more concerned about fatigue (cycles), which is far more complex.
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 09:07 AM
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To start, Honda made quite a rigid frame!
You know I race an AP1 and I personally added quite a few bars...you have an 09 so there should be no problems I hope

http://www.gotuning.com/product_info.php?f...roducts_id=1280

http://www.gotuning.com/product_info.php?f...roducts_id=1084

http://www.bethania-garage.com/s2000.htm

X-brace
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...ic=708670&st=0

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/Z1Performan...ace_Honda_S2000

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/Z1Performan...Bar_Honda_S2000

Don't know what to think about that:
http://www.gotuning.com/product_info...oducts_id=1282

Thread on the subject:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...c=762523&st=25
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 04:11 AM
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Bolt-in bars do essentially nothing compared to a good weld-in cage.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 02:06 PM
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Yes it does add up eventually. Honda made a very good chassis, but it is not bulletproof. After a few years of hard driving, you will notice that the chassis starts to flex. Not a huge amount, but noticeable.

For instance, I tried to install an aftermarket x-brace about a year ago -- when we pulled the stock brace off, it didn't fit, so we tried to install the stock brace back on, and we needed me and another strong guy with crow bars to pry it back on, the chassis had flexed so much.

That's why you'll hear a lot of veteran racers (or racers who just race older model cars) talking about chassis swaps. I haven't seen any S2000s that needed one yet, but it is just a matter of time.
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Old Jul 26, 2010 | 11:52 PM
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Originally Posted by zbrewha863,Jul 24 2010, 02:06 PM
Yes it does add up eventually. Honda made a very good chassis, but it is not bulletproof. After a few years of hard driving, you will notice that the chassis starts to flex. Not a huge amount, but noticeable.

For instance, I tried to install an aftermarket x-brace about a year ago -- when we pulled the stock brace off, it didn't fit, so we tried to install the stock brace back on, and we needed me and another strong guy with crow bars to pry it back on, the chassis had flexed so much.

That's why you'll hear a lot of veteran racers (or racers who just race older model cars) talking about chassis swaps. I haven't seen any S2000s that needed one yet, but it is just a matter of time.
I can't recall what it's called right now but isn't there something that straightens out frames? It's on the tip of my tongue too! Wouldn't that help when you start to experience flex?
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Old Jul 27, 2010 | 12:41 PM
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I've seen one, I don't know what it's called either. They have them at collision shops. I have no idea if it would help with chassis flex, but I've never heard of anybody using it for that reason.
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Old Jul 27, 2010 | 03:25 PM
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a frame machine
chassis puller
chassis alignment rack.

I didnt know there was one name for it.
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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by zbrewha863,Jul 27 2010, 12:41 PM
I've seen one, I don't know what it's called either. They have them at collision shops. I have no idea if it would help with chassis flex, but I've never heard of anybody using it for that reason.
Ah, so you must've never seen such classics as Wangan Midnight and Capeta. Learned everything to know about how important a stiff chassis is from these classics.
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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 10:25 PM
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To answer your question: No it does not change the rigidity.

Steel does not weaken after cycles of loading. Fatigue is something different.
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