Home built F1000

[DWickman]

It has been slow going building my F1000, but the end is finally in sight.

Here is a link to some photos of the build.
I will continue to add to this in due course.

http://s27.photobucket.com/user/dkwf1000/library/F1000


Desmond

[Kazis31]

This guy is not playing around.
This calls for special comparison........
Sorry Tom.

[Jnovak]

Spectacular. Thanks for the post and pics.

[racerdad2]

Truly fine craftsmanship ! Looking forward to seeing your next set of photos with the paint on. Inspiring !

[reidhazelton]

Wow. Very nice. I can't imagine the time it took to build that. It's really misleading to call that "homebuilt", far above what that name typically describes.

Very impressive.

[BLS]

Beautiful work Desmond!

[Earley Motorsports]

A work of art. And I see what looks like Harbor Freight tools in the background. Just like my shop. You should be very proud of yourself.

[S Lathrop]

It has been slow going building my F1000, but the end is finally in sight.


Desmond

Based on my experience, I would like to make a small recommendation for a change to the roll bar structure.

It appears to me that the main hoop of the roll bar is braced to the front and the rear at the same point. I would add a box gusset to the rear of the roll bar, between the brace and the upper portion of the hoop.

I built a FV several years ago where I braced the roll bar as you have done. The roll bar was 1.375 x .083 4130 tubing. The car got airborne at corner 5, Elkhart and when it landed, it sheared the roll bar off even with the top of the braces. I had a tube between the vertical members of the roll bar to support the head rest. That tube kept the vertical members of the roll bar in place and the driver only scratched his helmet, beyond the damage to the car.

Your FB will be about the same weight but going 40 mph faster at the same point on that track.

Over the years I have been building cars I have had several bounce off the roll bars and that was the only incident of a roll bar failing. This is also the reason I have moved to roll bars that have 2 hoops at the top.

Overall your car is a credit to the F1000 cars.

[BLS]

... it sheared the roll bar off even with the top of the braces.

Steve, good point. Always something to learn from the wiser and experienced.

[S Lathrop]

Steve, good point. Always something to learn from the wiser and experienced.

My customers have a nasty habit of showing me the deficiencies in my designs. I am only just smart enough to remember.

[BeerBudgetRacing]

And I see what looks like Harbor Freight tools in the background. Just like my shop.

They definitely have their place. Great disposables!
We have 5 of the $9 grinders - worth exactly what we paid. but when you're cleaning crap you don't want to use a good one.... and the secret is to buy the warranty on 1.

[R. Pare]

Nice work! You've definitely have put a lot of work into your new toy!

A question and an observation:

Q - Is the dash hoop the required 1.375 x .080 minimum that is required? Really hard to tell by the pictures.



On the main hoop and the forward braces where they weld to the rectangular section horizontal tubing, if I am seeing things correctly, it looks like they are welded into the center of the rectangular tube faces, with no additional boxing to direct the loads to the vertical walls. This will cause the flat tube faces to "diaphram" under loading and fatigue-crack very quickly. If that is truly what I am seeing, I would recommend that you add some boxing to direct the loads to the rectangular tube vertical walls.

[Bob Wheless]

WOW!!!!!congrats,,,,,shaking head as he walks away,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[glenn cooper]

I looked up "Sano" in the dctionary, and it linked me to these pics...

Izat the Kardashian chick above? Hips would indicate so.
I'm not certain of the reference, but ultimately I do not care!

[Kazis31]

In other home made f1000 thread it
was compared to fairly voluptuous women.
so there is the reference..

[DWickman]

Thank you all for your positive comments and to Steve and Richard with regard to the roll hoops.

Richard, the front hoop is 1.375 x .095 wall.

Desmond

[DWickman]

This guy is not playing around.
This calls for special comparison........
Sorry Tom.

I hired a model with curves for inspiration when I created my body work!!!

[JJLudemann]

Wow! I mean, WOW! That is some amazing work. I'm guessing this is not the first car you've built. I'd love to see some work-in-progress pics of the fiberglass pieces. How did you make so many complex shapes that will all fit together? Do you have your own CNC shop? I'm also guessing you don't sleep much. How long did that take you to design & build?

Congratulations!

-Jim

[provamo]

Desmond, if i wore a hat it would be off to you.............awesome build!

[DWickman]

Wow! I mean, WOW! That is some amazing work. I'm guessing this is not the first car you've built. I'd love to see some work-in-progress pics of the fiberglass pieces. How did you make so many complex shapes that will all fit together? Do you have your own CNC shop? I'm also guessing you don't sleep much. How long did that take you to design & build?

Congratulations!

-Jim

Thanks Jim.

Once the side panels were done, I then made a mold of the side pods using the side panel profile. Using the "egg box" construction method, I used foam to fill the gaps between the formers and rough sand to the the required shape. I then made some flat panels using two layers of 5 oz E-glass layed up on an old window, as the glass is quite flat and smooth.
Once these panels were cured, it was easy to shape over the formed side pod and glue in place. This required a number of panels to achieve this. The opening of the side pods was shaped using West System resin and filler and sanded to the required shape.

All the other body sections was done this way.

Making a plug of the whole body as you have done is probably the better way to go and then make the separate molds from it.

If only I had a CNC machine shop,

The whole process to design and build every thing has taken a number of years as this is done in my spare time. Have not quite retired yet!!

You are doing well on with your car, so keep up the good work.

Desmond

[DWickman]

Desmond, if i wore a hat it would be off to you.............awesome build!

Thanks Ralph, Appreciate your comments

Desmond

[mousecatcher]

superb!

My favorite photo is something silly, the one with the dash mockup in place.

[mwizard]

+1 for me on impressed. Puts my factory built FF to shame. Sets a new standard for "home built".
Mark

[DWickman]

Thanks for your comments Mark!

Desmond

[Kazis31]

superb work....

[Kazis31]

We are living in the fast food ,made to make profit world.
It's the home made custom guys that define true craftsmanship and quality.
Kudos to that......

[kiwimanz]

Truly a very professional build. Excellent work!
Believe me, I know how much time and effort you have put into this. I'm just finishing a ground up build of a two seat P2 car.

Unless you have ever taken on a project like this, one could never imagine the focus and dedication needed to make every thing from scratch.

Can't wait to see some youtube action!

Cheers
Linz

[Jnovak]

Desmond, when will your new car hit the track?

[BRONCO]

Wow! I was expecting a shipwreck! You obviously have built cars before. Very, very nice!
Tony

[DWickman]

Truly a very professional build. Excellent work!
Believe me, I know how much time and effort you have put into this. I'm just finishing a ground up build of a two seat P2 car.

Unless you have ever taken on a project like this, one could never imagine the focus and dedication needed to make every thing from scratch.

Can't wait to see some youtube action!

Cheers
Linz

Thanks for your comments Linz.
It has been a lot of work, but the end is in sight.

Desmond

[DWickman]

Desmond, when will your new car hit the track?

Some time this year

Desmond

[DWickman]

Wow! I was expecting a shipwreck! You obviously have built cars before. Very, very nice!
Tony

Thanks for your comments Tony.

Desmond

[provamo]

Desmond, again what an impressive build, thoroughly professional!

[Jnovak]

Some time this year

Desmond

Excellent.

[ghickman]

For those of us that have managed to pull off building our own car, it's a great felling when you are behind the wheel at last.....yep it is a ton of work and the thought of it makes me tired.

Desmond did those Williams FSAE tripod drives I sold you work for you?

[Rob E]

I am truly in awe... When you see the word "homebuilt" in the title you expect to see something that reflects the love and passion put in to the build but you also expect to see certain compromises that the builder has to make because of various limitations.

This build has none of those compromises as far as I can see. I have been building my own GTL car and now feel that I need to melt the whole thing into a big glob and give up... :-)

[provamo]

I am truly in awe... When you see the word "homebuilt" in the title you expect to see something that reflects the love and passion put in to the build but you also expect to see certain compromises that the builder has to make because of various limitations.

This build has none of those compromises as far as I can see. I have been building my own GTL car and now feel that I need to melt the whole thing into a big glob and give up... :-)

NEVER give up

finish it off and learn so your NEXT is better

(then again there is something to be said for cutting your losses and moving on)

[DWickman]

For those of us that have managed to pull off building our own car, it's a great felling when you are behind the wheel at last.....yep it is a ton of work and the thought of it makes me tired.

Desmond did those Williams FSAE tripod drives I sold you work for you?

Yes they did.

Desmond

[DWickman]

I am truly in awe... When you see the word "homebuilt" in the title you expect to see something that reflects the love and passion put in to the build but you also expect to see certain compromises that the builder has to make because of various limitations.

This build has none of those compromises as far as I can see. I have been building my own GTL car and now feel that I need to melt the whole thing into a big glob and give up... :-)

Sometimes you feel like given up, but don't......you will regret it if you did.

Desmond

[sprocketmensch]

This build is nothing short of spectacular. My only comment would be driver sightlines. I personally like my dash to be as high as possible so I can see the shift LEDs easily. You may want to consider an open top steering wheel so you have better view of your dash. Other than that...can you make me one?