Messages

1

Suspension / strut bar effectivness

« on: April 27, 2009, 09:51:45 AM »

the bad advice and misinformation regarding tower uselessness came from the r3vforum = search strut bar   - emre

2

Suspension / tower bars front and rear

« on: April 26, 2009, 04:56:34 PM »

john mason
                       MASONENGINEERING.NET

3

Suspension / Strut Bar Fitment Stud Dimensions

« on: August 11, 2006, 09:25:18 PM »

I use the 8mm  dia.studs for all datum measurments , that seems to be a bit more precise and straight foreword than finding center of the large dia. hole, On e30 chassis i use the front pair studs and measure center to center across, I have seen on 3 un-molested/damaged chassis 36 1/8 - 36 3/16 -36 1/4 inches =add them up ==108.562, divide by 3 ==it seems the median average is = 36 3/16 inch  c-c, this is approximate/there about  definitely the stuff shrinks whilst welding so we put the fixture greater so the part will shrink into spec.when cool, one piece strut bars are of a superior design nature,and function  but also bring some  amount of fitting grief along with it , one physical law of planet earth is that "poop flows downhill"  and also  another in regards to racecar parts  is you cannot make "chicken soup out of chicken shit"  == [J.M. 1987]  when i telephone bavarian  auto they do not take my calls , why is that??my bars fit  - theirs do not      

Seems I'm the only one that cares about this...   Oh well.  

I called Bav Autosport to complain to them today that thier strut brace doesn't fit.  He was telling me that he has had a lot of people tell him that they won't fit, or won't fit well... etc...  They've sent a lot back.  So, I showed him something I read on the IE website:

IMPORTANT--The factory book says the distance between the strut towers is 1002.2mm +-2mm (39.5"). Measured from center to center (where the shock sticks thru). We have found many cars that measure about 980mm (38.75"). This leads us to believe BMW made two slightly different unibodies. Therefore we now make two versions of our brace. Please specify model and year, and measure your car to specify the "regular" or "short" brace.

He'd never heard this before...  But said he was going to investigate this and may end up trying to make a version of this lover strut tower brace to fit our "shorty" cars!  

That would be AWSOME!  

4

Suspension / welding poop

« on: August 03, 2006, 01:33:58 PM »

actually there is no adequate filler wire for welding used food ,as the alloying constituents are of a questionable origin not allowing proper coalescence,  

I can't weld shit.  :p

That's for people like you.  I don't mess with metal work, welding or body work AT ALL!  

I'm gonna call Bav Autosport on it.  I may need to get an adjustable one.  But, this bar is REALLY nice, REALLY light, and I REALLY would like to use it.

5

Suspension / Bavarian Tower Bar

« on: August 02, 2006, 10:48:21 AM »

MEASURE ALL THE STUDS CENTER TO CENTER ACROSS AND POST THOSE DIMENSIONS,AND I WILL REFERENCE TOOLING MY ARCHIVES , WHY DON"T YOU CUT AND RE-WELD WHILST INSTALLED ON CHASSIS?

Just cause the bar doesn't fit doesn't mean you've been plagued with issues m42boy, lol. It could be worse!

6

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / Turbo Header

« on: July 30, 2006, 03:44:02 PM »

HUMBLE HELPFUL ADVICE = USE S.S. T321 TUBING OR A NI-RESIST HI NICKEL CASTING , WITH PRESSURE PROOF SLIP JOINTS, ALSO WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF BLOWER , GIVE IT ROOM TO MOVE-GROW A 1/4 INCH IN LENGTH ,321 IS AN AIRCRAFT S. S. EXHAUST GRADE ALLOYED WITH TITANIUM , T304 IS WHAT THEY USE FOR THE TOILETS

I've never heard anything about the air bags. What's the deal? Sorry about the off topic post.
As to manifolds, cracked welds every year seems a bit much. Sounds like a fabbed to spec stainless with some support to the block maybe the way to go from a reliability standpoint. Sometimes the more expensive one is cheaper in the long run. True if you're redoing a flipped stock header every year.
"Cheap at any price!" has two meanings and both probably apply here.

7

Suspension / E30 Adjustable Rear Arms And Modified Beam

« on: July 30, 2006, 03:27:23 PM »

YES DR. STROES COMMISIONED ME TO FABRICATE 2 CAR SETS OF GRP. 4 ARMS=4130 TUBE AND REWORKED BEAMS FULLY ADJUSTABLE MOUNTS FOR TOE , CAMBER, CAMBER CURVE, I DID A LOT OF THIS FROM MEMORY FROM THE MC LAREN IMSA TURBO CARS AS THEY HAD ALL THIS EXQUISITE STUFF[BMW-JUNIOR TEAM FACTORY MOTORSPORT CHASSIS]I MADE FIXTURE TOOLING TO DEAL WITH ANY STANDARD E30 REAR CONTROL ARM,S LH&RH I WAS THINKING I COULD ADD ROD ENDS TO THE FRONT 2 PIVOT CONNECTIONS , OR TAKE  BENT ARMS AND CUT/WELD SOME INDUCED PROPER TOE, CAMBER,CASTER SETTINGS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOWERED THE RIDE HEIGHTH, BUT NOT CORRECTLY RAISED THE PICK-UP POINTS[YOUVE CORRUPTED ALL THE CORRECT SUSPENSION CURVES THAT THE GERMANS WORKED SO HARD TO GET RIGHT] ,AS A PROFESSIONAL   I NEED TO SEEK PERMISSION FROM GUSTAV IN REGARDS TO " SHOWING HIS DESIGNS " WITH THE OUTER WORLD OUT THERE AS I DO NOT WANT HIM TO THROW A WOBBLY ON ME AND SPIN OUT, I DO HAVE MASON ENG. 4 LUG HIGHLY MODIFIED STRUT HOUSINGS WITH UPPER M3 SWAY BAR MNTS., ROD ENDS ON RACK LINKS,PROPER BRAKE AIR DUCTS,WELDED GUSSETS ON SPINDLE DAMPNER TUBE THAT ARE MY OWN DESIGN THAT I WILL SOON SHOW PHOTOS

John, I once spoke to you about Gustav's M3 and you said that you were working on some tubular rear trailing arms. I was wondering if you could post some pictures of these to entertain us E30 enthusiest.

8

Suspension / Odd-ball Front Towers

« on: July 29, 2006, 04:13:42 PM »

YES ,THANKS I FOUGHT THE RACING CAR WARS IN THE TRENCHES ON A CORPORATE LEVEL , MC LAREN  BMW  320I TURBO AMONGST OTHERS,WHILE DESIGNING NEW BARS FOR BMP DESIGN AS A DESIGN CONSULTANT THESE PROBLEMS SURFACED. THAT JEFF IRELAND GUY KNOWS THE CHASSIS REVISION DATES MORE CONCISELY  MORE THAN I , THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT , IS THAT I SOLD E30 F.STRUT BARS AND THEY DID NOT FIT CORRECTLY =ITEM RETURNED,FOR CAMBERS- ON  STRUT SUSPENSION LOWER STEEL A ARMS WE USED CUT TO REMOVE 3/8" SECTOINS  NEAR BALLJOINT AND RE-WELD/GUSSET IN ORDER  TO ACHIEVE THE SETTINGS WE WANTED                         QUOTE=2002maniac]John,
  Did these cars with narrow strut towers come with different control arms?  Seems like the camber would be off a mile if the the strut tops were moved in 1/2" each and everything else stayed the same.

My car is a 5/90 production, anyone know when this phenomenon began?

Hooray for negative camber and tire clearance![/QUOTE]

9

Suspension / e30 front strut tower

« on: July 29, 2006, 11:25:28 AM »

The car was sitting on the ground.  The mounts are not slotted but the car was run into a curb at one point.  There is no noticeable damage, but I guess the whole front end could be tweaked?  Any other possibilities?

E30 84-91, THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT CHASSIS TOP STUD WIDTHS, TOWARD THE END OF THE PRODUCTION RUN THEY CHANGED FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER  BY THE 1 INCH AMOUNT,  MOST 95 % OF CARS MEASURE APP. 36 3/16 INCH C-C ACROSS MEASURING THE FRONT PAIR OF 8MM STUDS, I HAVE SEEN 36 1/8 TO 36 3/8 , IF THE CHASSIS HAD SOME PREVIOUS DRAMA [ CRUNCH] MOST TIMES THE BODY SHOP WILL CHANGE OUT THE SHEET METAL BITS  - BUT NEGLECT TO PROPERLY PULL THE CORNER INTO SPEC , MEASURE BOTH SIDES OF WHEELBASE AND MEASURE BOTH CASTER ANGLES TO PINPOINT AREA OF HIT,CLOUT,WHACK,ROOTED, OR PUT ON JACK STANDS AND SEE IF IT LAYS  FLAT ON ALL 4 SIMILIAR POINTS , OR CHECK THE CORNER WEIGHTS FOR  INDUCED TWIST

10

Suspension / Mason Strut Bars

« on: July 24, 2006, 08:10:39 PM »

yeah . . . what's the "Forum Member price"

YOU GUYS CAN HAVE 5% DISCOUNT OFF ALL MY BARS WITH $20.00 SHIPPING CHARGE FOR ONE BAR AND $28.00 FOR CAR SETS.  THESE BARS ARE STATE OF THE ART ONE PIECE NON HINGED DESIGN, FABRICATED PROPERLY USING DOMESTIC  U. S. MATERIALS  
                               
-NEWS FLASH  - SOME  PREVIOUS BAR CUSTOMER IN LOUISIANA  WAS SUBSEQUENTLY T-BONED BY A OUT OF CONTROL SUV  HE STATED THAT THE REAR BAR WAS OF BENEFIT IN A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT IT PREVENTED THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT FROM COLLAPSING ENTIRELY  = TRUE STORY=, HE WANT"S NEW BARS FOR NEXT CAR=HAPPY RETURN CUSTOMER

11

Vendors / GB / E30 Stru Bars Front &rear

« on: July 22, 2006, 10:36:57 AM »

John, can you be more specific about the group buy pricing? Are the aluminun strut bars $160/shipped? Also, you recommend the rear bar to go along with the strut bar, what goup buy price could you do for the aluminum strut/rear bar combo?

Thanks again for joining in on this strut bar subject.
Fabby

TO MY UNDERSTANDING - I WILL SUPPLY A  LOT QUANTITY OF 10 TOWER BARS FOR THE QUOTED PRICE, THE SHIPPING HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY STATED AT $20 PER BAR / $29 = CAR SETS FOR UPS IN THE US, DESIGN AND FITTING HAS BEEN DESCRIBED/SHOWN PREVIOUSLY
 E30 CAR SETS ALUMINUM ALLOY $320+$29
 E30 CAR SETS STEEL$279 + $29 , GO TO EBAY SELLER= JJMTOOLS AND READ 200 FEEDBACKS FROM BAR BUYERS, GOOD STUFF  THEY ARE HAPPY, THEY LIKE THEM,THEY WORK
 FOR TECHNICAL INQUIRIES CONTACT= johnmason55@adelphia.net

12

Vendors / GB / Strut Bar Group Buy - custom work

« on: July 20, 2006, 07:06:10 PM »

Keep In Mind What You Do To The Front To Add Structural Integrity To Chassis Should Also Be Added To Back Of Chassis, What Occurs With Only Front Addition Is That A Bend Moment Is Created Somewhere App. In The Middle , And You Get The Wiggles Half Way Thru The Corner As The Front Is Tracking And The Back Is Not Maintaning The Proper Ideal Suspension Settings Whilst Encountering G Forces Result=roll Couple Under Steer/push

13

Vendors / GB / mason engineering tower bars

« on: July 20, 2006, 06:54:53 PM »

John if we were to say get 10 people to buy the fronts what kind of price would we be looking at?

THE 1 PIECE  3LB. ALUMINUM FRONT TOWER BAR"S I MAKE FIT OVER THE 6TOWER STUDS,  THE FRONT PAIR OF STUDS SHOULD MEASURE APP. 36 3/16 INCH CENTER TO CENTER ACROSS MEASURE FIRST, THERE IS SOME SLIGHT OF VARIANCE AS I USE .375 HOLES THAT FIT ONTO .312 DIA. STUDS=8MM
 
MY PRICE LIST STATES  EACH $190 =ALUM. & $165= STEEL $20 FOR UPS SHIPPING IN THE US, 1O AT A TIME  $160 WOULD WORK FOR ME ,   YOU PEOPLE AS YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF THE BARS, I CAN TELL YOU WHICH ALLOY TUBE IS USED,WHICH WELD FILLER WIRE IS USED, AND PURITY OF SHIELDING GASES IF REQUIRED, THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT WELD WIRES 4043 THAT IS COMMON SOFT FLEXIBLE OR 5356 HI- STRENGTH =HARD BUT DOES NOT FLEX WE USE THAT ON RACING APPLICATIONS BUT KEEP AN EYE FOR CRACKS THAT OCCASIONLY OCCUR THAT WE REPAIR TIME TO TIME FROM A RESULT OF CYCLIC EXTREME USAGE ,YOU GUYS USE 4043

14

Vendors / GB / Strut Bar Group Buy - custom work

« on: July 20, 2006, 02:35:36 PM »

E30 TOWER BARS THAT FIT ALL PLENUMS
 FRONT BAR WEIGHS 3LB   REAR WEIGHS  2LB
            CONTACT ME AT   johnmason55@adelphia.net
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007464.JPG
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007465.JPG
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007466.JPG
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007467.JPG
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007467_1.JPG
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007468.JPG
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007469.JPG
http://m42club.com/fotomat/mason/IM007469_1.JPG

15

Suspension / Aluminum Alloy Tube

« on: July 19, 2006, 09:28:46 PM »

HI GUYS
Allow me to explain/clarify the front and rear tower bars i have designed,front is a twin tube of 1in. dia. running across with punch/flared  sheet metal shear plate on the top , positioned extreme rear-highest point of engine compartment ,for all type plenum clearances there are 2 types of materials of choice steel or aircraft grade domestic aluminum alloy 6063 t6-511, the end platforms are of the open top 6in. dia. with a 3 5/8 dia inner hole which allows easy access for camber/ dampner adjustments the bar assy. is of the hinge-less  1 piece design without bolted tabs, this is very good for load carrying abilities but can be troublesome on the installation as there is very little margin of variance amongst elderly chassis. front stl5lb alum.3lb rear stl.41/2lb alum2lb  design revised  and  - approved/blessed by gustav stroes-
 the rear bar is of same materials but is unique in that ther are 6 1/4 dia.bolts
per side that attatch  bar side skirts to wheelhouse transfering 1200 lb. of vertical loads each bolt 6x1200=7200lb shear. this bar is very easy to bolt on-no welding required  - but recomended for racers, sold under the name jjmtools  ebay = not made in china , does not have carbon fiber scotch tape

A seldom revealed fact in regards to domestic aircraft grade 6000 series weldable aluminum tube it is 1/3 the weight of steel and in a compression load  situation  it is 2x stronger than steel before yield point, is also by nature is non-corrosive and non-magnetic, so  it seems if the strut bar is designed correctly - welded precisely and  in compression it would be  an advantageous choice for a lite=weight add on  load bearing structure