Re: Suspension help?

[Dave Hartnell <dave.hartnell@techbc.ca>]

Thanks Rick,

All the info i can find on the Dana44 in the Jag IRS rear end says that
it should be able to handle at least 500 ICE horsepower and similar
torque. In fact Jaguar used the exact rear end on one of their V12
racers without modification over stock and it held up to 542hp and about
the same torque.

You have to remember that my rabbit is also going to be light so my main
problem is going to be actually getting enough weight over the reear to
get myself moving.

I looked at the Ford and dana60's but your right they are heavier.. and
i'd rather have IRS over a solid rear axle but of course that comes with
a loss in strength.

On the other hand my brothers car <a 74 corvette stingray> is making
650hp at the crank from a bored out 454 <472 i think> and it can put the
power down through a beefed up stock rear IRS <which is also a dana 44>
and power it into the high 10's in the quarter mile without any
problems. he did however destroy a turbo400 transmission =)

I'd love some more information since I'm more of a front wheel drive
import kinda guy <VW's> the only rear wheel drive experience i've had is
in older aircooled beetles.

The Jag IRS with the dana44 seems to be a favorite piece with the AC
Cobra Kit car builders and i've seen loads of those with more than 500hp
The Lowdown on what i'm hoping to do is Keep the car below 2100lbs with
56 smaller AGM's <14-16AH each> two 8" motors and a Zilla controller.
direct driven to a rear axle of some sort.

Cheers,
Dave

On Tue, 2002-01-29 at 19:49, Rick Pryor wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dave Hartnell" <dave.hartnell@techbc.ca>
> To: "EV List" <ev@listproc.sjsu.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 5:26 PM
> Subject: Suspension help?
> 
> 
> > In an effort to make my EV rabbit project more worthwhile i'm going to
> > be converting it from front wheel drive  to rear wheel drive using a
> > Jaguar E-Type <XKE> rear end.
> >
> > I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about these rear ends and/or has
> > worked with them before?
> >
> > I need to get it shortened to fit in the back and hope to fit 10-12"
> > wide tires in with it <i will have to cut out the inner fenders in the
> > rear and tub it>.
> >
> > This is all new ground for me but i'm not afraid of a challange.
> >
> > I've located an E-type rear axle complete with subframe from a 69-70
> > Series II.
> >
> > I have been told the XKE was the one to get it from since it used a
> > Dana44 rear diff and gearsets are easy to find. as well as upgraded
> > diffs/lockers etc.
> >
> > If anyone has any urls or info they'd like to send i'd love to see it.
> >
> > The Rear end will be direct driven off 2 8" motors with no transmission.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Dave
> >
> > <pictures of the work in progress will soon be up at www.plasmabunny.com
> > i am just setting up the dns/website>.
> >
> 
> 
> Hi Dave,
> 
> >From my ICE racing days, I remember the Dana 40 series diffs to be a bit on
> the weak side. The old Dana 60 would be my pick, or a Ford 9 inch with the
> removable third member. The weight increase of these two choices is a bit of
> a disadvantage, but they are tough. The larger ring gear will give you
> better torque transfer through less steep gear face angles. Seems like the
> variety of selectable gear sets are more favorable to build up something
> more easily, I.E., the high 4's, low 5's.
> 
> Is the Jag set-up IRS? That may be the advantage in one point of thinking,
> but  I don't think you will find it easy to tune for body twist when the
> meat sticks to the counter, if you know what I mean? The width of tires you
> want to run tell me that you desire more traction than the 44 will likely
> have the strength to endure for long. I always liked getting the car going
> at nearly the same speed as the tire rotation after about 4 feet. With the
> torque increase from electric motor, as compared ot an ICE, you'll need
> every trick in the book to get where you want to be, ...the big end of the
> track.
> 
>  Hope you have great results, no matter what you decide to try.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Rick
>