Unibody seam welding for increased chassis rigidity

[tripod808]

So I've been researching about different ways that people increase the stiffness in their fwd cars. Something I came across on rallyanarchy and grassrootsmotorsports is seam welding. Has anyone done this to their festiva? What differences have you noticed?

I will probably end up doing this down the road but probably after I install a cage.

[Hot_Wheels]

Shorstiva seem welded his car, looks good but i think he was complaining he got burned a few times, would be helpuful to put on a rotisserie.

[fastivaca]

Based on what Advancedynamix has posted I would say it's not really necessary with the Festiva. I'm on my my phone otherwise I'd post a link to his threads on the advantages of the Festiva chassis.

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[tripod808]

Based on what Advancedynamix has posted I would say it's not really necessary with the Festiva. I'm on my my phone otherwise I'd post a link to his threads on the advantages of the Festiva chassis.

I hear what your saying and I remember reading what he wrote BUT I want to build a verstaile car that will do auto-x as well as rally-X. It's the rally-x that concerns me the most as there will be various courses that may include small jumps as well as head to head competition. I want to be able to drive the car there and back if at all possible so I want it to be overbuilt and as bulletproof as possible. I don't want the rally-x to excessively loosen my chassis in the long run.

[tripod808]

Shorstiva seem welded his car, looks good but i think he was complaining he got burned a few times, would be helpuful to put on a rotisserie.

Getting burnt from welding is half the fun for me! Haha

[bravekozak]

Thread 17831 . It is very easy to use the search engine.

[shorestiva]

It's a royal PITA only way I'd do it again is if I'd have the shell acid dipped or soda blasted first. Welding was easy cleaning of all the seam sealer was the hard part.

[jason_]

It's a royal PITA only way I'd do it again is if I'd have the shell acid dipped or soda blasted first. Welding was easy cleaning of all the seam sealer was the hard part.

I was going to mention...

Clean material is the only way to have quality welds.

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[Tommychu]

The only place I would weld for _extreme_ rallyx thrashing would be the strut mounts in front. If you look at Festivas that have been excessively jumped and trashed (like, a bunch of hicks and a non-roadworthy car seeing how badly you can abuse the thing before it refuses to move kind of thing) that's the only thing that ever fails. strut.jpg
That said, officials at rallyx type events generally pick/make a course that's not going to destroy cars- it's not much fun if everyone who showed up leaves with their car on a flatdeck. I've done a few rallyx events in mine and the only things that aren't factory about my chassis are the semi-severe rust (nature's weight reduction. Better than carbon fiber bro) and the sledgehammer mod I did to clear the BP alternator.
Hell, caging it is overkill unless it's a safety requirement for the events/classes you're planning to enter.

[defprun]

The only thing on the Festiva that needs to be reinforced is the front sway bar/lower rad support, according to Advanced. I'd do the seams on the front struts and the firewall...a Festy with some power might feel like it wants to rip the front end off lol.

[tripod808]

It's a royal PITA only way I'd do it again is if I'd have the shell acid dipped or soda blasted first. Welding was easy cleaning of all the seam sealer was the hard part.

Duly noted, I'll have to take that into consideration. Thanks

[tripod808]

The only place I would weld for _extreme_ rallyx thrashing would be the strut mounts in front. If you look at Festivas that have been excessively jumped and trashed (like, a bunch of hicks and a non-roadworthy car seeing how badly you can abuse the thing before it refuses to move kind of thing) that's the only thing that ever fails.

Thanks, this is the kind of info that I'm looking for. It's people who have abused the festiva that have done invaluable R&D on finding the weak points.

[/QUOTE]I've done a few rallyx events in mine and the only things that aren't factory about my chassis are the semi-severe rust (nature's weight reduction. Better than carbon fiber bro) and the sledgehammer mod I did to clear the BP alternator.
Hell, caging it is overkill unless it's a safety requirement for the events/classes you're planning to enter.[/QUOTE]
Haha, I guess I have a lot of nature's weight reduction too! I agree that a cage may be overkill but I assume that after I do my aspire brakes, tweak the suspension, and swap the motor down the road, I will be in the modified class. The cage requirement for that class is "Minimum*Single*Hoop*with*two*Kickers;*Securely*mo unted*(welded*or*bolted)." I thought about staying in the stock class but i enjoy making modifications.

[tripod808]

The only thing on the Festiva that needs to be reinforced is the front sway bar/lower rad support, according to Advanced. I'd do the seams on the front struts and the firewall...a Festy with some power might feel like it wants to rip the front end off lol.

I plan on welding up a beefy lower radiator support. Just need to buy or borrow a welder since the welder that I already own is on another island. I'll definitely look into those particular areas, thanks!