Tubular Front End

[BoostMunchies]

Hi, I am going to make a tubular front end for my 13. I want to replace the upper core support center (section between headlight mounts), because it was mangled by previous owners, and also build a tubular bumper. I am really only posting for advice. I have access to a welder but not a pipe bender, my buddy says we can do it with miter cuts my only issue with that is if it will be as structurally sound as bent pipe. Also any pics of others tubular front ends would be a help to help me get some ideas. Thanks

[bunny13]

Google is your bestie.

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/439712-tube-front-ends-post-up-different-set-ups.html

[oni jake]

Hey Boost,

I had to cut my front end all up for when I hit a wall in Indy and designed the front end with the tools and resources I had available to me. I didn't have a bender so I took some straight pipe and cut a triangular piece to FOLD over absorbing any impact. When people do a tube front end the most common mistake is to OVER beef it up. The force from a crash is going somewhere in your car, and if your front end can take it without a problem, then you'll most likely end up tweaking the frame or causing damage elsewhere.

I'm a big fan of welding thick plates on the car and using them as mounting points. Use shear bolts to lessen crash force exerted on the chassis and make spare tubes to bring to the track. The goal of doing a project like is to save the chassis to still compete in any situation. Obviously there is a risk that your car can be totaled, so you want to minimize that as much as possible. Mounting points for your headlights and such you can get away with the lightest tubing you can find, strength isn't important there.

Some pictures of what I did.

How it started

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/170402_244996592270690_395230778_o.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/333410_244997778937238_1029447883_o.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/411890_244998315603851_1495376175_o.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/266178_244998385603844_665189367_o.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/422694_182775705159446_397228517_n.jpg

[BoostMunchies]

Nice, thanks for the help. I plan to try and keep it to a minimal but I have alot of time to plan on exactly what I want to do being as I still have alot of progress to make on my SR. And I did look on google but I kept getting bunk sites.