Re: Chassis Stiffening for Alfa Spiders

[Alan Lambert <lechefgerard@xxxxxxxxx>]

You are right--to quantify is pointless. The statement by knowledgeable
races that it feels more rigid (I race also) is certainly worth
knowing, as how the car feels is really the point.


--- "Gowin, Lawrence" <Lawrence.Gowin@domain.elided> wrote:
> "I'm not saying that any of those situations is the case, but the
> fact
> that he asked about it doesn't in any way offer any quantifiable
> evidence that it works.  It doesn't offer any quantifiable evidence
> that
> it DOESN'T work either.  It's just an interesting anecdote, that can
> go
> into the hopper of anyone considering the purchase of a stiffener.
> 
> 
> 
> The point of my post was in response to someone who asked why anyone
> cared whether any quantifiable evidence of its effectiveness existed.
> Your experience, while great, does not fall into this category."
> 
> 
> 
> I technically agree with Paul on this that multiple people saying
> that
> the Spider chassis stiffeners work doesn't count as quantifiable
> evidence in their favor.  By the same token, very few people put
> their
> motors on dynos before and after engine rebuilds with all sorts of
> trick
> components.  So if someone says their the car feels a lot faster
> after
> replacing a tired worn out engine with a hopped up motor with
> everything
> in spec, without before and after testing there is no quantifiable
> evidence that they've made any performance gains.  By definition,
> quantifiable evidence means there would be equivalent measurements
> taken
> before and after a modification.
> 
> 
> 
> That said, it only makes sense that a proper rebuilt engine will make
> more power than a tired one...and dozens of people who have improved
> lap
> times in their Spiders after installing a chassis stiffener can make
> the
> logical conclusion that the weight penalty added by the stiffener is
> made up for with a more rigid chassis that helps their suspension
> work
> better through the turns.  There are a lot of aftermarket parts that
> feel effective because the car is louder or looks cooler but don't do
> much of anything for the vehicle's performance.  I don't think the
> Spider chassis stiffeners fall into that category, but I can't back
> that
> up with quantifiable evidence.
> 
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Lawrence
> 
> '71 GTV
> 
> 
> 
> Lawrence Gowin
> 
> Level (3) Communications
> 
> lawrence.gowin@domain.elided
> 
> Telephone (720) 888-1234
> 
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=====
Best Regards,

Alan Lambert
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