Clever mods to strengthen your ride
 

Hi,

Could you share some mods you made on pan and body to make the car stiffer please?
What about matching a cabrio pan and sedan body? Worth it or just some extra weight? Thanks

A roll cage adds stiffness to the floorpans/chassis & a kafer brace will help too.

I welded a shallow channel brace across the top of the 1303 seat hump and then bolted that down to the heater channel. This carries the front seat mounts but also provides an additional cross member to stiffen the floor pan to provide greater torsional ridigity. I also added a brace between the 'A' pillars just below the dash that is bolted in to improve the upper shell rigidity. Its also got the usual front strut brace.

I have just about worked out how to fit a K Cup brace whilst still retaining the heat exchangers. Its not going to be the best layout but the adds some extra rear end stiffness.

The front I was considering cross bracing to the panel infront of the wheel well but I need access to the spare wheel and I need to incorporate space for an oil cooler and ducting (dry sump).

You will notice that I have not included a roll cage as the bug is primarily for the road and iI have already compromised it by effectively turning it into a three seater with no room behind the drivers seat due to the Alfa bench rear seat. I think there is enough metal in the shell its just that it doesn't distribute it effectively so needs stiffening more locally.

Clive

FYI, the cabrio pan is the same as the sedan pan, the strengthening is all in the body. Some people have used cabrio strengthening panels in sedans..

Hi

This is what I did on my 1303 to stiffen the A&B pillars.

Steve

Thanks for the input guys!

Yeah, of course I know the benefits of a roll cage and strut bars, but I was wondering those little (sometimes invisible) mods that make the car stiffer. And I'm with Clive, I build my car to be street legal so roll cage is not a real option.

@ Clive: Thanks for the comment, could you share some pictures as well please?

@ Rich: Yes, in the meantime I found that there are no differences in this way..do you have any feedback of using that extra panel?

@ Steve: That is exactly I was looking for, thank you! Do you notice extra stiffness, worth the job?

I found some guys using custom brackets under the pan, but that should weight too much, so not convinced about that..

Hi

I've only driven the car a few times, it does feel much more solid.

Steve

Cool mod...