Hall Pantera has been selling "billet aluminum" Pantera suspension a-arms for years. Two mentions of note on that. 1) they are heavier then the original steel tube arms 2) they are known to bend and crack through the "bends". I don't know what alloy he used, so don't ask please.
They are beautiful to look at but I wouldn't do endurance racing with them.
It really isn't a criticism by me. Engineering can be aimed at a solution to a specific "problem" but is limited sometimes by the vision of the criteria that is set. BUT if plan A doesn't work then go to plan B, whatever that may be?
Some solutions when examined can be questionable but don't blame the finished product, blame the criteria. The Soviet
Mig 14 Mig-25? that defected to the West (Japan?) years ago is somewhat of an example.
It was a plane that had Western military analysts "concerned" about and when it showed up constructed of sheet steel rather then titanium there was some relief. Not being an analyst (anal being the significant root of that word) I can't state how relieving that all was?
Again, I'm not arguing because it isn't my field of expertise. I find the subject intriguing and I don't want the FBI or even the ATF pushing in the door to see why the neighbors are complaining about me?
I found it "concerning" that I received a waiver certificate with my first set of titanium Cleveland valves years ago. I don't see them coming with that any more and my shotguns are all at least 18" long.
Is this a picture of you with the Iconel Pantera? "Contour Mike" is son #1 as Charlie Chan might say. It looks just like him and I used to tease him about where he would go at night?
As far as the J car/Miles goes, it's my understanding that the most recent speculation of the "Incident" is that the rear locked up. People that I know that worked for Holman-Moody all say NO ONE knows what happened with that car because it completely disintegrated, so while the honeycomb coming apart is a highly educated guess, it's still speculation scientifically.
Nick Soprano, Classic Motor Cars, then in North White Plains, NY, owned I think "chassis" J-6. When I saw it, it was already in MK IV configuration and in the showroom.
With a car like that, who is left alive that can tell me what is original and what is fictional? That was 20 years ago and he moved to Mt.Kisco. I haven't been there since.
Here I am, at Nick Soprano's with the GT40 inside, window shopping for his Mangusta at the time. It was only $25,000. Who knew? No pictures of the "MkIV that day. Place was locked up.
See, being a fly on the wall with a camera makes some interesting life highlights?
Don't talk about welding to me. I still have nightmares about welding 6" hull plates together and setting myself on fire? I had a friend who's father worked for Grumen on LI in the '70s. I don't know how big his lunch "pail" was but if I needed -32 Aeroquip, I'd call him. The stuff that he had as "scrap" was amazing...and probably illegal, but...
Personally, I'd stay with the original concepts of the chassis. If I wanted something "Star Wars", there are a bunch already made and field tested as "reasonably safe" even if by some "nutzie Formula 1 drivers" on the street.
I don't care that the Polish guys were Soviet Mig builders in a past life. They built that steel Mig. Vodka is popular in Poland too.
I "ain't Chuck Yeager"!