M1chaelw Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Evening I'm researching in to the Vauxhall engined HPC caterhams and have seen a couple of posts stating that the chassis changed design in 1996 (newer type suspension/ seats/ tunnel mounted handbrake)Does anyone know if these chassis changes are easily retrofitted or made a massive improvement to a pre 1996 chassis ? Just want to know if I'm best waiting for a 1996 onwards if I was to buy this type of 7 ATB Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Its quite easy to spot the difference - early ones the upper shock mounting and wishbone share a bolt to fix to the chassis. later cars have separate fixings for shock and wishbone.Only way to upgrade is to have a long front chassis and sideskins along with all new wishbones so ££££. I recall an owner doing this and the engine mounts ended up in slightly different locations.Earlier set up can be converted to widetrack. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I fitted a post 96 long front to my 94 car during crash repairs and found it was straight forward. If fitted by Arch, there should not be any issues with position of engine mounts or other pickups. I found the general handling and feel of the car was improved.Wide track was designed for the post 96 chassis but can be fitted to a pre 96 chassis, but it must be remembered the top damper fixing is lower so the spring / damper is considerably more horizontal than design, thus affecting the rising rate.Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 The positives are stiffer chassis, central handbrake, detachable cross members under bonnet, better seats etc.Negative is softer springs which will need changing if you want to do track work or go round corners without grinding away the silencer.I would wait for a '96 on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Speak to Bruce he will give you chapter and verse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 The positives are stiffer chassis, central handbrake, detachable cross members under bonnet, better seats etc.Not all post 1996 chassis' have detachable cross members nor central handbrake.If it's a race chassis it won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 We are talking about road registered Vauxhall engined HPC's from '96 on, not race cars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 I am fairly certain I've seen a late 1996 road registered HPC without removable (without using an angle grinder, that is) cross member.Anyway I am not sure the chassis will be stiffer if it has the cross members bolted on rather than having them brazed (spelling?) in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Not all road cars had removable diagonals, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 The chassis stiffness was improved in the post 96 because the centre tunnel was significantly redesigned. The by product is the central handbrake. The tunnel design is not really modifiable, it would be very major chassis surgery. As has been said the front suspension points change upper and lower but this can be achieved if you really wanted with a short front. Arch can add chassis diagonals that are removable if you don’t have them reasonably easily. Though if like me you don’t like the central handbrake you can still fit an under dash one with some minor additions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 ... if it has the cross members bolted on rather than having them brazed (spelling?) in.Spelling is good, cf braised food. But it's a strange sounding word, possibly because brazen is so much more common... hussy, image...Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Culminator Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Having owned HPC's with both types of chassis, I can confirm that the post 96 version is the better one. Noticeably stiffer and better suspension geo. Hold out for later type for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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