ENGINE FRAMES

The information below is an extract from our suppliers literature

SUBFRAME SPECIFICATION
So concerned we were about making the frames stronger but without altering the crash strength (crumple zone effect), that we instigated an FEA / stress analysis program at a local automotive university to study and implement the effects of uprating the standard Jaguar subframe assembly Certain aspects of the original design have critical flaws in terms of longevity, fatigue strength and stress distribution They're straight out of a racing car and were never really designed to have an extended working life for highway use Through the program, we looked at ways of making improvements over the original set up without sacrificing either looks or impact protection. The recommendations have now been fully implemented into our "uprated subframe system" - the results of which are: The lower longitudinal tube has its wall thickness increased from 0.9mm to 1.2mm The smaller rectangular tube has its wall thickness increased from 0.9mm to 1.1mm The round tubing has its wall thickness increased from 0.9mm to 1.2mm The tubing has higher Yield and UTS values as compared to the originals, but without loss of ductility (better fatigue rating) All the brackets and fabrications are made using a higher strength low alloy material (HSLA) which also increases the fatigue rating

All of this is achieved without affecting the crash strength or the looks of the originals * The overall effect is to increase the torsional rigidity and reduce the bending effect, which gives a firmer, stiffer ride with better handling characteristics * The frames are now able to cope with modern upgrades to the suspension, brakes, tyres and engine One other point of note the tubing that we use is fully weldable, has excellent deformability and can be increased in strength without loss of ductility the exact opposite of AISA 4130! For these reasons alone, it is eminently far superior than the original Reynolds 531 tubing and also AISA 4130 tubing that seems to be quite popular at the moment in fact, our tubing is still predominantly used within the aerospace and professional motorsport circles in the UK and Europe (at a time when everything seems to be CFRP, billet alloy and titanium!)

There are only TWO E-Type frame manufacturers in the world: with two very different qualities

Also, a brief rundown of our product spec. and motives

i) Our frames fit we guarantee the fit of the frames to your bulkhead / floor rails / TB reaction plate and Picture frame, whilst setting the suspension and engine mounting datums at the correct points. We set our frame datums from one of the Churchill body jigs originally used at Jaguar (now owned by RS Panels) Also, we fully stress relieve & set the side and bonnet frames during and after welding

ii) Our frames are stronger but without compromise to safety (crumple zone effect)

iii) Our frames have a greater resistance to fatigue failure better endurance rating

iv) Our frames look exactly as original the tubing that we use is made specifically for us and no one else it has the same outside dimensions and the correct corner radii the mill that manufactures our tubing is fully CAA / aero cert. compliant. The tubing is aircraft alloy 4T45, which is the modern equivalent to 531

v) Our frames are superbly finished off we use special alloy rods and gas flux process to produce stronger "super smooth", porous free joints we surface etch the frames to remove all traces of flux and scale prior to finishing with an etch primer - all you have to do when you get them is to trial fit, paint, cavity wax and then re-fit

vi) All frames are serialized to provide full conformity and traceability we can stamp the chassis no. onto the picture frame exactly as original (no charge)

vii) We offer a full, no questions asked, money-back guarantee

viii) The fixing kit supplied contains all the correct nuts / bolts / washers to attach the frames to themselves and to the front bulkhead. We even supply the camber shims for the upper fulcrum blocks; engine mounting shims that go under the front engine rubber mounts; flange shims for use between the lower outer tube and sill end panel; picture frame packing pieces are now spot welded to the lower frame cross member - All fixings are zinc plated / stainless If your bonnet is operated by gas damper strut, we even supply (free of charge) the strut anchor bracket that fits on the L/H side of the picture frame - in stainless of course We also supply (free of charge) a hardwood jacking block to fit on the underside of the lower picture frame member