8-1-14

Update on the repairs & upgrade to the '99.  The upper mount on the right rear upright failed during the driving day at Camden.  Not sure what type of steel the original part was machined from, but it has been replaced with a 4130 weldment.

 Broken Upright

Repaired Upright

Another problem with the '99 was the paddle shifter not downshifting properly.  I believe this is due to the paddle not springing back into position after a shift.  To test this I built a carbon fiber version of the original stainless steel design.  The paddles are now much stiffer and spring back into position much better.  Here are a few pictures of the process of making a carbon fiber copy of the original part.

 Flexible plastic behind the part with release agent

 After lay-up and vacuum bagging

Trimmed and finished part installed