Titanium question

Titanium question - 12/07/10 01:02 AM

Hi all, just wondering what the min. thickness of titanium is suppose to be for the sheild between the trunk of a car and the back seat area? (NHRA)
Hope someone could help me!! Thanx.

Posted By: mr2performance

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 01:20 AM

Do it at least 032 or don't worry about it cause they'll never check it Mike

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 02:45 AM

I would use the same thickness as steel.

Posted By: Mike Swann

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 05:34 AM

Expensive choice of material!

Posted By: Spode

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 05:44 AM

Quote:

Expensive choice of material!

cheaper than unobtainium

Posted By: mr. 63plymouth

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 06:18 AM

I agree,but I kinda dont like your typical alum. race car stuff!!!!Different is good!!!!

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Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 06:21 AM

Play it as alum... IF a tech guy were to look at it
he would see it as alum... JMO

Posted By: LA360

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 12:06 PM

What benefit is there running titanium in this application?

Posted By: polyspheric

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 05:17 PM

You get to tell people about it, that's why I use plutonium.

Posted By: hemicop

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 05:54 PM

Quote:

Hi all, just wondering what the min. thickness of titanium is suppose to be for the sheild between the trunk of a car and the back seat area? (NHRA)
Hope someone could help me!! Thanx.

Unless you have a connection, titanium is gonna cost you several hundred dollars, at least for a piece like that. Why not just use alum. & cover it with 1/16in plastic ($8.00), carpet or thin speakerboard (it'll look factory). When the tech guy inpects you, show him the piece from the rear so he can verify it's alum. & leave it at that....

Posted By: 1Fast340

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 06:07 PM

yep titanium is kind of expensive. dont forget its horrible to cut or drill,welding it should be fine as long as its not space or military spec welds required. dont have alot of excperience with it but i can tell you its a beutifull metal to bend in tubeform with the right tooling

Posted By: Stanton

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 06:13 PM

Quote:

Different is good!!!!

Not when there's no reasonable explanation other than bragging rights.

Unless you're the fastest guy in your class and winning every event, this kind of expenditure will only get all the other racers laughing at you.

Posted By: HEMIFRED

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 07:18 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Different is good!!!!

Not when there's no reasonable explanation other than bragging rights.

Unless you're the fastest guy in your class and winning every event, this kind of expenditure will only get all the other racers laughing at you.

You can always place a placard next on which you can explain the reasoning is to people that you have a titanium sheet between the trunk and back seat but do to it's location it cannot be seen.

Posted By: mr. 63plymouth

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 07:35 PM

Holy!!! Just ask for a QUESTION on here and this is what I get from some of you!!!!! The way some are responding it sounds like Im spending YOUR $$,others seem jealious or something??? I dont know, just asked a question about thickness,not your opinion on what or what not to use!!!! THanx for the others that helped me!!!

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Posted By: hemicop

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 07:46 PM

I think some of the responses is due to the fact it IS an exotic metal & expensive at that! HEY, if you got it & want to spend it, have at it! I just think that in the world of serious Stock Elim. (assuming you're in that group) that perhaps the money could go elsewhere.
For me, that would mean engine development, chassis lightening or even acid-dipping (let's face it, it DOES go on!) I don't think you'll save all that much between titanium & the minimum thickness of alum. you could get away with.
Of course, you could do what I saw once---a guy got some CARDBOARD

, spray painted it flat silver & told Tech it was alum. He got away with it!

.
If your car is a "price is no object" kind of rig (good for you BTW) I'm SURE you could find other/better ways to go faster. Of course I'm sure some REAL old guys could chime in with their ideas ......

Posted By: cgall

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 08:16 PM

The density of TI is .17 lbs. per cu. in., so if you made a panel .032 thick that was 6' X 3' in area, the panel would weigh 14.1 lbs.

If the same panel were made in .040 AL, it would weigh 10.16 lbs.

So there is no advantage to building a firewall from TI, unless you have some free sheets and access to carbide cutters and bits.

Posted By: ademon

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 08:18 PM

So it should be better and give more time till flame blows through. Use it if you got it

Posted By: Handygun

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 08:38 PM

I dont know what your ti callout is. I have exp w/6al-4v as stated it's very hard and definitly wont ding up or oil can like al will, be careful when grinding on it in a confined space as the sparks will ignite the off fall dust like flashpowder. Of course drill for fasteners slow (300rpm or less) and expect to eat up cutters. It cleans up well w/120 grit paper and has alot of springback so it's very forgiving,good luck.

Posted By: HEMIFRED

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 08:40 PM

Quote:

Holy!!! Just ask for a QUESTION on here and this is what I get from some of you!!!!! The way some are responding it sounds like Im spending YOUR $$,others seem jealious or something??? I dont know, just asked a question about thickness,not your opinion on what or what not to use!!!! THanx for the others that helped me!!!

right off you had two correct answers .

cost was mentioned ,then you made the statement

Quote:

I agree,but I kinda dont like your typical alum. race car stuff!!!!Different is good!!!!

which really influenced my reply to reflect directly back at it. what is or why titanimum play a part in being different if it has no use or application in an area.

Had you said something like less weight, more strength ,better finished look or even I like it better.

I could not see it being the "different" as part of the answer I would expect. a different that only you would know ?? it made no sense to me.

In response to a remark about how you spend anyone's money : around here if you get to help someone save money as oppsed to putting in an un needed area it's a plus

JEALOUS sorry he's not here where I live

sometimes if it hit ytou in a wrong way we / I don't give conventionl answers oo make light of something. it's all in fun don't be so thin skinned.

Posted By: aquamist60

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 09:25 PM

Small piece of titanium in my neck cost over $100,000. But I did find out that you can polish it & get different colors.
Seriously, go for it if that's what you want, but like others have said it WILL be expensive.

Posted By: The Shadow

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 10:08 PM

Quote:

Small piece of titanium in my neck cost over $100,000. But I did find out that you can polish it & get different colors.
Seriously, go for it if that's what you want, but like others have said it WILL be expensive.

Not if you "borrow" it from some place

Posted By: AAR-B4

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 10:17 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Small piece of titanium in my neck cost over $100,000. But I did find out that you can polish it & get different colors.
Seriously, go for it if that's what you want, but like others have said it WILL be expensive.

Not if you "borrow" it from some place

Yeah, there are tales in these parts of guys making trailer hitches from TI and smuggling them out of a (unnamed) local aircraft engine builder plant.
My thought is................why would you want to lose weight in the area where it would be of the greatest benefit?
Hmmmm....how much would a titanium k-frame weigh?

Posted By: DemonDust

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 10:46 PM

Quote:

Hmmmm....how much would a titanium k-frame weigh?

More than an aluminum one

Posted By: AAR-B4

Re: Titanium question - 12/07/10 11:10 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Hmmmm....how much would a titanium k-frame weigh?

More than an aluminum one

If it were built to the dimensions......

Posted By: Mike Swann

Re: Titanium question - 12/08/10 03:07 AM

Boy, this thread is getting silly.

Posted By: HEMIFRED

Re: Titanium question - 12/08/10 06:18 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Hmmmm....how much would a titanium k-frame weigh?

More than an aluminum one

for the 65 AWB cars they made stainless steel and magnesium K members. sometimes the magnesium ones cracked the first day they were used,

Posted By: mr_340

Re: Titanium question - 12/08/10 06:54 AM

I think the Cost-is-no-object solution is to make it out of Beryllium sheet. Lighter than aluminum or magnesium, and stiffer than steel. The only downside is it is supposed to be a carcinogen in the dust form. Lung cancer is a real risk. Hang out at the Brush Wellman factory and see if there are any scraps in the trash (not likely because of the health issues).