BT Tech Stiffening plate

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ May 16 2007, 08:16 PM) [snapback]443880[/snapback]</div>

Congratulations on being the 600th poster on this thread! PC appreciates your efforts at thread longevity.

Now, to the point of your 600th post - actually, I have the TOM'S Upper and Lower suspension braces on order. I know they are not the BT Tech Plate, but then again, they are not made of aluminum, either. Given my already described issues with salt air and corrosion, if BT Tech were to decide to provide a stainless steel "gasket", I was communicating my willingness to contribute toward their R&D expenditure. Think of the stainless steel gasket as a feature for those having issues with galvanic corrosion. Whether BT Tech wants to go after that market segment or not is their choice; I was providing a data point for their consideration.

 

I live less than a 1/4 mile from the Atlantic Ocean and everything over here will corrode if it is not either coated steel or stainless. Having said that our BT Tech plate still looks like new (once I wiped all of the road grime off of it) and there was no corrosion to speak of anywhere. Personally, I feel that making a gasket would be unnecessary as there are no issues to speak of regarding corrosion. In other words, making a gasket would be like trying to fix something that is not broken.







<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ May 16 2007, 11:25 PM) [snapback]443889[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ May 16 2007, 07:52 PM) [snapback]443782[/snapback]</div>

If it were steel and painted, it would be the same as the rest of the frame, no gasket needed. The whole point of the discussion was isolating the aluminum from the steel. If there is no aluminum, then the whole issue is mute.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ May 16 2007, 11:16 PM) [snapback]443880[/snapback]</div>

Well, since you brought it up (I was trying to avoid this), the cost of the plate is about $165? With a CNC mill center setup to make this plate from aluminum, the run time must be about 5 minutes for side one (because of all the unnessasary milling, it woudl be less without all the milling), maybe about 2 minues for the milling on the side that bolts to the frame, deburring maybe about 2-3 minutes per plate, and anadizing (I have no idea of time or cost), so I figure about $30 per plate for material and labor (plus the anadizing and SS bolts) and it sells for $165? It would seem reasonable for them to include a SS gasket (maybe another $5-$10 of "cost" to them). If the plate were steel, the machining time woudl be longer, but the need for the SS gasket woukd be eliminated (and paint might be cheaper the anadizing) and the bolts coukd be standard steel, not SS. My guess is it woudl be cheaper to make from steel in the end, and there would be no issues with galvonic action since the materials would be the same as the frame. I have actually been toying with the idea of making myself one from steel to try out. If I take off the stock one and trace on paper, I would have a template for the bolt hole pattern and could make it in a shape that would not require the milling for clearence where it bolts on. Bandsaw, drill press file and paint is all that would be required.



Just my $.02

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ May 16 2007, 08:16 PM) [snapback]443880[/snapback]</div>

Ha. When I took metal shop, no one had heard of computers. But I agree about doing the custom work. And Brian has already supplied stainless bolts and washers.

Dave M.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GadgetMan2 @ May 17 2007, 03:59 AM) [snapback]444017[/snapback]</div>

Sorry Gadgetman.. I thought you were talking about making a gasket out of steel rather than the whole plate... that would be a good idea and simple and cheap, but then they may rust together and not be near as nice.. but the strength should be there....

Its really a very easy concept... one piece of steel as the plate would do the trick.. but most people would rather not deal with steel if possible.... aluminum is much easier to mill and so cheaper and much lighter and doesn't rust... I suppose if you galvanized or plated it, that would work.


It would have to be cut out of a thick sheet or strips, but it should work.

But again expense would offset any imagined benifit since it doesn't appear to be a problem.

 

My son regularly drives our Prius on the beach in Daytona and the last time I had an oil change I looked under the car to see if the salt water/sand was causing any rust or corrosion. The exhaust pipe had some mild surface rust on it but the bt plate was perfect without any oxidation or corrosion at all. Even the bolts were still nice and shiny and it has been installed on my car for over a year. I wish the rest of the car was made to the same high quality standards as the bt plate.

Frank Boyle

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ May 16 2007, 09:42 PM) [snapback]443830[/snapback]</div>

Wow, did I ever make a typo here. there was a NOT placebo that I omitted. Ouch, sorry to all us true believers.

 

That's really cool Frank!! I once drove my Corvette on the beach at Daytona but I promptly got stuck and had to be towed out of there!! I guess I went in an area that was not hard packed and it was actually quite embarrasing.

Like I mentioned before our BT Plate is hard coat type III annodized to military specifications so it is highly unlikely that even the guys in the "salt on the road" states and areas will have any problems.

Thanks again everyone for your feedback!!


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fboyle @ May 17 2007, 03:48 PM) [snapback]444365[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BT Tech @ May 17 2007, 05:22 PM) [snapback]444430[/snapback]</div>

Well, I don't see that I'll be driving my Prius in Combat any time soon, but its nice to knoww that if I do, my BT Plate will continue to stiffen my chassis, and the sand in the desert won't have a corrosive effect on it.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Now, for undercoating plate to protect from IED's..........

(BTW, Brian, I'm still loving my BT Plate... thanks B) )

 

Thanks RangerDavid!! IED's "might" prove to be an issue but everyday driving is a breeze!!


BTW I hope to have some pictures of our new test run of our colored version of our BT Tech plates!! I will upload them here as soon as I receive them and take the pictures!!



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ May 19 2007, 11:08 AM) [snapback]445656[/snapback]</div>

 

Well I installed my BT plate, making sure not to torque over 17 fp due to the stern warning in the instructions. Took the car for a drive and now it is scarey fast and and I get 10 more mpg!

Nice product.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom F. @ May 23 2007, 07:43 PM) [snapback]448612[/snapback]</div>

LOL!.... I knew I needed an excuse to get one of those colored ones.... Maybe I should install another and have "two" on my car!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ May 23 2007, 07:58 PM) [snapback]448690[/snapback]</div>

Yeh. Maybe you can get 20 more miles per gallon. :lol:

Dave M.

 

Sorry, I don't have time to read the entire 31 pages of this post, but I wanted to let you know that I applied a geometric mathmatical formula to analyize the BT Tech Plate as people were originally requesting scientific proof, and have proved it to dramatically improve handling.

The mathmatical equation is described as the Terwilliger Curve, and is known to be more complex than Parabolic formulas. I applied a over-stress factor of 1.4, derived from my speed of 70 MPH / posted 50 MPH.

The sway factor was reduced to less than 3 standard deviations from the average distance between my wheels and the raised lane markers.

Quite impressive.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ May 23 2007, 09:15 PM) [snapback]448781[/snapback]</div>

Not seeing the formula details, I can not respond to it. However, why did you arrive at an overstress factor of 1.4 based on your speed of 70 mph / posted 50 mph? Just because a speed limit is posted, that doesn't necessarily define the design of the roadway. One reason for using a speed limit that is lower than the design limit is to reduce wear on the roadway. I wonder what the results of your formula would have been with a lower over-stress factor?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apriusfan @ May 23 2007, 09:22 PM) [snapback]448787[/snapback]</div>

Sorry, the formula is very complex, and I don't have the full character set at my disposal. I tried to find a copy on the internet to copy and paste, but all I could locate is this graphical representation.

I also double checked my figures using the Sunset Curve, see second graph below.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Les Gas @ Apr 23 2007, 11:09 AM) [snapback]428528[/snapback]</div>

How about the weight of the gas tank? It's back there too. Is it mounted to the suspension or the chassis?

Don't forget the rear suspension is trailing-arm suspension not exactly famous for their handling, nor consistency. Just this should explain a lot of the "wandering" experienced, if not that there was also tweaked alignment coming off Toyota's boat shipping.

If you think it's scary in a Prius when a medium truck blows by, I've been at the other end in a 4Runner. It's much more scary with lots of wiggle on the other side of the fence.

Braces are like bridges, they resist compression or expansion, not twisting. If it was going to twist, you put a brace somewhere that would get compressed or stretched instead.

I continue to point out that if Toyota's brace sucked so much, why do they continue to put it, built apparently of the same material, on their upscale Lexus models such as the IS250, and even the Toyota Camry? Vehicles and buyers that can afford better bracing? Hell, give me their sound system.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dmckinstry @ May 23 2007, 07:41 PM) [snapback]448741[/snapback]</div>

Oh btw, every racing sticker you put on your car gives it an extra 5 HP.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ May 23 2007, 11:34 PM) [snapback]448869[/snapback]</div>

It's a matter of cost, and whether or not it'll make a difference in someone buying it or not. Money is the big motivator in almost every decision a corporation makes. Most Toyotas have room for significant improvement in the handling department with a lot of parts from Toyota Racing Development, and Lexus has the L-tuned stuff. So with these parts available to make their vehicle's better, why wouldn't Toyota equip all their vehicles as such? Why bother with pricier performance parts when the consumer is happy with their current non-upgraded vehicle purchase? Even if a stronger brace was only $5 more than the current flimsy one, you can be sure that they'll go with the flimsy one. $5 is a lot of money considering how many Prius, and other 'Yotas, are out there.

 

Do you just use the one?