Thread: The Roofus Special

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I had the same concerns as I was reading this. NIce fab work but I worry about the material strength.

This thing probably will never be more than cool garage art/fairgrounds go-kart.....

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

This thing probably will never be more than cool garage art/fairgrounds go-kart.....

It's that "...probably" piece that bothers me. The problem (in my mind) is that at some point someone (like a kid?) may not understand that it's not intended for "real" driving, and decide to take it for a ride down the highway. As builders our ultimate responsibility is safety in what we fabricate. I've said my piece, and won't belabor it further.

Nice work! I wonder if you have the pieces cyro'd after you finish them if that would make them strong enough to not worry about?

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Nice work! I wonder if you have the pieces cyro'd after you finish them if that would make them strong enough to not worry about?

Excuse my ignorance, but what is "cyro'd."


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Originally Posted by RestoRod

Excuse my ignorance, but what is "cyro'd."


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It is a process in which to harden metals. I've had stock input shafts for dodge NV4500's cyro'd and they will hold 650+hp in a dual disc clutch sled pulling/drag racing. The process really works.

Cryogenic hardening - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not sure you'd want cryogenic hardening on front end components, Ryan. It indeed hardens and strengthens certain materials, but it also reduces material "toughness". Cryogenic hardening increases the brittleness of the metal, and I'd be concerned with that quality on suspension components. Your input shafts are a different deal than A-arms, IMO.

Originally Posted by rspears

Not sure you'd want cryogenic hardening on front end components, Ryan. It indeed hardens and strengthens certain materials, but it also reduces material "toughness". Cryogenic hardening increases the brittleness of the metal, and I'd be concerned with that quality on suspension components. Your input shafts are a different deal than A-arms, IMO.

I'd think the input shafts would see more fatigue than this control arm. The input shaft is transfering all the power and torque from the engine to the transmission. If they were brittle, they wouldn't take 3rd gear boosted launches, leaving the line at 4000+rpms on a sled puller, and all that twisting shock load. I've only heard of one breaking through my supplier. He's sold thousands of them.

But, I agree with you. Those cast parts may not like being treated with this method. I know guys cyro'ing cast trans cases, but I haven't heard any real world results yet.