Quick change rear ends

[Ognib]

In the 1:1 world, does anyone make a machined billet quick change center section?

Did a google & Winters, champs & the rest all seem to be cast items.

I'm cutting billet style block & heads, in aluminum, for my coupe & have been thinking a machined housing for the irs quick change would blend right in, visually.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

For a 1/4 scale sprint car...

There are some billet 1:1 IRS chunks too...just not with the QC feature (that I'm aware of anyway)...

 

 

Edited March 27, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[MeatMan]

It could be a strength issue.  I'm not a metallurgist so I'm just guessing.  Casting might add some strength that's not there for billet because I see the centers are cast but everything else is billet.  If you cut a billet center, i don't think anyone would know the difference if its polished.

[Ace-Garageguy]

It could be a strength issue.  I'm not a metallurgist so I'm just guessing.  Casting might add some strength that's not there for billet because I see the centers are cast but everything else is billet.  If you cut a billet center, i don't think anyone would know the difference if its polished.

In general, "billet" parts are machined from solid billets...simply chunks of metal plate or bar stock of a particular alloy...which, if they're of decent quality, should be quite consistent throughout as far as density and molecular structure. But all "billet" is not created equal. The good stuff is forged but some of it is cast trash. I have some Chinese-sourced "billet" parts that have voids just like the worst low-pressure castings I've ever seen. 

Machining a QC center from a billet of appropriate, good-quality material and finishing it correctly (like peening the surface after machining) can produce a part that's markedly stronger than a similar-appearing sand-cast part. Castings can have unknown 'grain' patterns, inclusions, voids, and other potential weaknesses. Quick-change housings are usually cast because they're low-volume parts of a complicated design that could be prohibitively expensive to forge into a near-net-shape. 

But there's nothing to stop a QC center from being machined from a forged billet, as even some top-fuel dragster ENGINE BLOCKS and heads are now...as the OP well knows.

 In sales terms, “billet” usually means “you don’t understand the term, so we’ll pretend it’s better, when actually it’s just cheaper for us to make”. 

 

Edited March 30, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

PS. Here's a billet housing for a Ford 9". Just more proof that there's no reason somebody couldn't machine a billet QC center section, so if you make one in scale, it COULD be done in reality.

[Ognib]

Thanks, Bill.

In my time on this board, I've noticed that you frequently offer quite a wealth of information on various subjects.

Much appreciated...your willingness to share.

Agreed on the subject of forgings & strength.

On the quick change, just looking for different visual approaches to the parts I'm building.

[Greg Myers]

Ya gotta understand , which many here seem to miss, Bill's the poster guy for " Been there, done that, got a whole closet full of tee shirts." and as our famous ol used car guy here in Phoenix sez: " and that ain't no bull folks" 

Bottom line, Bill knows what he's talking about , he walks the walk.