A Special Machine
- Thread starter dbk
- Start date
Sinovac
GT Owner
We need the engineering guys to weigh in. As I understand it, the keel was needed on the F1 cars to permit the lower control arms to be mounted parallel with the ground. Since the nose of the car was so high, some lower structure was needed as an attachment point for the control arms, thus the keel.
Current F1 practice is "zero-keel" with the lower control arms mounted at an angle directly to the chassis. Therefore, no keel. The lower control arms on the GT seem to be mounted slighlty below the surface of the front end, yet not quite at the bottom of the keel. Very cool regardless of what it's called.
This is a great thing to be able to talk about on a Ford. Certainly more interesting than that eternal, weighty conundrum: Scuderia shields or not?
Where is it officially called a "zero-keel" by Ford/Multimatic?
I'd like to understand their definition of zero-keel. Heck, every road car has a "zero-keel" suspension since no road car has a Keel and the suspension mounts to the chassis, not a distended structure to retain proper suspension geometry while improving aerodynamic performances.
The GT has a Keel:
Suspension keel: is an extension pylon to the bodywork of single-seat, open wheel racing cars designed with a raised nose cone, to allow the lower suspension arms to be attached to the car approximately parallel to the road surface.
I would think the keel structure is apart of the chassis, so yes, the suspension mounts to the chassis. From these pictures, it's obvious that the LCAs mount very close to each other (on a narrow part of the chassis - keel) on a structure that extends below the height of the majority of the chassis.
jbyrnes
FORD GT OWNER
Eventually it would be great to see pictures of the front and rear suspension exposed with the wheels off. And looking forward to someday seeing a "NGT Tech" tab below the "05-06 Ford GT Tech" one.
The beauty of the 2017 GT design is that there were no rules that could restrict good design practice, so they optimized everything. F1 has to deal with suspension maximum width, barge boards etc etc that are intended to control increases in performance each year. The GT appears to be absolutely optimized for both suspension geometry and aerodynamics, the best of all worlds. No other car that I am aware of can turn into a pure race car with the changing of a switch position. Add some Hoosier A6 and look out, we are truly lucky to be a part of this great effort by Ford.
Sinovac
GT Owner
All good points. I'm not sure who originated the "zero-keel" description for the GT. The GT does have a keel of sorts. It looks like a "1/2 keel" to me. :lol
Vince H
GT Owner
Great post Dave and equally good discussion following. Constantly amazed at how much I learn from all of you gentlemen. Thank you.
Vince H
Vince H
Awsum GT
GT Owner '18
I hope I can retain a small amount of the discussions on how this NFGT is built. Very cool indeed!
Sinovac
GT Owner
TO AWSUM
Ford GT Owner
AJB
GT
Typically the OEM's will prepare and present an hour or two review of new products at the SAE. (Society of Automotive Engineers).
The Event for Ford Motor Company Vehicles is usually held at the Conference and Events Center in Dearborn...(where we had our Banquet for Rally 10).
I have not seen any schedule as of yet , but many of us here in the Detroit area are SAE members .
I will keep my eyes open and POST here when / If I hear any timing.
andy (ajb)
The Event for Ford Motor Company Vehicles is usually held at the Conference and Events Center in Dearborn...(where we had our Banquet for Rally 10).
I have not seen any schedule as of yet , but many of us here in the Detroit area are SAE members .
I will keep my eyes open and POST here when / If I hear any timing.
andy (ajb)
AJB
GT
Sinovac
GT Owner
Sinovac
GT Owner
Cars with a singular focus like the GT are few and far between. Through the years there have been only a handful of these homologation specials. To have Ford take such a huge risk with such a car is awesome.