During an impact at 36 km/h (23 mph), the energy is equivalent to lift your car to a height of 5 m (~5 yard). You can believe the brake reaction bar could not collapse during the impact. Figures are stubborn.
So is experience and the evidence of one's eyes. Every Morgan trad chassis is a different mystery, which is why spending money on one-size-fits-all solutions disappoint so often. Trust me, the buyers of expensive aftermarket add-ons never mention anything when their purchases are found wanting out of embarrassment for their first try reviews. They swear the suppliers that remove the lot to silence. (THERE is a freebie bit of gossip for you!)
My information comes from observation and personal experience. Yes, I have been accidented back and front. The rear impact was 40+mph (60+ kph) when we were standing still thankfully with the clutch fully depressed, all according to the insurance expert analysis and police report
...btw, as it is a UK forum and a British car I try to confine myself to British terminology and spelling, old habit). My Morgan flew 11+meters in the air, the rear tyres exploded on landing and the car kidded another 7 meters with sparks flyjng from the rear rims like an American 4/7 fireworks display.
Why did we survive? The experts were quite amazed at that. It was because of the
[b]miraculous Morgan trad chassis[/b]. Very cool. Protection merely takes a few tweaks from stock. But it all made me a religious and devoted student of the Morgan trad chassis. Aside from creating a no-other-car feel, it is both an unknowable (each trad chassis is or becomes different) part of the suspension but also a most important safety feature. I will NOT prejudice that. Even in a mild impact, the invading vehicle rides up the bumper into the petrol tank pushing it into the axle, or anything the MMC unwisely fixed the the axle's rear (pre-1993 brakes). The rear chassis and wood tub rolls up and absorbs impact forces.
Lorne, I too have tried other materials, alloy, pot etc. and all had some merit so One afternoon I thought that I'd shock test them and all but the brass instantly sheared, .
Really! THANK YOU. I will change mine this summer, when we return to Canada following your lead. I will also add it to gomog. As I noted, there is no downside to this. It merely adds redundancy at worst. Please give me the details. The problem is that aftermarket additions, especially the most costly ones, are ever crash-tested.
BTW, I agree on fittings, ss or whatever. I only buy those where their grade is published. I used to use John Worrall but also an American company supplying the motorcycle community
Gardner Westcott.
Yes..I agree, Canadian winters are too long!
5 months to fettle. But consideiring my mileage, it is wise to make one's Morgan bullet-proof.
Lorne