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Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 7:13 pm
by CalPolyME
I'm working on two worlds car builds, an early with black/white parts and a late all black. I have two versions of shock towers. One looks laminated with a white/neutral fiberglass core and black graphite outer layers. The other has a black core or may be solid graphite. I've seen photos of the white core towers in posts in the 25 Years topic. I'm pretty sure the all black version is a legit Associated part. Does anyone know if the all black version is vintage correct for either build or is it from the Re Re?
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 9:12 pm
by jcwrks
The one on the right is only all black on the outer edge. Someone may have put superglue on the edge to prevent splintering or just ran a sharpie over it. The rere tower is a close match to the vintage part, and I don't recall what the difference is.
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 10:58 am
by CalPolyME
Thanks @jcwrks. I'm pretty sure I bought the all black ones as NOS in bags, so unless glue or black marker was done at the factory, I don't think that was it. Upon close inspection under magnification I can see there is definitely a core. I suspect the core may be black G10. It also looks like the black ones are stamped and the ones with the natural core were machined or routed. I can see a slight radial indentations where the cutting tool started its cut for each of the inner and outer profiles. I'm guessing this was done by hand with a template and small router.
You mentioned before that you have a late model worlds car. Do all your turnbuckles have a hex drive center or do you have any with the square drive center? The late model version I bought had a mix. Everything else on the car seems original, so I suspect the mix turnbuckles are too, but I'm not sure if Associated started introducing the square drive versions at that point.
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 2:13 pm
by MarkyDents
Your post made me think to check out the towers on my #6037.
Looks like my front is all black and the rear has the white core.
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 3:05 pm
by CalPolyME
Ha! I love it. There is no way in a thousand years that the folks back in the day at Team Associated would have thought 35 years from now people will be scrutinizing the production variations and revisions to their parts in an effort to put together period correct cars to display on a shelf.
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 3:35 pm
by GoMachV
We should trade, lol! Mine is the opposite
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 3:54 pm
by MarkyDents
That really is too funny
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 5:27 pm
by CalPolyME
I just like pictures of everyone's worlds cars!
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 6:42 pm
by TRX-1-3
Interesting. So is this a case of materials sourcing and just banging out towers from "white core" and "all black" stock and cramming them in kits? Some are white some are black. I wonder of any cars have white core front and rear and/or vice versa?
Re: Worlds Car Graphite Shock Tower Variations?
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2024 10:40 pm
by jcwrks
CalPolyME wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2024 10:58 am
Thanks @jcwrks. I'm pretty sure I bought the all black ones as NOS in bags, so unless glue or black marker was done at the factory, I don't think that was it. Upon close inspection under magnification I can see there is definitely a core. I suspect the core may be black G10. It also looks like the black ones are stamped and the ones with the natural core were machined or routed. I can see a slight radial indentations where the cutting tool started its cut for each of the inner and outer profiles. I'm guessing this was done by hand with a template and small router.
You mentioned before that you have a late model worlds car. Do all your turnbuckles have a hex drive center or do you have any with the square drive center? The late model version I bought had a mix. Everything else on the car seems original, so I suspect the mix turnbuckles are too, but I'm not sure if Associated started introducing the square drive versions at that point.
In your pic the tower on the right with the black outer has the light G10 centers visible on all of the inner cuts.
My late Worlds has all matching early hex turnbuckles. I can't say that I have even seen a Worlds with both hex and square mix. Square would have been roughly 1995 when the B2 was released.