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8860 Car Chassis was the second Technic/Expert Builder Car Chassis to be released. In 1980, three years after the original Auto Chassis, this ultimate model had suspension (gasp!), an engine and reclining seats. The average BrickLink price nowadays is about $90, I think I paid 60 for mine. The original retail price was $59, 10 dollar less than the 858 Auto Engines set. The engine was the first Technic engine to be rear mounted. It has two models, this and a dragster.
The instruction booklet is of the really old type, with the "happy kid playing" picture and an explanation of what this really is:
After the first 7(!) introduction pages, you will find the start of the set's instructions.
The Parts
This set has four of the early foam tires and rims. These were used primarily in the bigger Technic/Expert Builder sets of their early age, until they were
phased out in 1989 with the 8862 Backhoe set.
A notable non-Technic part of this era is the 2 x 2 Turntable, which is aiding the steering of this model.
A total of 29 gears vs 668 pieces is not bad at all. This was the first Technic set to include a Differential, so the rear tires doesn't skid when turning. Also, it was the first to include Shock Absorbers
Fun-fact: The 1/2 bush wasn't introduced yet, so it made this build somewhat bulky.
The only axles which are connected are the ones in the differential, because the Axle and Pin Connector Toggle Joint Toothed wasn't availible until 1982.
A model: Car Chassis
This build starts with the adjustable seats, which recline and slides on some axles. This is a function which has been abandoned by the Technic designers, allowing them to focus more on mechanical functions.
Note that everything is assembled with frictionless pins, because the black ones with friction weren't made until 1981.
Here's the start of the build, with the differential on the base of the rear axle.
Next the main part of the chassis is made primarily out of bricks. Then the two parts are put together like this:
Note the 4 gear racks, which will be used later.
Here you can see how the two parts of the chassis is reinforced by vertical bricks. This technique is widely used in the studless era.
The steering rack uses the 2 x 2 Turntable, as mentioned earlier. The yellow bricks in the back is the support for the engine.
Now for the driveshaft, which has three output gears; a 24T, 16T and 8T. The 14T spur gear meshes with the rear differential.
This is what the steering setup looks like:
The steering rack is placed along with the driveshaft. The three 8T gears will align with the gearbox made next.
Finished gearbox. You can see how the gear shift takes place.
1st: 24:8=1:3 ratio
2nd: 16:16=1:1 ratio
3rd: 8:24=3:1 ratio
Here you can see how is meshes with the driveshaft:
When the shift stick is placed, it is locked by this brick. If you remove one of the three bushes, you will be able to shift to third gear. This is used with motorizing the car, but I wanted to keep it anyways.
The engine is a 4-cylinder boxer, which is made of bricks. For more details about this engine, see my other 858 Auto Engines review.
The crankshaft is made using the offset axle holes of 3 24t gears.
Here is the support for the steering column. The steering is mostly finished by adding these plates and bricks.
And the support for the shock absorbers. The spark plugs are also placed on top of the engine.
In the second-to-last step, the fuel lines are connected to the distributor, the shock absorbers are placed, and the steering wheel is mounted on the dashboard. The car chassis is nearly complete.
Still remember the seats? Now it's time to place them, along with the wheels to finish the model.
Finished!
Features
Steering:
Moving and reclining seats:
Engine:
Rear suspension:
As you can see, the suspension is only hinged in one angle, causing the wheels to lean inwards when the springs are compressed. This would be fixed in the next model:
8865 Test Car.
Comparison with 8880 Super Car:
8448 Super Street Sensation:
8070 Super Car:
B model: Dragster
The B-model doesn't have any piece call-outs, so you'll have to pay close attention to the instructions. This is step 3, and you can see the steering axle in the front. The support for the steering column is already in place.
The driveshaft has a 14T spur gear on it, which meshes with the rear differential. No real drag racers has one, because it would have hindered the rear wheels from spinning.
The driveshaft is routed around the steering column with some 8T gears. The final drive ratio is 2:1 for this model.
The steering column is fixed in place, and the support for the driver's seat is made.
Now the driver's seat is finished, and some mudguards are next.
The engine is this model is a flat 4-cylinder boxer. The only difference from the main model's design is the cooling radiators for the distributor. The distributor itself cannot be seen.
It's placed together with the front axle.
The build is finished with the front wheel(hubs) and the gear rack for steering.
Features
Turning:
Moving engine:
Comparison
8847:
8205:
2129:
The verdict
This is an excellent set, filling the gap between 853 Car Chassis and 8865
Test Car. The mechanics work well, although the gear change is somewhat sluggish. The specialized pieces introduced in 1994 would change this, allowing for a synchronized gearbox. The main pro with this set is that you could make any body for it at your heart's desire, unlike the Test Car. The B-model is also well done, but I would like it better if it had made better use of the pieces. More than 200 (30%) parts are left after finishing the alternate build.
This set taught me how a differential works. A must-have for any Technic car collector!
Thanks for reading/looking, as always, pics are availible @ BrickShelf.
Edited by Lost_In_Noise, 24 November 2012 - 11:27 AM.
, which my father asked to a local LEGO employee sometime later when I participated into a toy store build contest about that time.
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