Chassis Building Q's

[Ironman]

Ok,

I have a 79 Flinstone Notch. I am basically going to build a box chassis under it. What I am wondering is if I am going to need to weld in supports for the body if I am going to cut out the floors (pretty much from the firewall to the tailights). I am new to the fox chassis and I am not sure if the body is strong enough to withstand this or if it will fold under on me......

Thanks!

-Ironman

[drag79stang]

Anytime I"ve seen anyone 'take floor out, (that much), they've at least installed 'temporary' struts/pieces to keep stuff from 'getting TOO tweaked' when floor is removed.

(just to be safe, I'd want to)........:>)

[Ironman]

Anytime I"ve seen anyone 'take floor out, (that much), they've at least installed 'temporary' struts/pieces to keep stuff from 'getting TOO tweaked' when floor is removed.

(just to be safe, I'd want to)........:>)

So something like some box or tube stock between the rear of the back fenderwell to the firewall area would hold it? (obviously, there would be a lateral brace of some sort as well I am assuming)

-Ironman

[drag79stang]

Yeah, basic X bracing, (and if you're paranoid, a little more)......:>)

Got any kind of time frame you're looking at, Chris?

[Ironman]

Yeah, basic X bracing, (and if you're paranoid, a little more)......:>)

Got any kind of time frame you're looking at, Chris?

That is going to depend on the price, and timing with a shop. The more I am learning about this, the more I am thinking that I simply do not have the tools or the expertise to get this puppy straight. I am probably going to set up the basic chassis this summer, and hopefully have enough $$$ left over to get it converted over to manual steering and a 5 lug.

Now to find out if the shop wants this thing rolling, floor out, forklift special, etc. One of the more well known bracket guys out here recommended a shop to me that is only about 1/2 hour from me (Steve, that is like the distance to civilization for you... :D ) So I'm going to have to give them a call this week, and set up a time to talk to them about what I am looking to do and see what kind of suggestions they have. (From what I hear, this is not the 1st Mustang they have seen......)


-Ironman

[drag79stang]

Ouch. that hurt. (da civilization shot)....:>) Seriously, my professional type welder dude lives within a shotgun slug range of me. Only bad part is, he's so damm busy all the time, that I"d be afraid to have him conquer something that big. (was thinking of having him gut out my ladder bar setup and install (at least weld in kinda), the 4 link setup, (if I keep the car)..............

Good luck finding someone down there Chris. :>)

[Ironman]

Ouch. that hurt. (da civilization shot)....:>) Seriously, my professional type welder dude lives within a shotgun slug range of me. Only bad part is, he's so damm busy all the time, that I"d be afraid to have him conquer something that big. (was thinking of having him gut out my ladder bar setup and install (at least weld in kinda), the 4 link setup, (if I keep the car)..............

Good luck finding someone down there Chris. :>)

Well now hang on a sec...... If he is within shotgun range........ You can always send him a lil "inspiration" :D

Realistically, welding I can do, It is the getting it all lined up so it is straight. Most of the pro guys have the tools, and Jigs, not to mention knowledge to get everything square and level. On something like a race car, this becomes exponentially important, as the speeds achieved are much higher and the tolerances for error much lower. Almost everything depends on a bullet straight chassis.

Finding someone down here is not a problem. We have had running water for more than a year (dig dig dig :D) It is findng the RIGHT person that is the key.

-Ironman

[drag79stang]

Totally understandable. I for sure wouldn't want to do it 'in my garage' either, EVEN if I did have a welder/etc. etc. I have absolutely NO patience for measuring it 5-6 times. It'd be 'cut it'/tack it/weld it..................so what if the car dogtracks by a foot.........................:>)

[Ironman]

Totally understandable. I for sure wouldn't want to do it 'in my garage' either, EVEN if I did have a welder/etc. etc. I have absolutely NO patience for measuring it 5-6 times. It'd be 'cut it'/tack it/weld it..................so what if the car dogtracks by a foot.........................:>)

heh Knowing my measuring skills, It wold go 2' forward, 3 left.

[MAT88GT]

http://www.skinnykidracecars.com/ check out the customers section for ideas...they do a great job of creating pictorials for each car

[Ironman]

http://www.skinnykidracecars.com/ check out the customers section for ideas...they do a great job of creating pictorials for each car

Nice site. Those guys do some great looking work. After looking at the site, I am wondering about some plates instead of a conversion kit with mounts. The pictures are not perfectly clear on answering this. It looks like they are mounting the engine with just the plates. Is this actually the case, or are there mounts as well, and the plates are there to hold the engine in for a high HP situation. I am assuming on tube chassis, the plates are all that is there, but the front end is a little more solid than on a standard chassis.

-Ironman

[MAT88GT]

yep...more suitable means of mounting the engine and adding some stiffness at the same time. Front and mid plates make locating the engine and transmission much easier then shimming typical engine mounts or notching the k member/engine mount pads

[Ironman]

yep...more suitable means of mounting the engine and adding some stiffness at the same time. Front and mid plates make locating the engine and transmission much easier then shimming typical engine mounts or notching the k member/engine mount pads

And you can do this on a standard chassis? (not a tube type)

What do you do with/for a K member then?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

(evil grin)

-Ironman

[MAT88GT]

yes, just ditch the motor mount pads on a tubular k...kind of a waste to have a stock k in a car serious enough to benefit from the plates

[Ironman]

I have evil thoughts now..........

:D

-Ironman

[Ironman]

What about doing something like this???

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=4638&prmenbr=361

Should be straightforward enough to do inexpensively, and sets a much stronger foundataion than a stock Fox.......

-Ironman