Shawn's Chassis
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
Likes: 361
From: Ontario Canada
Building this to NHRA spec. for E.T. 1/4 mile, might have it certified SFI in the future when he goes for big power. At first it will be a mild gas engine then he plans to build an alcohol engine, then possibly add a supercharger. Along the way he's shooting for a 140 mph car.
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
Likes: 361
From: Ontario Canada
Thanks guys. Mocked up the 4 link and wheelbase, coming up as 28" bars and 116"W.B., not what we were expecting and have to mull this one over. The car started as Corvette build into a chassis build for a Viper body. Both short in the back long in the front. The fiber glass body is a Beretta we plan to put a Lebaron front end and rear lights on, probably why my boss calls me the "Butcher of Dorchester".
So it's adjust everything and do plastic body work, both things I don't want to do, and the front of the cage matches the front shape and angle of the windshield and door hinge mounts, big bonus.
My option is to make a longer roof line girder frame rail like in the Pro Stock, Pro Mod cars to carry the further back spring mounts. I still have 50ft of 1 5/8" tube to put in the car, getting more smaller tube and more cutting/notching is not what I am looking forward to.
This is like building a set of headers, at the start my enthusiasm is high, half way through I start hating it, love the welding but not the fitting.
So it's adjust everything and do plastic body work, both things I don't want to do, and the front of the cage matches the front shape and angle of the windshield and door hinge mounts, big bonus.
My option is to make a longer roof line girder frame rail like in the Pro Stock, Pro Mod cars to carry the further back spring mounts. I still have 50ft of 1 5/8" tube to put in the car, getting more smaller tube and more cutting/notching is not what I am looking forward to.
This is like building a set of headers, at the start my enthusiasm is high, half way through I start hating it, love the welding but not the fitting.
Mopar Lover
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,036
Likes: 948
From: Monrovia SO-CAL (USA)
Hummmm... 28" is about the max on a 4 link bars as far as my under standing. But that was bases on 110" W.B.
Is this more because the body lines up better?
Is this more because the body lines up better?
Last edited by RacerHog; Mar 25, 2018 at 04:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
Likes: 361
From: Ontario Canada
I started at the windshield where the angle, shape and where the A pillar and door hinges line up beautifully with the front vertical cage tube. Going back from there you would have to add a foot to the cage length to match the body, small passenger compartment Corvette/Viper.
Looking at the picture, imagine moving the front 4 link brackets back to make the bars shorter, so saw through the cage move it and driver back 6-12", or push cage back as is and have firewall tube pieces in the door opening.
If I alter the cage and he does get a Viper body, which I'm sure he will, it's cut and change it back. I looked at it this afternoon and the girders with long bars will work. Viper time will be shorter bars move springs forward and cut the too long back off.
I spoke with Shawn and now he says build it the way you want "you can build it better than I ever could". Still mulling it over and open to suggestions.
Looking at the picture, imagine moving the front 4 link brackets back to make the bars shorter, so saw through the cage move it and driver back 6-12", or push cage back as is and have firewall tube pieces in the door opening.
If I alter the cage and he does get a Viper body, which I'm sure he will, it's cut and change it back. I looked at it this afternoon and the girders with long bars will work. Viper time will be shorter bars move springs forward and cut the too long back off.
I spoke with Shawn and now he says build it the way you want "you can build it better than I ever could". Still mulling it over and open to suggestions.
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
Likes: 361
From: Ontario Canada
Borrowed Strange 6" shocks for mock up. Need to tip front 4 link bracket back to get radius of top holes to match bar movement when adjusted.
I'll start sending medium sized pictures because when you click on them they come up larger and easier to see like this last one.
I'll start sending medium sized pictures because when you click on them they come up larger and easier to see like this last one.
Last edited by Coronet 500; Apr 1, 2018 at 02:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
Likes: 361
From: Ontario Canada
Mig, mixed gas, .035" wire. The car we bought came 1 3/4" x .120" DOM, my main frame rails and other main structural pieces are 1 3/4' x .134" DOM (60ft), the rest is 1 5/8" x .120" DOM (72ft), then there is some 1 1/2", 1 1/4", 1" x .120" crew tube (40ft) for cross bracing.
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
Likes: 361
From: Ontario Canada
Got the 4 link brackets set tipped back with a pie shaped “C” channel cut from a 2x2 square tube, happy with the result. Don’t mind the simple notches but the 3 or 4 intersecting ones take more time than I like.
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
Likes: 361
From: Ontario Canada
Got two 4 inch stubs at the back corner to pick up the rocker and mount the body, took forever but very happy with result. Put in two at the firewall with one bendy to give room for Auto trans linkage but not intrude into his right foot. Fabbed tab for plate to bolt to that will hold shifter then added a 1 inch tube to the firewall tube. We’ll see if this will work with the tunnel, not sure yet if I’m 100% satisfied with it but engine/trans and driver fitting will tell.
Just saw my Philadelphia Eagles play Shawn’s Tennessee Titans week 4 this will be a beauty in our house.
Just saw my Philadelphia Eagles play Shawn’s Tennessee Titans week 4 this will be a beauty in our house.
