Shawn's Chassis
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Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
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From: Ontario Canada
Here is the professor mocking up the anti roll bar and wishbone. Front suspension yes, steering no. Engine position and angle set, he wants side mounts and torque bar I want plate, we’ll see. Had my electrician brother in law come by and help bend a 1/2” emt tube to go around fiber glass seat. Slow but sure, Shawn is really charged up that the bare chassis is only 475 lbs. I’ll probably be tig welding the rear suspension parts before the rear axle housing like I thought.
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Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
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From: Ontario Canada
Found out mounting tabs are mild steel so I welded them in on cross tubes today. Happy with the results and can tig weld the wishbone and anti roll bar later when I bring that welder home from work. Soon I’ll be able to roll the car and finish weld it all.
Last edited by Coronet 500; Jul 1, 2018 at 07:26 AM.
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I commend your efforts Dan, that's an ambitious project for after hours and weekends. Welding all those intersections with a MIG welder has got to be a challenge , I've never liked welding round tubes. I tend to have to reset and restart to often. Your work looks good!
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Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
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From: Ontario Canada
Thank You. It means more coming from someone who has done this type of work before. Building this without being clamped to a jig has had me be cautious with heat and not finish welding the complete top side until all tubes are in place, this has kept the car within 1/64 of an inch straight from start. Finding now very difficult to get the body inside or in the right position to weld so maybe I should have welded more as I went possibly sacrificing some straightness. I know after saying that if I found it becoming bent I would have gone nuts as I like straight and precise.
Shawn wants the Transmission Crossmember removable so if any one knows the SFI plate, bolt size and grade that would help, I haven't researched that yet. I still have a bunch of gusseting and 1" inside corner tubes which I'm not looking forward to.
I'm a little suprised that there are so many views and mostly you and Bob add comments. Just took the mid plate mount and flex plate to my Chevy friend who now has a 1955 Plymouth Savoy with the small Poly he's putting Hemi heads on and a 518 4spd auto transmission in, was like his Dad's car and the first one he worked on as a teenager taking him on his journey to becoming a mechanic, so it makes sense. This is my pal who was throwing darts at a picture of a '70 Coronet when he saw me walking into his home shop, bastard.
Shawn wants the Transmission Crossmember removable so if any one knows the SFI plate, bolt size and grade that would help, I haven't researched that yet. I still have a bunch of gusseting and 1" inside corner tubes which I'm not looking forward to.
I'm a little suprised that there are so many views and mostly you and Bob add comments. Just took the mid plate mount and flex plate to my Chevy friend who now has a 1955 Plymouth Savoy with the small Poly he's putting Hemi heads on and a 518 4spd auto transmission in, was like his Dad's car and the first one he worked on as a teenager taking him on his journey to becoming a mechanic, so it makes sense. This is my pal who was throwing darts at a picture of a '70 Coronet when he saw me walking into his home shop, bastard.
Mopar Lover
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From: Monrovia SO-CAL (USA)
I'm with Tom on this one !!! Dan, Thanks For Sharing !!!! I use to work at a Chassis Fab Shop about 23 years ago. So I know first hand all the pain that goes along with these kinds of a builds. (My Hat Is Tipped)
I will say, You can only stop gritting your teeth when it is all welded and you re-check it !!! Fingers crossed..
Again... Thanks for sharing...
I will say, You can only stop gritting your teeth when it is all welded and you re-check it !!! Fingers crossed..
Again... Thanks for sharing...
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Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
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From: Ontario Canada
Wheelie Bars mocked up and mounts tacked in place. They were axle tube brackets which I altered. With the two mounts and screw adjustment we have wheels 1” to 8” off of the ground. Happy with results. Time for clean up and Daytona race tonight.
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Mopar Lover
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From: Ontario Canada
A local guy parted out his Top Sportsman car and all that was left was the fiber glass body. We got it, doors, front end and all the windows for $700.00 bucks. So just like cutting up the Covette to become a Mopar, this Chevrolet will become a Chrysler.
Mopar Lover
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From: Monrovia SO-CAL (USA)
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Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
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From: Ontario Canada
Did some mock up last night and this morning. Allstar throttle, 90’ brake pedal and steering shaft. The narrow Pinto rack comes Monday so I’ve got it adjustable so Shawn can start fooling around with his control placement. Made a 12 ga plate by his right foot and have some 6061 aluminum for between his leg and transmission, just more protection over a blanket or shield.
He is 6-2, I’m 5-10, looks cramped but when I’m in, it feels good with plenty of elbow room for steering and shifting. I thought I’d have to move the shoulder bar back but he’s happy. He say’s he’ll let me take it down the track but I don’t know if I will, if I do I won’t need pedal blocks like he’s been kidding me about. I just wish I could get to the finish weld and rear end shortening to get this thing on wheels. Not looking foreword to the headers. They calculate out to 33 inches which means I’ll have to do some creative twisty turny to get them in a small space.
He is 6-2, I’m 5-10, looks cramped but when I’m in, it feels good with plenty of elbow room for steering and shifting. I thought I’d have to move the shoulder bar back but he’s happy. He say’s he’ll let me take it down the track but I don’t know if I will, if I do I won’t need pedal blocks like he’s been kidding me about. I just wish I could get to the finish weld and rear end shortening to get this thing on wheels. Not looking foreword to the headers. They calculate out to 33 inches which means I’ll have to do some creative twisty turny to get them in a small space.
Last edited by Coronet 500; Jul 21, 2018 at 11:39 AM.
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Mopar Lover
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From: Ontario Canada
Housing is 8 3/4", will be 8 3/4" ends. When he orders axles I'll get them with as little brake offset as possible, ball bearings and O rings. we have 4 piston Strange calipers which I will weld mounts on to accommodate Ford Fusion rotors as the Strange rotors are WAY too much money , Shawn figured they will fit, are inexpensive and can be bought anywhere. Do you remember me telling you we're cheap.
Corvette front suspension, Ford Pinto steering rack, Ford Fusion brake rotors and was a Chevrolet fiber glass body, we are such ******.
AMC Baby!!!!!
Corvette front suspension, Ford Pinto steering rack, Ford Fusion brake rotors and was a Chevrolet fiber glass body, we are such ******.
AMC Baby!!!!!
Thread Starter
Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
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From: Ontario Canada
Got the rack mounts in, still needs a little gusseting. Geometry looks real good. Now the professor has to come up with coil overs. A ton of Corvette track stuff not much strip stuff so maybe come up with our own design once we settle on spring rate.
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Mopar Lover
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From: Ontario Canada
Worked on the engine mounts and foot shield. Mounts still need additional bracing but are designed to drop the engine down on the pads and slide it back, a one man job without cursing.
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Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
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From: Ontario Canada
Well, thanks. My driver is a licensed mechanic and when I show my designs for components he says I don't have to go to that much work. He probably has the shop mode of impact guns and lifts, I'm building this for me LAZY and one track which still has a grass pit. You know stuff happens at the track and if your going rounds I want easy access to everything.
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Mopar Lover
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,732
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From: Ontario Canada
Got top shock mounts, a temporary cross bar, two supports to 4 link mount, shifter moved forward 3 1/2” and kidney bar tacked in. Now it’s finish weld time and then a ton of little stuff. This will never end for me as he wants me to do the interior and mount the body.
