build you own........
 

would it be possible to fabricate and build the following? is so does anybody have any plans that they could put on here?

these would be suitable mini projects to get your welding up to scratch before attempting the chassis

welding trolley (not the hardest thing in the world i know)
engine mount (for rebuilding and storing the engine)
engine crane (for hoisting the engine into the car or onto the engine mount
wheel dollies for manoeuvring the unfinished car about

does anyone else have any thoughts or idea?

They are dirt cheap at Machine Mart these days and no hassle regarding strength of welds and weight capacity etc.

Steel and labour is so cheap in China that the items you mention simply aren't worth building, to build them to a satisfactory quality would almost certainly be more expensive than buying (except for the trolley, as I don't know if anybody sells a ready made one)

as everyone else says you can buy proper ones from machine mart for less than the steel would cost to make one.

I'm not really good at MIG welding and plan to fab a welding trolley to get up to speed again. I need to clear out and service the MIG as it has been in storage for the past 4 years + the wire spool is probably rusty by now. Part of my pre-build preparations. :D

Wheel dollies - last time I had a chassis I just tacked industrial castors onto it and moved it around that way. Simple + cheap - stole the idea from somewhere.

I'll rather buy the crane.

I'm not bothering with a mount.

Welding trolley or in my case trollies are always made just after the purchase of the welder.
Engine mount/stand, well worth making, but try n make it "universal". Making it yourself ensures that it is as you want it. I like a removable drip tray underneath and a magnetic tool tray or two.
The problem with making a crane is the hydraulic cyliner one needs, hard to find and expensive.
wheel dollies, wouldn't a pallet truck be better?

Cheep if you already have one, however about £350 if you don't

Ouch, yes that makes it a bit expensive. Though the pallet truck has more use than moving a part built car around.

build your own
 

"The racers guide to fabricating shop equipment" by John Block,Steve Smith Autosports has most of the projects in it you require plus a whole lot more.Engine stand/Engine hoist(crane),very good uses a 5 ton hydraulic jack/Hydraulic press/Sheet metal brake/flame cutter and chassis stand.Made them all except the flame cutter.All will be better than the Chinese items and you will actually learn valuable skills,and you will make them cheaper.Anyone starting a home built sports car has from day one a simple choice,either become a builder or an assembler.One will have a high level of practical skills with money in the bank,the other will have low level of skills with no money.Also google the net,the USA metal worker forums are full of DIY projects,good luck with your projects.David:)

A Machine Mart engine stand can be bought for £57.48.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...-engine-stands


To make one's own for less than that would be impressive. It might be possible if one had cheap access to a steel fabricator's stock and off cuts bin, but otherwise trying to make something like that is just crazy.

Buy the stand and invest the effort somewhere else in the build.