Just what should a 'complete chassis' consist of?

Build a car and even non kit car folk will know what it is even if they do say "ooo it's a Westfield" make a chassis and 99% of folk won't know what it is.....simples!:

Also there are welders and then there are fabricator/welders two different things....I know a bloke who can weld like you won't believe, it's annoying how neat it is yet ask him to work to drawings, cut steel and make something and he is buggered...coding covers a set welding procedure not actually making something and usually the test piece is done by someone else and all you have to do is weld it up correctly...not easy but doable

[mr henderson]

Originally Posted by fabbyglass

Also there are welders and then there are fabricator/welders two different things....I know a bloke who can weld like you won't believe, it's annoying how neat it is yet ask him to work to drawings, cut steel and make something and he is buggered...coding covers a set welding procedure not actually making something and usually the test piece is done by someone else and all you have to do is weld it up correctly...not easy but doable

I'm sure you are trying to be helpful, but I wonder whether you are perhaps skimming what I have written (I know I tend to write long posts) rather than reading it. I have already said that I will be doing the material prepartion and assembly, and someone else will be welding it.

I may not be a fast fabricator, but I'm a bloody good one (not really 'talent' just obsessive attention to detail).

Oh, and by the way, the intention is only to offer chassis to people who already know what a Haynes Roadster is, so no need to build a complete car for the purpose of showing them.

Okey doke but still think anyone intending to get into doing this should build a car and show it off to try and convert non kit car folk into having a go at making their own kit.

Those that have met me know I talk rubbish most of the time anyway so I wouldn't listen to me If I was you........

[mr henderson]

Originally Posted by fabbyglass

Okey doke but still think anyone intending to get into doing this should build a car and show it off to try and convert non kit car

No wish to convert non kit car folk, but if they come to my workshop there will usually be at least three kit cars here anyway, so if conversion is needed then I guess it can be accomplished.

Thanks for the advice, and as I did say earlier the only reason for wanting to build a chassis in the first place was so that I could have one on which to build one or more cars when other work is held up. What I was reacting to was the thought put forward by several posters that I had to make a complete car before I could offer anyone else a chassis, and this does seem illogical, hence my requesting more information about this rather odd sounding idea.

[RAYLEE29]

Hello again,
it would seem that my comment about building a car first may have been taken in slightly the wrong context,
I was not doubting the integrity of the chassis design ( if i did i wouldnt have a 99% completete one sat in my workshop)
my point was more about the fact that there are still areas that people are having problems with and also you really will have to complete a car to know that all brackets required are actually there (i keep finding bits that are needed and i thought i had almost finished my chassis)
also there are quite afew brackets needed that you cant do until you decide on a rad or bodywork etc even just a bracket for the horn.
i would be alittle annoyed if i bought a"complete"chassis and later found i had to weld bits to it but thats just me
also if people buy a chassis and it is all there then you will get a good reputation but if people buy one and have to finish it by adding bits here taking off bits there then you will get a bad reputation
maybe some of these reasons are why others havent come up with the expected complete off the shlf chassis you were looking for
if you bought a westfield or caterham chassis would you expect it to be finished (no welding)
Ray

[RAYLEE29]

OOH, my missus just said " how can u have a complete chasis with engine mounts if you dont know what engine type or size is going in it?? Yet another flaw to these complete chasis ideas, u would need to be building it to the buyers spec rather than just a run of the mill"
So there u go even a woman understands where i am coming from lol

You can make them to suit different engines, i used to do mounts for the Pinto, zetec, R1, Fireblade and zx9 so there were choices to be had. As for brackets for the rad etc these really should be on the chassis but most kits don't have them... And some have bodywork that doesn't fit but heyp thats kit cars for you....

The beauty of doing it yourself at home is you make it to suit what you have but a company has to draw a line somewhere or they all become "one offs" and unless folk pay "one off" money it won't be cost effective.

Same applies to grp, the moulds make what the moulds make and if anyone wants something different then a plug needs to be made and then a mould, this all takes time and money.

[HandyAndy]

may i add my own personal thoughts on this.......

i,m am looking at producing complete chassis,s to sell on, whilst i have been building my own car i,m learning a great deal about as has been said about the little bits that need adding on even when you think you have completely finished welding, horn, rad brackets etc, also the engine mounting positions is something that would need to be finalised when the order is placed.

my feeling is if i,ve built my own car i would feel confident in giving advice to anyone that has a query, if i had experience of the query i would then offer a possible solution etc.

i am not knocking anyone,s way of how to go about their own builds or anyone wishing to supply a chassis, i just feel in myself that i would/have gained a hands on knowledge of the process to build a Roadster.

i wish all who take the decision to supply a chassis for selling on to a customer the very best of luck, & hope their venture is a prosperous one .

andy

andy

[Bonzo]

I might be wrong but I think the book engine mounts are more or less OK as is

Why do I say this !!??

The book was based on the Pinto engine.

I had originally tacked my engine mounts up exactly to the book spec.

Test fitted a CVH engine, The only work needed to be done was to slot the holes

Now I am going to go the Zetec route. Test measurements show that by fabricating engine mounting arms to suit the Zetec engine & the book spec mounts will be fine as is.

If I were to produce a chassis for re-sale, I would slot the enine mount holes as a matter of course.

I'll try to post a picture as soon as I can

Aftermarket Zetec engine mounting arms are available, off the shelf. Cost an arm & a leg for what they are though