Chassis Building 101

Material Specification Change, Control Arm Bushing Sleeves

In the upper and lower control arm section, the sleeves that the bushings press into (pn CW11056) need to be made from 1.5" x .125 wall not .120 wall.

Depending on where you source your tubing, the tolerance on the wall thickness could be +/- .020 which could make the bushings fall out of the .120 tubing. I have ordered .120 wall all along, and it worked out fine, but a customer ordered .120 and the bushings slid right out of those tubes.. NOT GOOD!!

I advise to please check the ID of the tube before welding! This way if you have a piece that is out of spec, you're not committed.

If the bushings are loose in the sleeves, simply drill a 3/16" hole in the tube in 2 positions, and rose tack the bushing in there so it can't come out. Be careful to do it quick so as not to melt the rubber. I have had to use this method myself and it worked out fine. If you ever need to replace the bushings once they are welded in drill out the tack, put the new bushing in and weld in the same manner..

M

Missing files on cds

I have been informed by a few customers that some files were missing from their cds. In particular, the dxf cut file and bend diagram for the CW11007 and CW11008 front shock ears got missed.

Also, on some of the older cds, a file for the CW11071 which is a small gussett on the lower rear control arms was missing.

If you do not have this information on your cd, please e mail me and I will get the file to you.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

New Developments!

Hi Everyone..

Just a quick note.. I've had a lot of folks express interest in purchasing components for their chassisworks chassis. While I am no longer making chassis, I can certainly help out with some of the small parts.

I will be making very small production runs of Fuel cells, rear hubs, upper front shock mounts, etc. So when the time comes that you need parts for your build, e mail me. I may have what you need on the shelf.

M

New Plans Almost Ready for Release!

I'm happy to report, the new plans are almost ready for release.

We have been scouring the prints, and all the information contained in the new package to make sure it is accurate and to eliminate any mistakes. 

There have been some significant changes in the new chassis. After many customer requests the dash and pedal area, front wheel wells and rear firewall have received most of the attention. 

The front wheelwell tubing is now comprised of several sections to allow for more front wheel travel.The pedal and steering column brackets have been redesigned to do away with the crossbar, thereby allowing the assembly to fit behind the Murci dash.

Finally the rear firewall has been redesigned to allow more room if your engines accessories need to protrude into the passenger compartment, and we have also added the top portion of the firewall which will be used as a mount for the rear window sill. 

There have also been some minor changes to the rear firewall and fuel cell area supports, along with a redesign of the front stub reinforcing bars. 

Not only that, also included in the new plans are part numbers of many more items to complete the chassis as well as a vendor list. These parts included in the detail are components of the fuel cells, swaybars, rear control arms, and a few chassis grommets and a list of where to get it all.

Keep checking back here for release date! 

Plans Upgrade Special pricing...how to get it...

Hello all..

Ok here's the scoop. I have listed the plans upgrade in a special section on www.Chassisworksinc.com .

To pre order the plans upgrade, log onto www.chassisworksinc.com and open account if you don't already have one, then e mail me from the "contact us" link on the site letting me know you're ready. I will then go into your account and enable you to see the special section, and you can order the upgrade like you would any other product.

You won't be able to view this product until you e mail me and I activate your account!!!

This serves 2 purposes:

• It lets me make sure this offer is available to those who are the original purchasers of their plans
• it does not allow new purchasers to take advantage of this special offer

Thanks, and look forward to hearing from you all

Mike Orlando

Chassisworks,inc

Updated Chassis Plans, Special Offer

Hi Everyone and Happy Holidays!!!

Well, the weather has finally turned cold forcing most of us out of the garage for the winter and onto the couch.

Here at Chassisworks I am taking the opportunity of the off season to update and improve the chassis plans package.

There are some changes that I have wanted to incorporate to make the chassis stronger, and easier to build. While we had Solidworks fired up, I am also adding some modifications that builders have been asking for.

The basic chassis platform will remain the same. But there are some changes to the dash area and rear firewall that will make it much easier to build, and will accommodate different body styles.

In particular, the modifications will include:

• delete round tube front snout bracing
• replace with cleaner square tube bracing
• additional gussets in front stub
• changes to ft wheel well area for more wheel/tire clearance
• rear firewall now taller to support rear window sill
• fuel cell area tubing, redesigned for cleaner look
• additional supports for rear firewall and side sill area

and perhaps the biggest and best change yet...

    We have simplified the dash tubing, deleted the console tubing, and reworked the pedal area to accommodate the Murcielago body kits out there!!

    The new version of the plans will be ready to ship early next year. Like the original CD, they will include a full cut list, new laser prints, assembly drawings, and individual prints of each and every tube.

    Like most things in life, the pricing will unfortunately increase to cover increases in cost for the website, CAD time, and sales fees.

    BUT, I have a special deal for those who have purchased the original set of plans who wish to upgrade....

    If you have purchased an original set of plans and wish to upgrade to the newest set when they are released, I am now taking orders for                    $59 plus shipping

  

This link is only for those who have previously purchased plans. All new purchases will be at the regular sale price, which will be around $250.

    So if you haven't gotten too far into your build, or have recently started building. Stop what you're doing and upgrade now!

Happy Holidays and Happy Building

Mike

Clutch Master Cylinder update

We have recently found out that the original clutch master cylinder listed in the plans (5/8" Wilwood) does not have sufficient volume to cycle the slave cylinder on the trans all the way. This causes the clutch not to disengage all the way. Originally it was thought to be the size of the line, but 3/16" line is fine.

The new master cylinder is Wilwood PN 260-3374 (3/4")

Registering your chassis for road use.

A topic that I am asked about often is "How do I register my car after it's done if I am using a fabricated chassis with no VIN?"

A very valid question seeing as the car will have no applicable VIN number if it is something you built yourself. The truth of the matter is, each and every car builder should thoroughly research this topic before they sink tons of money into their build. You will find lots of grey area, and while some states are relatively easy to register a kit car, some states just want to tie you up in red tape, hoping you will give up.

I have found that although the DOT and Federal government are in charge of handing out VIN numbers to large automakers, there are no Federal rules governing a Home built or "kit" car. Each state has their own rules and regulations. Some are very basic and may only require seatbelts, wipers, lights, and other basic safety stuff. While others require current airbag installation, emissions equipment, safety inspection, etc.

Best advice I can give everyone is do your homework, and ask lots of questions at the dmv BEFORE you start your build. At the very least I would make sure your vehicle passes the safety checklist that the National Street Rod Association publishes. While it may not be all inclusive for your particular state, it will help make sure you didn't miss anything basic.

Mike

Feedback anyone??

Questions, comments, problems or suggestions about the Chassisworks Site or this Blog?? Post them here...Oh yea, suggestions for new categories go here too!

Where to go??

This section is to help anyone building our chassis to find vendors, parts sources, or sggestions for dealers on parts and services to help complete your build. We've built em before, so chances are we can get you pointed in the right direction.