The Willomet Charger

[Greg72]

Here's what I'm thinking about for reinforcing the factory 14ga rails.
View attachment 266044

Old school rally dudes would fully plate a frame in 1/8", which is as much about stiffening as it is about sustaining loads of abuse. I don't like the corrosion risk that would come from plating the entire frame, let alone all the added weight that comes from relying purely on material strength. And so, overlaying a truss design similar to the above is what I'm thinking, as increased beam strength is the main objective.

I think the rightmost pattern is what I'll apply across the whole of the rail.

David

Needs more tria.....







...actually maybe it's just fine.


-G

 

[Greg Ducato]

Ha! If he built it like your example he would need to find some 35 series 10 ply tires.

 

[campfire]

Needs more tria.....







...actually maybe it's just fine.


-G

 

[AgDieseler]

Starting to integrate the frame stubs into the new chassis

Measured. Marked.


Trimmed. The frame won’t dip below the rockers.


4x2 mock-up






This is why frame plating is important. Making the 14ga have the same rigidity as the 11ga chassis should keep the rails from cracking at this mating joint.


Without tweaking, they’re within 1/4” of each other in terms of mirrored dimensions.

Tomorrow. Harry needs a walk.


David

 

[campfire]

What's happening with the tranny hanging out in the background?

 

[AgDieseler]

What's happening with the tranny hanging out in the background?

That tranny has a stick.

It’s a TR6060 from a 2011 SS Camaro, so it has the .57 double OD, and should pair nicely with the LSA/LQ4.

David

 

[campfire]

That tranny has a stick.

It’s a TR6060 from a 2011 SS Camaro, so it has the .57 double OD, and should pair nicely with the LSA/LQ4.

David

Nice. I looked into using a 6-speed in my project, but was not willing to shoehorn a 2WD tranny into my 4WD Suburban. You won't have that problem.

 

[Greg72]

More photos of the overall shop setup....... I’m in an idea-stealing mood.


-G

 

[AgDieseler]

More photos of the overall shop setup....... I’m in an idea-stealing mood.

Steal away. You’ll have to make it up to Oak Cliff for a Willomet happy hour. Next one is this Friday.

David

 

[F.S.F.W]

You work soooooo sloooooowwwww.... jk...

Keep it up man. Looking forward to seeing this one come together!

 

[AgDieseler]

You work soooooo sloooooowwwww.... jk...

Keep it up man. Looking forward to seeing this one come together!

Thanks. I’m really excited to get the chassis locked and power train stabbed.

Also, you’re not wrong. I do tend to work slowly and methodically, but especially on this part of this particular project. There’s no guidebook for converting a unibody Mopar to a framed car (except for stroking a fat check to a chassis builder), so time is as valuable a tool as any other in my drawers. I’ve never done a “from scratch” build, and so there’s a lot to learn. And candidly, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do, or what step comes next. I only know what I can do, and sometimes that’s taking several minutes (or hours) to think carefully and build in my imagination before committing to a course of action.

I also enjoy the details, like making sure all my tubing has the electric weld seam on the same side and in the same orientation. Seams on the long side make for fat “ovalish” cross sections, whereas seams on the shorter side are more square.



My OCD isn’t as bad as some, but it is worse that most.

David

 

[campfire]

My OCD isn’t as bad as some, but it is worse that most.

Hahahahaha.

 

[AgDieseler]

Spent 15 minutes clamping this together, only to have to take it apart again. Stupid mistakes.


I’ll hold off burning it all in until my mind is clear.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

After 18 months, the frame is now connected to something more than just the frame table.




Shiner time.

David

 

[SpeedlabDan]

Nice work man! Super clean

 

[Greg Ducato]

Very stout! will you be making a pass through for exhaust and driveshaft?

 

[AgDieseler]

Very stout! will you be making a pass through for exhaust and driveshaft?

I will. I just don’t know how tall the hump will have to be, so I put off those details until after I can mock-up the trans and rear end and pull a string between the two of them.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

Good Memorial Day to y'all.

Had a good couple of days off, and spent today in the shop before hitting the road again for work.


Shaving weight.


This firewall has been on the hit list for a while. Originally a non-AC car, someone patched in the AC section, sparing all technique.


Lots of space to start integrating the front rails to the rockers.






Similar to the rear frame, I’ll have to trim a good bit to make the bottom flush with the rockers, but there’s loads of room to add to the profile at the top of the rails.


Got to order some 5x4 for the front “torque boxes”, and I’ll be back at it. But first, a very busy week of work.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

They don't make rectangle tubing in 5x4x11ga, so I'll end up fabricating my own. The local metal shop can shear the component plates pretty quickly, and that's time efficient since work is nuts this week. I should have it all in stock by Friday.

A Roaster Shop Chassis has always been my go-to for inspiration, and I'll end up closely matching this design to integrate the front rails into the rockers:


Reading back on the suggestions for a roll cage, I'm beginning to wonder if I can accomplish my strength and rigidity goals with just a b-pillar main hoop, rear down bars, and door bars in addition to a well structured firewall that ties into the rails and front torque boxes. There's no ET goal, and this will be a driver first - trying to duplicate 2015 Z28 levels of performance and handling.

@blazinzuk @ClassicStyle @RubberFloorMat - I'm looking at y'all. Open to suggestions/comments/ridicule.

David

 

[campfire]

They don't make rectangle tubing in 5x4x11ga, so I'll end up fabricating my own.

This says so much about your shop philosophy...