I was talking to one of the instructors at my tech school, and said he would help me fab my own tube frame chassis for my 88 GTU. Any thoughts suggestions or ideas?

 

Have lots and lots of money and welding supplies on hand...

Sounds like it would be a fun project.... Oh yeah free time will be an issue also.

Make sure you update the post if you get this project underway.

 

Well, actually, one of the instructors for the Chassis Fab shop at Wyo Tech (where im going to school) said that he would help me build it. If i build it there at the shop and use it as a grade, then i get to keep anything I do to it (pretty sure its free as well. Not to mention the welding supplies, and the gas.) I also get about 200 hours to work on a project while im in that class. Provided I finish all the regular requirements. They also have a couple Rotary Specialists that are instructors there, so im gonna see if i can get some help on the tuning end as well.

It probably wont start untill about 6 months from now, but ill be sure to keep everyone posted when i do start it.

When i start, id be glad to take and show pictures and measurements to help everyone else out, if you feel adventurous enough to do this.

 

That's pretty slick...Make sure to post pictures and stuff, because I'm planning to do the same with my GSL-SE.

Essentially I'm going to build a tube frame inside the existing car and tie together all the suspension points. Then cut the body away around it and finish it off. That way, all the stock mounting points are maintained.

 

heres how i think everything is going to work for mine. I think we are going to measure the current frame, and figure out how wide the car is now, and build the frame to fit the body panels so that i can remove all of the excess. If thats the case, i cut out a crap load of sheet metal, and just make a botom pan for my car, so i dont get a rock in the back of my head. I will probably set up a multilink in the rear while im doing all of this, no reason not to.

Ive heard about people doing it the way youre talking about, just be sure you dont cut the firewall loose before you get it tacked in though, or youll end up with a mess.

 

The car is 1690mm / 66.5in wide.

 

If you do this I WANT TO SEE pics

 

Definitely! Like i said though, it would be about 6 months before i start, but just throwing the idea out there. Thanks for the width, but which is that, the panel mounts on the inside of the hood? Or is that overall?

 

I'm just back-halfing my car, so the firewall and everything ahead of the rear floor pan will remain intact.

 

Okay, well that makes it a little simpler, but its only a stiffening application then, not a true tube frame chassis, but it does the same job. Should stiffen everything up really nice though. You planning on putting a halo in there too?

 

whats a halo?

 

If you build a roll cage, most of the time at the roof, there is only a bar at the front and back of the roof, maybe an X brace. A Halo is another bar added that makes it look like there is a halo over the drivers head. Generally its only in a full roll cage setup, and provides more strength in the case of a roll over.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...lr%3D%26sa%3DN

If i could have found a shorter link, i would have. But thats the general idea. It just adds more support/strength for the entire set up, and increases rigidity.

 

The car will be a track only car, probably drag. It will have a full cage.

 

Awesome to hear man, I look forward to seeing your car too!