Building the Chassis Fixture (Finished)

I got some of the material to build the chassis fixture. I recently sold some spare parts and stock stuff here and on another site, so I put some of the money in the account for the race car and spent the rest on this fixture. I've made some sliding fixtures that will slide the entire length of the beams for jig points that will need to be movable. I have David Willingham making some fixed points for me that will either be bolted down or just clamped. Next thing is to get Mike to do some machine work for me on his milling machine. The cross beams need to be pretty accurate and me doing it by hand just ain't gong to cut it. I did one end and it took me way to long to do it .

Nice.................

Thanks guys! It's going to be a breeze squaring and leveling this thing out. What really surprised me is how straight the "I" beams are. I stretched a piece of .040 music wire along the length of the beam with about 400 lbs. tension on it, and the worst of the two only had about .025 of crown in the top and .050 bow along the side .

Wow, I would have lost that bet .............. Red and I have talked about building a chassis jig, but just haven't gotten to it yet. I hope to learn something watching you............

Looks Good!

love the aluminum idea and the slideble jigs ...very nice Doug

How high off the ground are you thinking about making the jig sit?

DILLIGASDAVE wrote:How high off the ground are you thinking about making the jig sit?

About 20 inches to the top of the beam.

Why Aluminum? Isn't steel much more rigid?

dfree383 wrote:Why Aluminum? Isn't steel much more rigid?

Lighter and easier to move around the shop. The way I have the whole deal designed it will pretty rigid, and when it's not being used I will be able to take it apart and hang the beams on the wall.

Today I did a preliminary mock-up on one end to make sure the parts I drew up in CAD are going to fit. So far, so good with one minor problem. The 6" aluminum angles that will tie the cross beams in to the two main beams are not 90 degrees. I'm sending those to David Willingham and have him mill them to 90 degrees. Once I get those done I'll start drilling holes, (5) grade8 1/2" bolts in each flange.

very nice work Doug ....why dont you make 2 while you are at it

bruno wrote:very nice work Dave ....why dont you make 2 while you are at it

Who's Dave, Nick?

fixed .....typed to fast and too many beers , celebrating my new rig ........sorry