Tips on building a new chassis

[AdamF]

I lenghthened my links from 5.5" long to about 8" long, so I'm going to have to build a new chassis. I'm shooting for about 18" of wheelbase.

I'm going to build it simmilar to how I built my current frame, using 1x1x16guage steel square tubing welded together.

I was thinking about modifiying it in a few ways though.

First, I was considering cutting the tube in half, giving me a c-channel frame. I'm sure this would still be sturdy enough for anything I'd throw at it.

Second, I was thinking about just heating and bending the frame rails intead of cutting and welding. It would resemble the shape of a bruiser frame rail. Would this weaken the steel? I'd just use propane to heat it.


Or I could just keep my current frame and run it like this

 

[WRMorrison]

Holy crap that thing is tall!! 8O If my tuber wasn't so wide, I bet I could fit it underneath. The "c" channel would probably be strong enough, but will still be heavy.

When you said you were using propane, did you mean as in an oxy-fuel setup, or just one of those propane soldering units?

If it's the oxy-fuel torch, heating it wouldn't be a problem. With the soldering propane gun.....you'll probably be there a while getting it hot enough to bend.

just my opinion, do what you want...

 

[bRIBEGuy]

Isn't an 18" wheelbase a lil' on the long side for Clod Axles?

I love the psuedo-scale steel frame though.........

 

[AdamF]

It's just a regular propane cylinder with a nozzle on it. I've heated and bent bigger stuff with it before so I know it will work.

I think 18" wheelbase will work great.

 

[WRMorrison]

Forgot to mention, if you're planning on bending square steel tubing, you should really get someone with a hydraulic bender to do it. You're going to have a major problem with the tubing collapsing otherwise. Or that's just in my experience with it.

 

[WRMorrison]

Never said it wouldn't work, just said you'd be there a while. I'm just way too impatient...

 

[AdamF]

True. Maybe I should just cut and weld it.

 

[EeePee]

Not high enough for the rough Ohio terrain.