Chassis Building

[RW033]

Has anyone come across any good tutorials on how to build a scale chassis from scratch? I suffer from LOFT and need help

[Mark]

Are you building drag cars (modern, or vintage), street rods, pro touring, or ?

The best reference material will usually be books on actual chassis building.  You'll see designs that work, which will show you how to design and build in scale, something that would be workable as a real car.  Depending on the subject matter, you don't necessarily need the most up-to-date books or catalogs.  Example: traditional hot rod chassis haven't changed much over the years.  Catalogs from suppliers of suspension parts often have detailed photos of what they are selling.  Some have critical chassis dimensions for more popular cars.  Vintage drag racing chassis could be designed with information from old rule books found online, with details taken from old magazine articles.  Dimensions for things like roll bars, tubular suspension parts, and chassis tubing can easily be converted to scale for when you start looking for scratch building materials.

[RW033]

Planning on doing an extreme pro-touring 67 chevelle, I’m thinking I’ll have to bite the bullet and buy something 3D printed, I don’t think I have the capability of looking at a part and then making it from nothing

[Ace-Garageguy]

A pro-touring car is going to most likely be built on a modified stock chassis, or something aftermarket like Art Morrison builds.

https://artmorrison.com/chassis/chevelle-gm-a-body/

There's a kit out there somewhere with an appropriate chassis that's already tubbed, I believe...but I don't remember right off hand.

Then all you need is to find tubular control arms for the front suspension...which are also available from kits.

As Mark pretty much says, look at how the real cars are built online, and go from there.

For what it's worth, I'm finishing up a fairly high-end full-scale big-block '66 PT Chevelle, on a custom frame that's a semi-replica of stock (narrowed in back for the wide tires and tubs, with a tubular front end setup) and I have bazillions of photos if you need something specific.

[RW033]

I understand what it’s supposed to look like and the mechanics of how a real chassis and suspension works - I’m looking for tutorials on how to make it myself from styrene. Think I’m realizing this is more of a lack of experience & skill than anything. Do you have a wip thread? 

[Ace-Garageguy]

12 minutes ago, RW033 said:

I understand what it’s supposed to look like and the mechanics of how a real chassis and suspension works - I’m looking for tutorials on how to make it myself from styrene. Think I’m realizing this is more of a lack of experience & skill than anything. Do you have a wip thread? 

What I was saying is that you don't need to reinvent the wheel.

Use a stock chassis. The stock Chevelle chassis is close enough to the best aftermarket jobs to pass, with a few relatively simple mods.

Narrow it in the rear to accommodate the wider wheels, and adapt it for whatever rear suspension you use (4 link on a Ford 9"?).

Then just put some tubular front suspension control arms on it, big brakes, presto-chango...instant (almost) pro-touring.

Edited September 14, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Cool Hand]

Hey Ryan, check out this build thread of mine, you may be able to get some idea's as to how you can scratch build a chassis frame.

 

[JollySipper]

Bill, is this the kit you were thinking of?

https://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/amt-r2-876.htm

This kit, the front suspension from a '37 Ford coupe, and some Pegasus brakes, and you're on your way!

[Ace-Garageguy]

6 minutes ago, JollySipper said:

Bill, is this the kit you were thinking of?

https://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/amt-r2-876.htm

This kit, the front suspension from a '37 Ford coupe, and some Pegasus brakes, and you're on your way!

Thanks. Exactly. That'll do it.

[RW033]

8 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

What I was saying is that you don't need to reinvent the wheel.

Use a stock chassis. The stock Chevelle chassis is close enough to the best aftermarket jobs to pass, with a few relatively simple mods.

Narrow it in the rear to accommodate the wider wheels, and adapt it for whatever rear suspension you use (4 link on a Ford 9"?).

Then just put some tubular front suspension control arms on it, big brakes, presto-chango...instant (almost) pro-touring.

I think that would work, my concern is I might not be able to get it low as I want with stock frame 

8 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

Hey Ryan, check out this build thread of mine, you may be able to get some idea's as to how you can scratch build a chassis frame.

 

Yes! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!! Great job btw!

Edited September 14, 2024 by RW033

[Fat Brian]

AMT just brought back the 57 Chevy street rod with a modern chassis. Adapting it to a Chevelle should be prohibitively difficult. 

[bobss396]

Iceman Collections has a nice front and rear pro street chassis sections that you may want to look at. They are pretty well detailed.

[RW033]

13 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Iceman Collections has a nice front and rear pro street chassis sections that you may want to look at. They are pretty well detailed.

His stuff is definitely nice, but by the time I factor in shipping it’s way out of my budget.