Gutting a car and building a tube frame under

Can anyone point me to build threads where folks cut out all but the outer skin of a car and built a spaceframe underneath? It's something that I've thought about for a while, and it'd be interesting to see how folks pulled it off.

Thx.

There's a name for that but I can't remember what it is.

So you're talking about a stock-looking body for the most part but totally tubular underneath?

Like a high-end race car? Or how some NASCAR cars look?

I'm frantically googling for an E30 M3 build that had the rockers cut and had 2" square tube welded in and triangulated to bulk heads such that the whole body wad part of the cage.

I'm coming up dry but it was inspirational. It changed my whole line of thinking on my next street car build. When I find it I'll post.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Not like this: http://www.s14.net/forums/forum/s14/club-racing-autoxing-and-track-talk/60577-recent-e30-m3-race-car-build

Or is that what you mean?

im watching this just to see what I can learn. nothing to add.

http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46268

moparman76_69 wrote: http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46268

That looks awesome!

Might not be quite what you are looking for, but what can I say, I like studebakers.

http://www.dutchtreatracing.com/?page_id=1172

In reply to ebonyandivory:

No. This was a show car build with a huge budget. The car was practically a tube chassis but it was all hidden inside the unibody. That was not the expensive part... but is was very well done and I'd never seen it before.

Also, who doesn't like a wagon?

http://www.billleeracecars.com/gallery.aspx?proj=59%20Studebaker%20Wagon%20Pro%20Mod

TheV8Kid wrote:

moparman76_69 wrote: http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46268

That looks awesome!

Mid engine vw golf

i saw the chevelle thread a few years back. That thing is seriously badass.

Don't move and have kids in the middle of it.

This one is mine, a (Chevy Sprint) tube framed and full caged and converted to rear wheel drive, powered by a small block Chevy. Purposing to stay low buck, but likely will miss the $201X Challenge by only 500 years.

SkinnyG's V8 Pontiac Firefly

We are starting one of these projects in the next week or two, stay tuned for a build thread

It will be a Triumph Stag shelled tube frame

Just saying I like this thread. Lots of cool builds to ogle at while im at work.

aussiesmg wrote: We are starting one of these projects in the next week or two, stay tuned for a build thread It will be a Triumph Stag shelled tube frame

You still going with the v12 Merlin in the Stag?

kreb wrote: Can anyone point me to build threads where folks cut out all but the outer skin of a car and built a spaceframe underneath? It's something that I've thought about for a while, and it'd be interesting to see how folks pulled it off. Thx.

What is sit that you want to know about? Also, when you said "Space frame" I have taken it to mean "Tube frame". They are not the same thing in my mind.

Some general stuff:

You should have a chassis plate/jig of some sort. It takes a ton of time and equipment to pull off. If you are only doing this once, look into the available offerings from the hot-rod chassis vendors. If you have some drawing skills and software, it will be much easier to keep track of dimensions and where stuff is going to end up. Your welding skills will be much better after you finish the first one.

moparman76_69 wrote:

TheV8Kid wrote:

moparman76_69 wrote: http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46268

That looks awesome!

if my wife wouldn't kill me for cutting up "her" chevelle, i'd have done that already.

You mean like this sleeper Camry at SEMA:

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/05/toyota-camry-850-horsepower-dragster-sleeper-sema-2014/

Thanks for the great links. The idea behind the thread is the question of when heavily modifying a car, at what point are you better off treating the chasis and drivetrain as a scratch build, and using the original car as little more than a shell? Once you have cast your die to create a loud, stiff performancemobile, it makes more and more sense to do away with whatever has no performance benefit. Rid yourself of the compromises.

As for the question of tube frame versus space frame, it largely comes down to whether you achieve your chasis stiffness through fewer, heavier tubes or a latticework of thinner, triangulated tubes. If you have the benefit of a roof, it significantly alters the stiffness requirements of the lower chasis.

I think the decision would be dictated by the ruleset you build by.

Rule books stifle creativity.

I say cut it all out. BUT, have ALL your suspension and drivetrain in a pile and ready to go and planned out before you start cutting tubes.

SkinnyG wrote: This one is mine, a (Chevy Sprint) tube framed and full caged and converted to rear wheel drive, powered by a small block Chevy. Purposing to stay low buck, but likely will miss the $201X Challenge by only 500 years. SkinnyG's V8 Pontiac Firefly

not to be too picky, but it says "turbo" in at least 3 places on that car, but the only "turbo" is the "turbo hydramatic 350" transmission.