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 Topic  |
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swoodard23
204 Posts |
 Posted - December 16 2002 : 3:29:44 PM
Does anyone know or have a resource for a list of cars that are not unibody and have a wheelbase of 92"-105".
Thanks,
Scott |
meat
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - December 16 2002 : 6:04:30 PM
Mid/rear or front engined?Your pal,
Meat. 
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swoodard23
204 Posts |
Posted - December 16 2002 : 7:09:48 PM
lets make it easier, front engine
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meat
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - December 17 2002 : 6:51:10 PM
Corvette. Ford, Chevy, Dodge pickup trucks. Old Mazda or Ford mini-trucks. Dodge Viper. Chevy Caprice.Your pal,
Meat.
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swoodard23
204 Posts |
Posted - December 22 2002 : 5:05:49 PM
thanks meat,
I guess I will have to stick with the corvette if I go this route. I had considered a s10 blazer frame(100.5in.)but don't want to do a v8 conversion. I also looked at the K5 blazer (104-106.5in) but am concerned with engine heigth. This would make a great choice though because you could get the donor for about $800. I also liked the caprice ideal but the wheelbase is out of my range and it is probably too wide. I like the idea of an affordable LT-1 however. I wish the chevy vega wasn't a unibody. It is really lightweight and has the perfect wheelbase (97 in). I just hate that corvettes are so expensive as donors. I would like to keep the donor vehicle under $1500. Anyone have any sources for cheap corvette parts cars? I've seen one website where a guy picked up one for $300 (basically a frame and front suspension) and that would be perfect but have not been able to find anything around that price.
Thanks,
Scott
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meat
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - December 23 2002 : 09:55:39 AM
http://www.corvettejunkyards.com/
http://www.corvettepartsman.com/frames.html
http://www.corvettesalvage.com/
http://www.contemporarycorvette.com/
http://www.justcorvettes.com/
http://www.idavette.net/parts.htmhttp://www.nos.net/davato/yard.htm
http://www.specialtyholdingsltd.com/ Your pal,
Meat.
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andrew
53 Posts |
Posted - December 23 2002 : 4:16:23 PM
Remember that '84 and newer Corvettes utilized unitized constrution. While not monocoques, the rear tub does bear structural loads, and cannot simply be unbolted in the way that the body can be removed from a Fiero or a pre '84 Corvette. I had been working on a custom design for a late model C4 and abandoned it for this reason.Andrew
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swoodard23
204 Posts |
Posted - December 23 2002 : 6:09:50 PM
Sorry to hear about your project. Why didn't you just use an older frame. the wheelbase is only 1.8" longer. Did you already have a donor and didn't want to buy another?
Thanks,
Scott
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andrew
53 Posts |
Posted - December 24 2002 : 02:59:30 AM
The C4 I had in mind because of it's position as more of a sportscar. The C3 and prior Corvettes tend not to have the balance of power & handling that I wanted in the car I was going to build. The fact that I had an option on a 1995 Corvette of which I knew it's entire history since purchase pushed me along that end.That particular design was a very modern one, and the steeply raked glass of the C4 was also crucial. I have a design for the C3...and there is potential, but it is costly. There exist a number of chassis replacements for the C2/C3 Corvette (in case you didn't know, the C2 (63 - 67) and C3 (68 - 82) body styles share the same underpinnings). Essentially, these are custom, round tube frames designed to accept C4 suspension and running gear. The idea of modern performanc + classic vintage looks. Another advantage here is that the build quality of the C3's was probably the worst among Corvettes, and it is in this generation that they earned a reputation as being unreliable and pooly built (IMHO: I think they managed to completely shed this, but 15 - 20 years ago...I do recall this being a concern among potential Corvette buyers) However, as I hinted at above, the glass profile on the C3 dictates a different design. I consdered custom glass for a short while. I managed to talk with one of the companies who develop prototype glass for GM, Ford, and Chrysler's concept and show vehicles. $35000 - $40,000 for tooling and prep; $1000 - $3000 per unit produced for an average sized windscreen. I have many designs, and I can modify ones as well. Most of them don't leave the sketch pad, though. Right now I am evaluating a couple different donor platforms, as well as finding cheaper alternatives to a completely custom chassis. Abandoning the C4 project was not too difficult...the shame is that there "could have been" a market for it, if not for the unitized construction issue. In the end I only ended up being out a few hundred dollars for 'glass & foam. Andrew |
swoodard23
204 Posts |
Posted - December 24 2002 : 08:41:06 AM
keep me up to date on your alternative chassis', I am very interested.
Thanks,
Scott
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swoodard23
204 Posts |
Posted - December 24 2002 : 09:34:18 AM
I may have a couple of ideas that will solve our problems. My first idea is to utilize the front subframe of a camaro (I guess corvettes do the same) that bolts to the unibody. Simply(or not so simply) unbolt the front subframe with the engine and suspesion and then have a round tube rear end like a racecar chassis made that will bolt right up to the subframe. You could still utilize the stock rear end you may just have to play with the suspension a little bit and maybe a tranny mount. I have seen tube frames for sandrails go for as little as $600 new so I wouldn't think it would be too expensive to have one custom made.
My second solution has a question in it. Do the ladder bar frames made for unibody cars for drag racing attach to the unibody or directly to the front subframe? If so, buy yourself a ladder bar frame and do the same as above. You can probably fabricate some round tube bracing to stiffen it up a little bit yourself. I would think this would be a very cheap way to do it but am uncertain if it would work. I would really like to know if it would because it would really open up the world of donors. Imagine all of the inexpensive and great engine/tranny combos we could use if we could use unibodies!
Anyone who has any experience or resources please comment.
Thanks,
Scott
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swoodard23
204 Posts |
Posted - December 24 2002 : 10:05:57 AM
YES!www.hotrodder.com/projects/backhalf/backhalf.html" target="_blank">http://www.hotrodder.com/projects/backhalf/backhalf.html
http://www.hotrodder.com/projects/backhalf/backhalf.html
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meat
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - December 24 2002 : 1:22:16 PM
quote:
Remember that '84 and newer Corvettes utilized unitized constrution. While not monocoques, the rear tub does bear structural loads, and cannot simply be unbolted in the way that the body can be removed from a Fiero or a pre '84 Corvette. I had been working on a custom design for a late model C4 and abandoned it for this reason.
The Venom is a rebody of a 1984 or newer Corvette to make it look like a Viper - coupe, RT/10 or full convertible. There was also a Daytona Spyder replica that was based on the 1984 or newer Corvette (the windshield angle, in this case, looked funny). There is also (somewhere...I've only got a picture and a description) a rebody done of an Iso Grifo 90 that's on a C4. The C4 does have a distinctly different chassis than the older versions - what with that birdcage and backbone thing - but it can be used. Your pal,
Meat.
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swoodard23
204 Posts |
Posted - December 25 2002 : 5:32:42 PM
On the subject of glass, is only glass used for windshields suitable as donor glass or can some rear glass be used as well. I realize you would have to select older glass that does not have the heater lines but am unaware if there is a quality difference. It seems all front windshields are flat except in expensive cars. I like the viper windshield but the cheapest one I have located was for $600 at vipercarparts.com I would rather save about $400 and just use a donor. In a harbor freight catalog I saw a tool that was for cutting glass and tile. Would this be appropriate for chopping a window 3-4", if not what do professionals use to chop tops on hotrods?
I looked on the summit racing website and think I have some prices for my idea although I found nothing for the corvette. For a camaro I believe I need a pair of subframe weld on connectors $85 that connect the front frame to the rear rails and a pair of rear frame rails $177 to complete the frame from front to rear. With the low cost of donor vehicles on ebay and the added strength of a full frame I'm surprised I haven't seen this done before. I keep looking for a flaw in the idea but haven't been able to come up with one. If anyone has any ideas I would be appreciative.
Thanks,
Scott
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MADMIKE
140 Posts |
Posted - December 25 2002 : 9:18:48 PM
SCOTT,
THE REASON WE CAN'T USE REAR WINDOWS AS WINDSHIELDS IS BECOUSE THEY ARE TEMPERED GLASS LIKE A SIDE WINDOW,AND A STONE KICKED UP THAT MIGHT ONLY CAUSE A SMALL BRUISE IN A REGULAR WINDSHIELD CAN CAUSE IT TO EXPLODE INTO A MILLION PIECES.WE USED TO DO IT ONCE IN A WHILE,
BUT ONLY ON CARS FOR THE SHOW CIRCUIT THAT WOULD NEVER BE DRIVEN ON THE STREET.AS FOR CUTTING A WINDSHIELD LEAVE IT TO A GLASS SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN STREET RODS, EVEN THEY MAY BREAK A FEW BEFORE THEY GET ACHOPPED WINDOW RIGHT BECOUSE OF STRESSESIN THE GLASS.SOME GLASS SHOPS ARE HAVING GOOD LUCK SANDBLASTING THE WINDSHIELDS TO SHAPE.
MAD MIKE
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(21 views)
car frames?
