Moparts

Chassis kit question..

Posted By: Al_Alguire

Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 05:29 AM

Anyone here ever but a chassis kit froma builder? I am about at my wits end looking for a nice tube car. We went to LA this weekend to look at another one. I think the 7th one over the last 2+ years I have looked at. Once again I did not fit and not sure it is an economically wise decision to try and fix it so I would. This car my shoudlers were wedged between the funny car cage, my head hit the cage and the pedals would need some serious surgery. Nothing major but we figure a few grand to change it as well as the mid and motor plates and build some headers. This car was set up for a BB Chevy. So once again I had another 1100 mile day that was not worht the fuel money to ge there...Thankfully I had other business sort of in the area, so not a total waste.

So we are now thinking, my son and I, that maybe we just need to buy a kit and do the finish work ourselves. We are both good fabricators but dont feel like we are qualified to build an entire chassis. So I was thinking maybe a welded chassis from someone like RJ racecars would be a better way to go. I am not huge by any means but it seems most cars are built for guys no more than 6' tall. BTW my son(6' 200lbs)fit perfectly in this car we looked at, a point which he continues to make abundantly clear to me So anyone had any experience with doing this? While the thought of building a car makes me cringe it is becoming very clear that it is the only way I am going to get what I want and fit in. Any thoughts?
Posted By: smokinwoody

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 05:34 AM

how about Chris Alston..arent they out your way?..Im quite sure theres a few others that custom build in Ca..let yo fingers do the walking on the internet...

good luck on your search Al..
Posted By: Al_Alguire

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 05:38 AM

Woody no way no how on Alston....But yes they are local. I have poked around for cars long enough I think. I will continue to do so as for now our plans are somewhat in the air. We may be moving again in the summer of 2011. Not sure yet where but have an idea.
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 05:39 AM

Alston and Morrison won't build complete race cars as of earlier this year per them They both have shops that they recommend to put ther kits together. Al, contact Bill Hickox, he has built several complete cars for Doug Sikora and others in PSCA The last one I heard of last year was a twin turbo 2010 Mustang for a really big boy,he makes me and you look small
Posted By: Triple Threat

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 05:58 AM

Looking to go 6.0 cert, double frame rail deal? A bit out of my range of experience, but I can sympathize about not fitting in cars.
Posted By: Chassisman

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 06:54 AM

Quote:

Woody no way no how on Alston....But yes they are local. I have poked around for cars long enough I think. I will continue to do so as for now our plans are somewhat in the air. We may be moving again in the summer of 2011. Not sure yet where but have an idea.

Why not a Chassisworks Avenger? Or just go see Bickle or Tim McAmis and get measured for a car.They will build you a chassis the send it out to you in any stage you want. If you have a Chassisworks issue ....get a hold of me,we might be able to "fix" it. I know 2 guys in your same boat.....they've been calling me for over a year. And looks like I MAY be firing back up again soon...they both want AA/Gas /TS cars.
Posted By: Chassisman

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 06:59 AM

Quote:

Alson and Morrison won't build complete race cars as of earlier this year they both have shops that they recommend. Al, contact Bill Hickox, he has built several cars for Doug Sikora and others in PSCA The last one I heard of lats year was a 2010 Mustang for a really big boy, makes me and you look small

Chassisworks hasnt built cars in house for close to a decade. They have referal list of approve builders.
Posted By: MoparBilly

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 02:00 PM

Al,
I feel your pain!! First problem 4 me seems to be moving the old car! Can't give it away, so may just have to keep improving on it. Saw either Bickel or RJ offering a welded chassis for like 8500?? But never called, I just figured by the time it arrived out here, and then all the other work you'd end up doing to it, would it prove cost prohibitive??

I like my car, but I look at it and want to front half it, new headers, new firewall, new lexan, new paint, and I'll have another 8-10K in a 2750lb 7.50 cert ladder bar car..just can't wrap my head around that!!

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Posted By: Al_Alguire

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 02:14 PM

I was thinking a stage one type deal from RJ. Just a basic welded chassis and we could finish it up from there. I actually enjoy fab work so I think it would be fun and theraputic as well for me. Plus I will get what I want. I have looked at a number of cars the past couple of yers. Best fit so far was a new Stratus but I will not be able to pull that trigger due to the cost. Dont really want to sell the Cuda and to make this happen I would have to.

Billy did not know you were wanting to sell yours. Would make a great car for my kid, tell me more. Shoot me an email, b1valiant@sbcglobal.net Getting ready to head out for a family RV vacation..Hope I survive
Posted By: HardcoreB

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/07/10 02:17 PM

Quote:

We may be moving again in the summer of 2011. Not sure yet where but have an idea.


Owe, owe, bring the clan to Michigan!!!
Posted By: FastmOp

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 04:11 AM

I think you would be steps ahead of the game getting the pipe done by a pro. It's alot of work and it's very time consuming. I'd even think about addin peddles tranny and motor mounts and some of the basic features all cars need. Then you can do the rest of the little things that make this sport fun.
Good luck. If you want to talk just give me a shout.
Posted By: Comp Chassis 2

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 04:36 AM

Maybe shooting myself in the foot here! But cost wise it is always much cheaper to buy a completed car over building one. Even if you can do alot of the work yourself,the hard part is finding a good one! X2 if you are a large person. The main chassis is the easy part, with a good plan you can assemble one in a couple of days. It's all the rest of the stuff that takes forever.The stuff you dont think about,Doing lexan right now on 70 duster, have 3 days in it right now still not finished. The good deals are out there right now. My advice is to keep looking, and never buy one without seeing in person.Or make a trip to AZ, and i'll build you whatever you want,we have some experience building for the larger driver,Billy does'nt qualify anymore as he lost to much weight in the past couple of years! Do a double take every time I see him nowdays.
Posted By: Anonymous

Post deleted by Defbob - 06/08/10 04:54 AM

Posted By: rickstershemi

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 01:15 PM

JMO....keep looking Al, you will find it and for $.25 on the dollar these days, even if it needs some adjustments and upgrades your waaaay ahead in the $$$$ department

I priced out building a new car from the ground up and even in this economy

Rickster
Posted By: gregsdart

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 01:44 PM

Good luck on the hunt for a new ride. Maybe throwing out some "wanted" adds will help. Guys that answer are already motivated to sell!
Posted By: Monte_Smith

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 04:50 PM

You are just not going to find what you want in the used market Al. Just buy a welded chassis from one of the top builders. I know a welded chassis from Haas is $6500, can't beat that. I asked John (DeFlorian, shop foreman) if that was just one of their main stream cars, or anything. He said, "bring any body you want, and we will build a welded chassis for it, for $6500". As you know, I used to build cars myself and I will never build another ground up car myself, I will buy the chassis.

Monte
Posted By: Chassisman

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 04:53 PM

Quote:

You are just not going to find what you want in the used market Al. Just buy a welded chassis from one of the top builders. I know a welded chassis from Haas is $6500, can't beat that. I asked John (DeFlorian, shop foreman) if that was just one of their main stream cars, or anything. He said, "bring any body you want, and we will build a welded chassis for it, for $6500". As you know, I used to build cars myself and I will never build another ground up car myself, I will buy the chassis.

Monte

Thats where I'm at for my next car.... it's a real PITA to do the base chassis. Tim Mc will be doing my new Dart. I'll finish it.
Posted By: Mopar_racer_99

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 05:36 PM

Sorry to ask this, but how much harder is it to put awelded chassis in compared to a welded back half? Backhalf wasnt that hard once we found all the centerlines. John
Posted By: Chassisman

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/08/10 07:12 PM

Quote:

Sorry to ask this, but how much harder is it to put awelded chassis in compared to a welded back half? Backhalf wasnt that hard once we found all the centerlines. John

Back half isnt bad....A Chassis is more dificult because your doing the entire car. The tin work to do a full tube car is 3 times the work of a back half car.The chassis does come welded...but that tin work and the 50,000 little things add up.
Posted By: Comp Chassis 2

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/09/10 04:28 AM

Maybe the car you just looked at, but there is an avenger on the PSCA site 6.00 cert fits large driver in Cal.Posted today!
Posted By: Blucuda413

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/09/10 12:30 PM

Al. there are some good ones lurking around out there. A guy here in North Louisiana just bought a fantastic Avenger. The car was built in Seattle, bought by a guy in Georgia and he bought it from him. He bought it for his son to get him into racing. To ck everything out they had a very mild 340 in it a couple weeks ago and it was running 6.20s. A beautiful car!!!!
Posted By: RodStRace

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/09/10 04:24 PM

Al, I remember the pain you went through to get the cuda.
Now you want something else?
If I had looked at 2-3 cars that didn't fit, I'd have measurements memorized!!! How wide at the shoulder, how tall seat to cage, how far pedals to seat back at LEAST!
Seems like you won't be happy until you have a Pro Mod you can just change the seat in and both you and the son can race.

Good luck on the hunt, but building from scratch is going to big time and money.
Posted By: Al_Alguire

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/09/10 05:34 PM

Mike that is the car I just looked at. I did not fit without major surgery anyway.

Finding something I fit in is always an issuu. Really leaning toward buying a welded chassis and going from there. As soon as we know for sure what we will be doing in the next 12 months I will have a better plan. Still going to look for finished cars.

As for the measurement deal. The one thing I have learned is if someone wants to sell you a car is that you will ALWAYS fit over the phone, in person not so much
Posted By: RodStRace

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/09/10 05:44 PM

Quote:

As for the measurement deal. The one thing I have learned is if someone wants to sell you a car is that you will ALWAYS fit over the phone, in person not so much



Don't I know it!
When I bought the cuda, the guy gave me a few sideways glances and finally said "You are tall, aren't you?" This from a guy that was over 6 feet and 230 easy!
Posted By: Comp Chassis 2

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/10/10 02:30 AM

Do you what kind of body your going to build? Old style Cuda,or swoopy avenger ect. Just curious as a customer of mine has a cuda fastback body shell they are looking to get rid of.
Posted By: sixpackgut

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/10/10 02:57 AM

my friend is building this

http://www.racingjunk.com/category/25/Pro_Modified/post/1891372/PRO-MOD-70-HEMI-CUDA.html
Posted By: Edge

Re: Chassis kit question.. - 06/10/10 09:39 AM

Alston Avenger (moly) chassis going in my old Duster. Started with the plan of swithcing from ladder to four link and the project went from there. It is one way to get a car that fits as I am tall with difficulty getting in most chassis cars.

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