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Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? #2282056
04/04/17 08:01 AM
04/04/17 08:01 AM
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aotearoa
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i'm going to check out a tube chassis car next week, i've always had back halfed street cars so what does one look for with a tube chassis?
The car has box section in the middle with tubed extentions front & rear. A steel shell has been fitted & a glass front clip. A Mark Williams fabricated 9 3/4 differential with Strange case & floater axles. It's 4 bar rear, Front struts & a Strange Steering rack fitted. Some tin work still needs doing but has a floor tunnel over the trans & a driveshaft loop inside the car. This is an unfinished project from 2x previous owners. Both owners had gone the Hemi Route so BBM is an easy fit. Since its never been a finished racecar, what things would i need to pay attention to when i'm looking at everything? Anybody got pics of theirs or someones project? it's not quite a Pro Mod but its getting close.

Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282057
04/04/17 08:07 AM
04/04/17 08:07 AM
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Charlotte, North Carolina
sgcuda Offline
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How old is it? If you are planning on getting a cert, NHRA changed wall thicknesses on M/S a bunch of years ago. Check welds, eyeball up squareness. Sit in it and make sure you fit.


[image][/image]
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282067
04/04/17 08:52 AM
04/04/17 08:52 AM
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MD
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I looked at a couple tube frame cars before I bought my project. I looked at all the welds and general workmanship. Is it a home built chassis or from a chassis shop? Look for all the stuff that still needs to finish. Steering, brakes, tabs and mounts etc.
Are you planning a specific cert?

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Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: RTSE4ME] #2282077
04/04/17 09:22 AM
04/04/17 09:22 AM
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PA.
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I'm not sure how your rules are were you race but I would get a rule book or chassis spec sheet. My mild steel Daytona was well built and would easily pass 8.50 cert. When I wanted to lower it to 7.50 we figured 4 bars but when it was on a host it actually needed 8 as some of the rules changed over the years. They were all small bars and only cost 400-500 dollars but it could have gotten crazy real fast. Hopefully he one you are looking at has struts already and a good rearend or once again it will cost big money to get track ready. Sometimes a deal isn't a deal.


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Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282349
04/04/17 04:37 PM
04/04/17 04:37 PM
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America
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Pay a chassis inspector to look at it. Way cheaper in the long run...

Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282360
04/04/17 04:53 PM
04/04/17 04:53 PM
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Romeo MI
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When I was building chassis's we were allowed to
sleeve tubes but they had to be welded also with
at least 2 added puddle welds to show that they
were welded there.. I dont know if that rule still
stands or not.. the books will tell you
wave

Last edited by MR_P_BODY; 04/04/17 04:54 PM.
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282672
04/05/17 07:39 AM
04/05/17 07:39 AM
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aotearoa
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here are a few pics i've received of the car. it needs work but i'm ok with that.

17496027_998130233650595_1391317618_n.jpg17440372_998246486972303_1991391502_n.jpg17506456_998246726972279_769188228_n.jpg
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282676
04/05/17 07:57 AM
04/05/17 07:57 AM
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Charlotte, North Carolina
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I think the rear x brace should have landed on top of the frame rails, not on the inside. In the upper left of the pic, it looks like the x brace is spliced to the main hoop. I would question that area.


[image][/image]
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282677
04/05/17 07:59 AM
04/05/17 07:59 AM
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Charlotte, North Carolina
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And the rear down bars are welded on a plate, that is welded to the rear shock crossmember? I don't know about that, either.


[image][/image]
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: sgcuda] #2282916
04/05/17 03:29 PM
04/05/17 03:29 PM
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Chowchilla,ca
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Originally Posted By sgcuda
And the rear down bars are welded on a plate, that is welded to the rear shock crossmember? I don't know about that, either.
From the main hoop back is all wrong ...not that it won't pass tech or cert at about 90% of the tracks. But if this car gets in a high speed inpact those rear struts are leaving the scene for sure....

Good catch on all of those.

Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282941
04/05/17 04:21 PM
04/05/17 04:21 PM
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Cotati, CA
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Can you turn your head with a helmet on in that thing? the F/C cage looks a little narrow in the pic. Just looking at it, I would pass. twocents

Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2282977
04/05/17 06:14 PM
04/05/17 06:14 PM
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fredericksburg,va
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Looks like it's mig welded (mild steel) and the ones I see don't look to good. Even at a great price, would you trust your life in that cage? If you threw away the cage is the body and parts worth the price? Gotta be a reason both guys walked. Do you have the skills to change things or would you have to pay someone else? Could be a lot of work.

Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2283994
04/07/17 02:45 PM
04/07/17 02:45 PM
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Fulton County, PA
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CMcAllister Offline
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You will have more time and money in fixing that than building one from scratch. And it will still be a hacked up car when you're done. Good used cars are cheap now. If it doesn't have a current tag on it, I would pass, regardless what it looks like. That wouldn't pass with any inspectors I know. The stories I could tell about projects that started out with something like that to save money. Most of the time it ends up being thrown in the trash and maybe saving a rear end and some brakes and wheels out of it. Not bashing. I just hate to see people waste money.

Last edited by CMcAllister; 04/07/17 02:49 PM.

If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2284002
04/07/17 03:08 PM
04/07/17 03:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
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Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline
pro stock
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Originally Posted By rebel
i'm going to check out a tube chassis car next week, i've always had back halfed street cars so what does one look for with a tube chassis?
The car has box section in the middle with tubed extentions front & rear. A steel shell has been fitted & a glass front clip. A Mark Williams fabricated 9 3/4 differential with Strange case & floater axles. It's 4 bar rear, Front struts & a Strange Steering rack fitted. Some tin work still needs doing but has a floor tunnel over the trans & a driveshaft loop inside the car. This is an unfinished project from 2x previous owners. Both owners had gone the Hemi Route so BBM is an easy fit. Since its never been a finished racecar, what things would i need to pay attention to when i'm looking at everything? Anybody got pics of theirs or someones project? it's not quite a Pro Mod but its getting close.


That thing is miles away from being a ProMod!
If I were you I would pass on this thing.
How fast are you wanting to go?
I doubt that chassis would pass any cert.

Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2284005
04/07/17 03:19 PM
04/07/17 03:19 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,397
Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline
pro stock
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8.50 Cert that I changed to 6.0 Cert

Hawaii 141.jpgHawaii 083.jpg
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2284007
04/07/17 03:23 PM
04/07/17 03:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
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Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline
pro stock
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Old Cage out

Iphone 038.jpgIphone 046.jpg
Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2284013
04/07/17 03:29 PM
04/07/17 03:29 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
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Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline
pro stock
Biginchmopar  Offline
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New Cage in!

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Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2284014
04/07/17 03:32 PM
04/07/17 03:32 PM
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Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline
pro stock
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Repaint

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Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: rebel] #2284015
04/07/17 03:33 PM
04/07/17 03:33 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
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Carson City, Nevada
Biginchmopar Offline
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Would have been money way ahead to just start with a 6.0 25.1E to start!

Re: Tube Chassis cars, what to look for? [Re: Biginchmopar] #2284016
04/07/17 03:34 PM
04/07/17 03:34 PM
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Romulus, MI
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Originally Posted By Biginchmopar
8.50 Cert that I changed to 6.0 Cert

What spec is that? I see 2x3 main rails, those are only good to 7.50, or did you add redundant chromoly rails?

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