63 Notchback Project

[notchman]

Got the notch mounted to the frame table today!

It rained all day so the shed did not get delivered (boo hiss). But I made the best of it and got some work done. Details on the frame table are in the frame table discussion thread.
carmensbugs.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gendisc&action=display&thread=205

Here are the mounts I created. The long side bolts to the heater channels in the existing pan holes, and the short sides weld to the table.



Here's a pic of the car mounted on the frame table, the frame table wheels were removed, the levelers were installed and the frame table is now in place and level.

There is a slight rake to the car, although it's hard to see in the picture.

[Mock1racer]

Not tryin to be a smart @$$, but how do you plan on mounting things to the car if the car is mounted to the table? Maybe I missed something. Definately a great way to keep the car square and level though.

[notchman]

Apr 26, 2010 9:50:38 GMT -5 Mock1racer said:

Not tryin to be a smart @$$, but how do you plan on mounting things to the car if the car is mounted to the table? Maybe I missed something. Definately a great way to keep the car square and level though.

No that's a good question. I could go one of two ways.

First I could weld the new frame pieces to the body as I go. This will not affect how I have the body mounted because the new frame rails will fit inside and slightly below the original heater channels. But this creates a probelm since I want to powder the coat the chassis and roll cage.

Or, I could build the frame to match the ride height which will be supported by the frame table and suspension componants only. I will make two long brackets that will be welded to the new frame rails and will bolt to the original body mounting holes. I will also create body mounts that fit up to up to the body panels in the front and rear. This way the body can be removed from the chassis to allow powder coating of the chassis. The body mounts I'm using for the frame table will be in the way of creating the final side mounts but this is not an issue since I can add those to the new frame rails later. I will take a picture of a drawing as soon as I can to show you how I plan on doing this.

Once the frame and main roll cage is complete, the entire frame and body can come off of the frame table. Everything but the interior panels will be mocked up, and final welded. The body will be removed and the chassis and roll cage will be powder coated together as one piece. At this point, the body will be cleaned up, fixed up and painted on the inside. The final body work and final paint will be very last after final assembly.

[Mock1racer]

i would go with the later, build the frame/rolling chassis then set the body on your mounts.
wait ...are you using the prostreet bug plans?

[V8 Super Beetle]

Looking great and sounds like a good plan. I was curious how everything came off the table once complete, but now I know.

[notchman]

No, the chassis is fully custom. The prostreet bug plans are made for those fiberglass bodies. Nice chassis but would take some modifying to make work for my car, so I opted to just do mine from scratch. However the rear clip will be ordered as a custom fab from AutoWeld, based on my measurements, and the front crossmember is from Heidt's.

[Mock1racer]

Right, so if you get the rear end set, and get the front end set, all you'll have to do is connect the middle and make the mounts... good idea.
Well, not quite that easy but yeah, I gettcha.

[notchman]

yep, main fraim rails and then the body out riggers. All that's left is worrying about mounting stuff like seats and stuff. I'm making a list which has all of the things I'm bound to forget if I don't right them down.

Things like...
Under floor master cylinder?
tie down tabs welded to the frame
routing electricl, brakes, fuel, etc
routing of the exhaust
transmission shifter mount
seat and seat belt mounts
fuel cell position and size
radiator mounting,
ac condenser coil mounting
driveshaft safety loop
gas and brake pedals
rear firewall position and mounting
radiator overflow
steering column support

What am I forgetting?

[notchman]

battery position and mounting

[Mock1racer]

Roll cage?

[notchman]

Now you're being a smart @$$. jk.

I figured I would remember the engine, transmission and roll cage without those down

[Mock1racer]

Hahahahaha!!

hey, what about track safety stuff, like the kill switch, fire extinguisher, and such?

[Mock1racer]

I tired to think about all that stuff too, then got to the point that I just wanted to build and quit trying to fit it all together in my head.
If you're running a 700+ HP engine, you'll need to run electric fuel pump and stainless braided line with the return being the same, what if you ran the lines IN the frame itself.
You probably need at least a 15 gallon tank, right?

[notchman]

I'm going to fit the biggest tank I can. I am definately thinking of running some of that stuff inside the fram rails. I may run the fuel and brake lines on the outside so that I know they're clamped and not rubbing against somthing.

Yes...I need to add:
Fire suppression
kill switch location (drag racing rules require it to be in the back with "push off")

Although, I am not going to race this car in any sanctioned events, the more safety I incorporate the better off I'll be anyway. Besides a kill switch in the back will make it look even meaner.

I also may mount the ac evaporator behind the seats to save on room under the dash. If I do this I will need to route the refrigerant lines to the compressor and condenser.

[V8 Super Beetle]

Apr 26, 2010 12:38:04 GMT -5 Mock1racer said:

Hahahahaha!!

hey, what about track safety stuff, like the kill switch, fire extinguisher, and such?

Driveshaft hoop...