1,5 days and four tubes. That seems to be better than last time, full day and only one tube. Now at least the body can be lifted off as all the main tubes are fitted. We still have to fit the rear end tubes and then the chassis is ready to be taken to the welders. They will fit the rest of the tubes.

This is much slower process than I would have thought but there is no deadline for this project. At least the "original" UB-52 is ready for NNC Street Slide without modifications from last year.

A bit different way to route the tubes to front axle. As I wanted to save all the original sheet metal under the hood there were not much alternatives.

Alex sent me a pic of the final design for the rear suspension. There is no change at all in toe in with 77mm up-and-down movement. I think we're getting somewhere with all this. And great service from Alex, there's no way this could have be done without simulation.

20+ hrs of work and this is where we're at. Seems to be a slow process but now the main chassis is ready to be welded and then I hope we can move on to back half. A lot of tubes are still missing as I want to build the floor to SFI 25.4 specs but they will be added after the body is off.

The framehead is only used as a jig to locate front axle. It will be removed.

Any takers?

Treasure hunting

Sippo did some treasure hunting and found a stash of original fenders from different years. I got a set of original 1952's in need of some tlc for the tube frame. All in all they are not so bad and definitely doable. Maybe I could live with repro fenders but as there are originals available, I'd better use them.

OK, I finally decided what to do with the new body. As it was so rotten I figured that I do not have the energy to even try to save it. After all, both heater channels, front- and rear valances, rear quarters etc needs replacement. For a real homegrown tube chassis it doesn't need to be perfect, just well made. And now I can avoid using NOS panels.

Even the cross panel was so rusty it needed replacement. This way everything is easier.

Front beam is 5" higher than standard, no need for dropped spindles.



A bit better picture of how the rear end should look like. Chassis dimensions are based on RLR back half (or full tube chassis) so this can be used to convert them to IRS.

Sneak peek about what is to come. Improved rear suspension using off the shelf components like hubs, calipers, discs, 930 stub axles. Fully adjustable and virtually no change in toe-in and minimal change in camber througout the suspension travel.

Paradise Motorsport makes similar system and at least one of their built cars has managed  to run faster than norwegian pan car with Vw suspension so it can't be bad...