Technical FRAME, basic frame fabrication condensed version

bolted the mount to the transmission
and bolted the tab to the mount

set a chunk of tube on the tab
with the ends cut to the proper angle
and made a pattern for the flanges

fabbed up four flanges out of 1/4" plate,
bolted them together with some 7/16" bolts
clamped it all to the table

and welded it all up

 

then trimmed the ends of the tubes to fit the rails

and clamped it to the mount tab

tacked the tube to both the frame and the tab

removed the center tube with tab attached
and welded it up

after it had cooled it was all bolted back together

and rolled outside for pictures

 

one month of a few hours here and there later...

and here it is for it's first rollout
suspension tacked and motor and transmission mounts in

 

today I made a new X member for the Model A frame I've been working on

I used 2-1/2 x 1-1/2 x .120 rectangle tubing
again probably over kill but I want this frame strong,
strong enough that I can count on it not flexing excessively
even if I put some real horse power to it

first is to lift the body off again,

it's been on and off a dozen times by now

here's the round tube from Pete and Jakes that will get replaced
and the new transmission mount that will get tied in to the new X member

the round tube gets replaced first,
so I layed out the rectangle piece that will replace it

 

then get busy and forget to pick up the camera till all the pieces are cut and tacked

I ran two straight legs back almost to the rear kick,
parallel with the ladders

and two pieces straight forward, parallel with the centerline of the frame
that angle out to the rails just behind the forward kick
this should leave enough room for clutch linkage
and provide a solid structure for the floor to attach to

below the straight legs I ran two short pieces verticaly to tie the transmission cross member to the X member

then cut the tabs from the Pete and Jake tube and tacked them to the new rectangle cross piece

 

and there it is,

all tacked together

and body set back on

 

one more view..

it is starting to look like a damn street rod

maybe the next one will be made out of all stock frame parts,
cut and modified to look like they came that way...

..at least all this structural iron will get covered up with Ford steel

 

fwiw;

this car will get an Ansen swing set on the firewall
with Chevy truck master and slave

 

minor adjustment to the center cross piece today

it was looking like a tight fit for the forward U joint
so I fabbed up a little bump and tacked 'er in

first took the same 2-1/2 x 1-1/2 x .120 material the rest of the X member was made of

and sliced it on the chop saw through three sides every half inch for six or so inches

then it gets pinched with a pipe clamp

welded solid

and ground smooth

 

then it gets trimmed

the cross member gets layed out for hacking

and the new section gets tacked in

 

that looks better,

should be just enough room to clear the joint

 

I decided on the Vega box
and found Art Morrison carries them
they are right nearby so an hour later
I have one.

I didn't take any pictures of the first step
but..

I figured the best spot to mount the box,

it takes three bolts
one will go through the frame rail
and two will attach to a bracket
mounted below the frame

I drilled a 3/4" hole through both sides of the frame rail
stuck a length of tube through the rail,
protruding 1/2" on the inside
and welded it, both inside and out

and bolted the box to the rail

if you stand in the right spot you can hardly see it

 

I heated both aftermarket steering arms
and pitman arm
and bent them to get everything where it needs to be

I want just enough clearance between the tie rod and wish bones
the drag link parallel with the tie rod
and none of it hanging down dangerously low..

you can see it needs a bracket to accept the two lower bolts

it gets layed it out on some 1/4" plate,
cut with the plasma cutter
cleaned up and
drilled
I also cut two 1/2" lengths of the same tube I stuck through the frame

which by the way was some left over F100 steering shaft
3/4 od and 7/16 id, perfect for the job
never throw anything away

 

bolted it to the box
and tacked it to the frame

 

the tab needs a brace

so I hacked a chunk of 2x tubing

and tacked it in place

 

Awesome thread. Thank you for the effort

 

Nice work. Thanks for the tutorial. You make it look easy.

 

Great workmanship! Well thought out and nicely done. Thank you for sharing.

Ray

 

Thanks, nice step by step, tapered rails look much better than straight.

 

I am so tempted to build a similar frame for my 30 pickup. Do you think .120 wall would be strong enough to attach the running board and fender braces to?
Thanks for the tech.
Terry aka dirt t

 

How much does the frame weigh.......It looks very stout!!!!!

 

That frame is looking good Paul.

.120 would be plenty strong. Just be sure to weld in tubing for any through bolts.

 

Thanks Sic.

 

I like your frame Paul, the best part you built it with basic tools that most of us have,good work. Frank

 

Fantastic thread! Simple, attractive, functional work. Subscribed!

 

Frameless Larry needs to see this

 

Very cool frame! How's the car holding up after nine years?

 

thanks but unfortunately this project sold before I could finish it

sold it to a guy who owns a body shop in Kingston.. or was it Keystone? WA last year..

anyway, this is what it looked like the day we loaded it onto the trailer

 

Paul, nice work on the frame. Very well thought out and executed.
I've referred back to this chassis fab thread many times over the years and will definitely be using some of your 'techniques' myself.
The use of 2 x 4 x 1/8" rectangular hollow section is much stronger than the good old original Henry chassis, and it needs to be with the torque produced by even a fairly bland SBC. Adding the double braced X-member adds further.
On another note, it's interesting that your thread was resurrected after 9 years. I sure am glad that it has remained on the board through all these years.
Thanks again for such an informative thread.
Cheers.

 

Excellent thread!

Thank you
Bobby