427 Chassis, manhours

[Dominik]

Good day,

did anybody estimate the time needed to weld the original chassis including the birdcage with all brackets available, ready to weld?

Is 100 hours without jig realistic?

Kirkham would know...

Dominik

[mr bruce]

Once I have all the pieces cut and fitted, it takes me 2-3 ,8 hour days to mig weld an original style 3" round tube frame, allowing for cooling, answering the phone ,etc.

[Dominik]

Great! I was actually hoping for an answer from you. However that sounds like very little time. Are you using a jig for the chassis or partial jig for the suspension towers/pedestals?

You said 3" (289?).

Does your time include fabricating the birdcage (bend-to-fit to the body)?
Do you weld the drivetrain mounts according to the drawings or use engine/transmission to position those?

Dom

[mr bruce]

The front suspension tower is fabricated in a jig, along with the rear. they are sub-assemblys tacked but not fully welded untill placed into the main jig, checked for square/plumb. The motor/trans mounts are set by jig, tacked and checked before final welding, birdcage is bent to fixtures, then tacked to main frame in a jig. After everything is checked buy placing the body on the frame, then final welding begins, again, only takes 16-24 hours, depending on what other work , phone , visitors, etc, slo me down. I can't go any faster since you must allow for cooling between welding steps , or warpage becomes a problem.

[kris-kincaid]

I was going to say about 40-50 hours with decent jigs, so you should be able to do it 100 if you keep at it.

You should make some sort of jigs, even if it's out of plywood.

[alfy65]

I tig welded most of my frame and control arms..etc..making the temporary jigs and clamps I would guess about 80 hours and 4-5 tanks of argon so far..But it is all worth it when friends come by and compliment on the progress.

[Dominik]

Thanks guys!

So 100 hours should cover preparation of the tubes and some alignment of engine/transmission and differential.

The third car is actually runnnig. My buddy just has to swap the lines for front and rear brakes around... :-)

Even the door hinges work - what a mission! (But that would be another thread)

Dom

[mickmate]

Dom, go man go! One of the toughest parts to build in space (or off the chassis) I found was the front bumper mounts. Even a couple of jigs just for spacing things in one plane can be very helpful.

[Dominik]

Yes,

I welded 16mm threaded rods to the table, placed the bumper mount sleeves at the right height, the chassis end plates near me and welded sort of "downwards".

It helps if you have the radiator, because it sits really tight in there, especially at the bottom.
Chances are that it touches the thicker tubes before it sits on his brackets.
I think this frame alone takes 5 to 7hours to fabricate, cut, bend, grind, position, weld...
(Well, I am not a fabricator. So I do need longer)

Dom

[RON N BKFLD]

Any idea what the total cost of the frame, time and material?.....Ron

[mr bruce]

mine sell for $4k

[Dominik]

I would buy any day for $4000, if I was in the US.

Do you also offer tubular control arms?

Dom, South-Africa

[mr bruce]

yes, I have tubular control arms, front and rear.