[brokedana35]

This project has been on my bucket list for some time now and I decided to pull the trigger this year and start.

My goal is to create a serious rock crawler that is street legal out of a C3 Corvette.

First thing first was to set up shop. I need a good hoist to lift the corvette body up. Expecting I will be lifting it up and down up and down many times.



Preview of progress - 08-11-18

 

[ky scrambled]

So the VetteKart with boggers?

 

[brokedana35]

Not sure about tires yet. This wont be a mud bogger 10ft tall. I am thinking to stuff ~37" Irocks on it and keep it as low as possible.

 

[cj8scrambld]

They were pretty low to start with.......

I see visions of the 80's all over again....

 

[_Stucky]

Well, let's see it.

 

[brokedana35]

Picked up some W4 beams and started the bridge crane in the shop. Plan is to clamp the runway beams to the ceiling joists by 1/2" threaded rods about 10" from the wall. Then run two beams on trolleys across as bridges. Each bridge will have two 1 ton chain hoists. I can then make a very controlled four point lift....gotta do the safety yellow thing.

View attachment 2088242

 

[brokedana35]

The shop crane is complete. Works OK. Should of built wider end trucks to keep the bridges rolling straight. But all in all I am happy with it.

And...the donor. It was an Ebay purchase. Not running, someone's unfinished project. Freshly rebuilt 350 w/ TPI. I am ready to start hacking this thing up. :grinpimp: Hope we don't have any corvette fans here.

 

[USSkoval]

If cutting it up makes those wheels go away, all will be fine.

 

[USSkoval]

Oh, and where the best place to buy trolleys like that?

 

[v6toy4x]

love the crane, what are you attached to in the cieiling? just the joist or more?

 

[sterlingfire]

Looks Like he's straddling the truss with atr and has a clamp type thing to capture the rods above the bottom cord with nuts. Hope it holds up to your needs. I thought about something similar to pick up a pickup cab, but am hoping to have a new shop with a lift by the time my next major build happens.

This looks like it might be a neat project. I'm curious to see how you accomplish a low lift and what you do for a frame. What type of suspension, give us some specifics on the build.

 

[brokedana35]

The trolley can be found on Ebay for about $40. I just welded some up for the end trucks. The runway is held up with two 1/2" rods and a flat bar clamping it to each 10" joist.

 

[Coverbuster]

I see a gravity surge in your future. I think some stiff legs on your runners would be a smart idea.

BUT, your house , your rules. Carry on.

 

[brokedana35]

The corvette chassis is not looking promising. It's super wide leaving no place for the four links to attach. The frame is in the door jam and my a$$ is lower then the frame when i am sitting it. Right now, I am leaning towards stretching my jeep chassis and selling the body and it's accessories. I put a lot of time into the axles and suspension and it has proven itself over and over. The TJ Mutt will transform into a C3 Mutt.

 

[brokedana35]

I see a gravity surge in your future. I think some stiff legs on your runners would be a smart idea.

BUT, your house , your rules. Carry on.

The runways are up against the wall support. It will be fine. I've done all the calcs.:smokin:

 

[cj8scrambld]

View attachment 2092514
:grinpimp: Hope we don't have any corvette fans here.
View attachment 2092522

That is NOT a Vette......for me personally Vettes ran from 1962-1967.....they then came back within the past 5years.....although I haven't paid much detailed attention to the recent years....I just know they are the "best bang for the $" performance wise....(compared to most, if not all, European/German offerings.....

.....So, hack away

 

[brokedana35]

Agree! 79's were a dime a dozen.

This guy should be ashamed.:shaking:

 

[the_white_shadow]

Didn't Monster Garage do this to a C3 way back in the day?

 

[brokedana35]

Yes. I did not see that episode but I believe this is the vette. It is one of the best I have seen. That is the stance I am aiming for.

 

[the_white_shadow]

Yes. I did not see that episode but I believe this is the vette. It is one of the best I have seen. That is the stance I am aiming for.
View attachment 2095986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxPeLRcgGXE