Hi, just wrote a long PM to Blunt350, thought I should post it, as it contains some hard-learned lessons for a first time builder:
I had never touched a welder, tape measure or much else when I started this one.
just a couple of things I learned (and wish I did differently) when I built mine:
Jig everything up in the air, axles & engine, and build around it... I didn't, guess half my building time was to juggle engines and axles around and try to test them in the unfinished chassis...
Never start building before you have the axles and engine/gearboxes ready... I did, and had to redo a lot. Think long and hard all the way to the end, where will the water lines go, how do you attach the hoood, firewall, external skins, seats, brake pedals, steering column... try to be smart & tie up loose ends BEFORE you begin, like integrated dash into tube frame, where to put the pedals & steering. Leave lots of space for engine, radiator, batteries, & make a little bit of storage room in the rear... i miss a glove compartment or something to keep screws and little tools that will fall out if I put them anywhere inside the buggy...
* I know thinking of EVERYTHING in forehand is impossible, and you'll probably start bending tubes because you're sick of thinking and drawing - I did that too. But I think you'll save yourself from a lot of work by having axles & engine up in the air from the start.
On the things I am pretty happy with are these: Use an engine, gear box & transfer case that you have driven and feel good with. Find axles that you think are reallly cool, not just something that 'will do'. think hard & long about gearing, lockers, steering angle, brakes etc, don't skimp on those.
Eyeballing is (to my experience) much more accurate than measuring, especially when it comes to stuff being parallell. i have lots of examples where i measured 10 times in all directions and it seemed perfect, welded it, took three steps back and said 'wtf, this is all skewed'. threw away the tape measure and made it look right. when it looks right it is right, when it looks wrong it is wrong, or that was what I decided after a while.
I must say one thing - good tools is the key to good fun while building!! At least get a good MIG machine (better with an old pro model than brand new cheap & crappy) and an LCD helmet, those are the tools I am most happy with not skimping on.
Maybe the pros can give us even better tips, keep them coming.
I had never touched a welder, tape measure or much else when I started this one.
just a couple of things I learned (and wish I did differently) when I built mine:
Jig everything up in the air, axles & engine, and build around it... I didn't, guess half my building time was to juggle engines and axles around and try to test them in the unfinished chassis...
Never start building before you have the axles and engine/gearboxes ready... I did, and had to redo a lot. Think long and hard all the way to the end, where will the water lines go, how do you attach the hoood, firewall, external skins, seats, brake pedals, steering column... try to be smart & tie up loose ends BEFORE you begin, like integrated dash into tube frame, where to put the pedals & steering. Leave lots of space for engine, radiator, batteries, & make a little bit of storage room in the rear... i miss a glove compartment or something to keep screws and little tools that will fall out if I put them anywhere inside the buggy...
* I know thinking of EVERYTHING in forehand is impossible, and you'll probably start bending tubes because you're sick of thinking and drawing - I did that too. But I think you'll save yourself from a lot of work by having axles & engine up in the air from the start.
On the things I am pretty happy with are these: Use an engine, gear box & transfer case that you have driven and feel good with. Find axles that you think are reallly cool, not just something that 'will do'. think hard & long about gearing, lockers, steering angle, brakes etc, don't skimp on those.
Eyeballing is (to my experience) much more accurate than measuring, especially when it comes to stuff being parallell. i have lots of examples where i measured 10 times in all directions and it seemed perfect, welded it, took three steps back and said 'wtf, this is all skewed'. threw away the tape measure and made it look right. when it looks right it is right, when it looks wrong it is wrong, or that was what I decided after a while.
I must say one thing - good tools is the key to good fun while building!! At least get a good MIG machine (better with an old pro model than brand new cheap & crappy) and an LCD helmet, those are the tools I am most happy with not skimping on.
Maybe the pros can give us even better tips, keep them coming.
