Best easy to find junkyard chassis

[jpswino]

Thanks again guys. Pics surely help in seeing what yall mean. I 've got to go over to that thread you are talking about and check it out. I'm surprised I haven't found it yet. Since I started this thread I've scoured the site well looking for stuff like that.

I knew you guys had some more ideas. One of these ideas is bound to work for us.

One question I do have, what method do you use to keep it all straight? Especially when making those frontends that are cut and then replaced further forward? We use a frame jig for bikes when we cut things loose from the frame in order to line it all back up to preserve ride quality. Is this not as important in a car? I would think it is. Are everyone of yall frontend alignment specialists? I am familiar with toe in/out, camber ....etc.

 

[goose-em]

Much of it is just trial and error over the years until you learn how to do it.
I would bet that everyone on here has a unique technique when it comes to setting up a chassis, learned by experience. There are a lot of good tech articles here that can help.

I like Don's advice on finding a running chassis, they are out there you just need to look.

My wife wanted an early 50's car, and as I am in the middle of a build from scratch and limited on garage space, I located a running 54 chevy for her.

This car is all original and running, paid $2200.00 for it. It runs a drives great, paint is okay and interior only has a few issues, issues you would expect from a car that old.

 

[amos moses]

jpswino,these guys have gave good advice but I will add one more thing. Do something quick! A few years back I had just gotten a 40 ford convertable to the test driving stage and went by my dads house. He wanted to go for a ride so we cruzed all day. At one stop my friends wife snapped some pictures as we were leaving. My dad passed away the next week and I wouldnt trade those pictures for all the hotrods in the world!!

 

[jpswino]

I hear ya man! You are the first person to say you understand my need for speed! I appreciate your understanding sir.

I really would like to find a way for something a tad older than a big bodied 50's car. That would be ideal, but hey we'll see. I really have my mind set (right now anyways) on an older car with four open wheels. Even if I need to cobble something together, I'll do it. Although a 50's car would be cool, it's not what my Dad recognizes as old since 50's cars were new when he was a kid. My goal is a 30's body or 40's as a second choice. I've got my fingers crossed.

I'm still hoping some Michigan guy will see this and have a roller for sale. I've got an old trailer that could probably haul a chassis from somewhere local.

Once I know I've got a roller I can get the whole damn thing put together. Making a body work to the chassis may not be the best way to go, but for this application will probably be the way. It may not be cool to anyone else, but my Dad and I will be loving it riding around town no matter.

I can fix/change whatever next winter should there be a need.

 

[Sam_Fear]

No matter what, I think you need to find that body first. After that, pretty much any old frame will do for awhile at least. Even if its a 80's IFS frame that sticks out to far in the wrong places - make it work and drive it! It might start out ugly, but make it better as you go. If it means dumping the whole thing on a different frame a year from now - so what? You said you can fabricate. Just have a good idea of where you want to end up with it and consider the rest intermediate/temporary steps to that end.

Sure it may be more work in the end, but they're more fun driving down the street than in pieces in your garage.

 

[hotrod preacher]

let me throw out another option......are you setting down?

how about a T-bucket kit?
you have a motor and trans.......they can supply a jig-welded frame(pretty reasonable) and all of the neccesary components and the "little stuff" you can scrounge from salvage ......and it would be fairly quick to build....compared to building a rat from scratch anyway......

RPM on here is a T-bucket guy, also there's a place called Spirit industries that sells t components, frames or complete do-it-yourself- kits

as far as i'm concerned the j.y. frames may be affordable or even dirt cheap--but you can't really expect to build a frame w/o knowing anything about the body that'd be going on it--it may work that way with bikes(frame 1st) but on cars its a more complicated ordeal....

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

The Devil agrees with YOU on this one preacher. Haha... [ddd

Very good idea, and nowhere NEAR as ugly or possibly unsafe as some "cobbled together" mess...

 

[kelseydum]

When I added the suicide front crossmember I just left the original crossmember in place until I had the new one welded in then cut it out... that way nothing moves.

My father-in-law has a jig set up and is selling 33-34 Ford frames and complete chassis. They are awesome frames but not the cheapest. They can sell the bre frame or a complete rolling chassis. I can find out a price, but my main point is it only took them about 3 days (working only at night) to build the jig. Good thing is you only have to build it once... then modify it for your next frame if it's different.

 

[PA41]

No matter what, I think you need to find that body first. After that, pretty much any old frame will do for awhile at least. Even if its a 80's IFS frame that sticks out to far in the wrong places - make it work and drive it! It might start out ugly, but make it better as you go. If it means dumping the whole thing on a different frame a year from now - so what? You said you can fabricate. Just have a good idea of where you want to end up with it and consider the rest intermediate/temporary steps to that end.

Sure it may be more work in the end, but they're more fun driving down the street than in pieces in your garage.

I'm agreeing with Sam--Do what ya can--use what ya got and keep rubbing on it. You might find yourself polishing a turd, or it might turn into something.

I'm pretty bad about liking anything though--'No Culls' kinda guy. In other words I ain't got no 'taste'.. & I'm all about havin a good time.. (I'm the same way with girls and food)..

Ya gotta start somewhere--as long as ya start..

PA41

 

[jpswino]

Well PA41, maybe I can increase your interest in food.
How is this?

 

[jpswino]

Talked to my Dad last night at their house while celebrating NYE.
I am gonna look for one of those D50 frames.
Thanks, all of you guys who helped me make some decisions. We'll see if we can put one of these on the road. During the summer I'll try to acquire a straight axle rig that we can fab into the build next winter. I guess its IFS for the first season!?!? It will still be fun...

OKAY.......who has a 30's sedan or 40's delivery to part with?

 

[riverrat44]

I hear ya man! You are the first person to say you understand my need for speed! I appreciate your understanding sir.

I really would like to find a way for something a tad older than a big bodied 50's car. That would be ideal, but hey we'll see. I really have my mind set (right now anyways) on an older car with four open wheels. Even if I need to cobble something together, I'll do it. Although a 50's car would be cool, it's not what my Dad recognizes as old since 50's cars were new when he was a kid. My goal is a 30's body or 40's as a second choice. I've got my fingers crossed.

I'm still hoping some Michigan guy will see this and have a roller for sale. I've got an old trailer that could probably haul a chassis from somewhere local.

Once I know I've got a roller I can get the whole damn thing put together. Making a body work to the chassis may not be the best way to go, but for this application will probably be the way. It may not be cool to anyone else, but my Dad and I will be loving it riding around town no matter.

I can fix/change whatever next winter should there be a need.

My 2cents..... I'm building a 49 chev fleetline on an 88 S-10 frame. Other than cutting out all the old floorpan and making body mounts, it isn't a hard swap.
I'm using 2inch offset wheels in the rear to clear the inner wheelwells. Mounted a tilt column from a cutlass. I've got about 500 bucks invested so far. As I didn't modify the frame, it will ride at full height, with all the geometry unaltered, the body is channeled about 4inches. I intend to start a new thread on this car soon as the weather warms up, and I get it back in the garage.....

 

[jpswino]

Sounds good. Got any pics to share right now?

 

[PA41]

Well PA41, maybe I can increase your interest in food.
How is this?


HAAAA--MMMMMMM FOOOOD!!

I Like the meat shots --especially the thick cut bacon on a pile of Shrooms!!!

If you do that for a livin, ya need to incorporate it somehow in your build. Pork Chop shifter or Bacon wrapped tail lights, build in a BBQ grill or waffle iron exhaust manifold--er sumthin?.. If nuthin else-it'd be a tax write off...

It ain't hard to convince a fat ole redneck bubba that food is art..

PA41

 

[jpswino]

ahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha

Wait a minute! I don't want to be confused with Orange County Choppers!