I have been to EM a few times in the past and I plan on it this year too. In the past its just been to spectate but this year I'm taking notes. Hopefully I will get the chance to meet a few of you there.
DW... I do have a rule book but somehow I missed that, thanks for pointing it out. Its been a while since I carefully read through it and apparently I need to do it again.
As an engineer I am well aware of the importance of planning. I don't intend to cut or weld anything until I have finished my cad work and an initial mock up. I have been spending hours out there looking, measuring, and trying different ideas. At first the tank looked huge, almost hard to fill. Now its starting to seem like everything will barely fit. Im sure by the end Ill be lucky to squeeze it all in, something like 10 gallons of "stuff" in a 5 gallon bucket. I built a temporary mock up table and I'm currently playing with layout. Im leaning toward a space frame with four main longitudinal members supported by transverse hoops to maximize the interior space, but its still unclear how it will work. I have no plans to stretch the tank but I did have a notion to make it sectional, as Dr Goggles suggested, if I can pull it off. BTW I, like Dr Goggles, subscribe to the keep it low philosophy. I want to keep the Cg low so I intend to keep the axles on the body center line and cut the bottom. I have access to CFD programs at USC so once I get a wire frame worked up Ill have some grad students run it through the program.
I know it may seem strange to want to build something like this at my age Nathan, but I think I may be a bit unusual. My newest car is a 1965 dodge and I always appreciated the simplicity in the design and engineering of classics. I would rather dump 50 grand into a classic than go out and buy a new car for the same amount. Besides there is a certain pride in knowing every nut, bolt, clip, and span of metal in the car you drive. Also... chicks dig fast old cars.
James