The Advantage of PVC tubing as a chassis material

[bearingburner]

We mocked up ur lakester chassis using 2X4 ripped in 1/2 . Like the idea of PVC much better. Learned some of our original thinking would not work . Wood was a lot cheaper than DOM.

[Joe Timney]

If you have never built a car before you might want to buy a set of SFI chassis specs. They will give you some ideas of tubing location relationships especially in the cage area. You will have to check against the SCTA/ECTA rules for tubing size and wall thickness. If you need any help, call me at the shop. Helping you build a safe car is important to me.

[racer x]

By disaster I meant that some resins, ie: polyester vs. epoxy, aren't compatible with some foams. That means with incompatible resins and foams the shape may end up quite different than intended.

Pete

O yes I do know what you mean now. I used 3M spray adhesive to hold two pieces together to form a block. When I came came back after drying I had a hollow box!

[salt27]

For making bends in PVC I use a propane weed burner.
It works well on schedule 40, not so much on schedule 20.
Tape the ends closed and it will heat more evenly, Just don't get in a hurry and scorch it.
When you get it in the desired shape use a wet rag to cool it down.

Don

[Glen]

pack it with sand, heat then bend. Old trick used for years before good mandrill benders. Don't forget to dump the sand.

[SlyOneJr]

Got a set of SFI 2.5B specs for a rear engine dragster and I have both of my Dads dragsters to kind of go by, also have the ECTA rulebook and an NHRA rulebook, so I think I might be OK, will know when I bring the chassis to Maxton to get it checked out if I did a good job. Like the idea of heating the PVC to get it to bend, hadn't thought about doing that, but it makes sense. Might just have to got get another 10' length from Home Depot and bend a few pieces and put a couple of hoops for the roll cage up too. The sand trick works also, used to do that to bend fuel lines and brake tubing before I got a handy dandy tubing bender for doing small lines. I really appreciate all of the advice that everyone is giving me, not to mention all of the good natured picking at that I am getting also. Was talking in the chat room last night about paint schemes, and I think I came up with an idea. Think I'm going to paint the chassis white and have someone come and letter the chassis so that it looks exactly like the PVC tubing I'm using. How's that? 

[salt27]

Think I'm going to paint the chassis white and have someone come and letter the chassis so that it looks exactly like the PVC tubing I'm using. How's that? 


Don't forget to have a little glue showing at the joints.

Don

[SlyOneJr]

But of course! That and the slight tinge of purple from the primer! 

[Dan Stokes]

If you mock the body up in foam, don't forget to wash it down with gasoline!  It'll lighten the whole deal (it will disappear!).  Easy way to get rid of foam cups, I've found.  Not so good for holding gas to prime a new engine, however.

Dan

[Dean Los Angeles]

Gorilla Glue bonds just about any foam.

[LittleLiner]

If you mock the body up in foam, don't forget to wash it down with gasoline!  It'll lighten the whole deal (it will disappear!).  Easy way to get rid of foam cups, I've found.  Not so good for holding gas to prime a new engine, however.
Dan

Do Not Try This At Home Kids!!!  Uncle Dan occasionally forgets his meds.

[Dan Stokes]

I actually tried the "priming gas in the foam cup" deal.  Shortly after foam cups became common and none of us guys knew a darn thing about foam.  The gas fell out before I could get it to the carb.  It was "back up and punt" time.

As those who know me know, I'm NEVER without my meds, and plenty of 'em.  None, however, are mind-altering, which is the problem.

Dan

[relaxedphit]

Dan, you don't need to alter your mind. As for me, I've always felt that a terrible mind is a thing to waste.

[racer x]

If it was not for the voices in my head .I would never have any good ideas.

[SlyOneJr]

After having a cousin of mine working at a waste treatment plant (which he said was a Subaru job...), we came up with:

Waste is a terrible thing to mind...

Jeff