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Metalcraft Chassis Specs

FM Former Member
I'm in the process of bring a neglected 356 back to life. Information on the car is as follows. The car was built in 1990 and I'm trying to get information on the chassis that was built by Metalcraft who I belive at the time was in Romulus, Michigan. I have a hand written note with the name Bob Sweet and a non working phone number. All I have is a faded fax. Any help would be appreciated.

Jim Heaney
301 229 5229

Kit make Classic Motor Carriages
Model Speedster -- later changed to Convertible D/Cabriolet, taller windshield, a new top and rollup windows were added at a later time. (need side glass to replace cracked glass)
Color White
Interior Black vinyl, black carpet
Chassis Metalcraft 356 speedster chassis (I need more information on the specs the information I have is a faded fax that is 15 years old)
Engine 2 Litre 123hp -- VW engine reworked (need to get all the details) Mini Performance 419 476 3300 ?
Transmission For speed a rhino case rear mount IRS
Brakes 11 inch disc front and rear (Tol-o-Matic part # 07201024)
Emergency brake This has never worked well
Wheels Chrome 15 x 6 (pitted and may be replaced)
Tires P195 SR60/15
Options Moon hubcaps, leather steering wheel, AM, FM and cassette removable radio, -- grab handle, inside and outside mirrors, heater and defroster, Porsche style gauges by VDO, bumper guards and tonneau cover that needs snaps
Assembled by Custom Roadsters in 1990
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FM Former Member
I'm in the process of bring a neglected 356 back to life. Information on the car is as follows. The car was built in 1990 and I'm trying to get information on the chassis that was built by Metalcraft who I belive at the time was in Romulus, Michigan. I have a hand written note with the name Bob Sweet and a non working phone number. All I have is a faded fax. Any help would be appreciated.

Jim Heaney
301 229 5229

Kit make Classic Motor Carriages
Model Speedster -- later changed to Convertible D/Cabriolet, taller windshield, a new top and rollup windows were added at a later time. (need side glass to replace cracked glass)
Color White
Interior Black vinyl, black carpet
Chassis Metalcraft 356 speedster chassis (I need more information on the specs the information I have is a faded fax that is 15 years old)
Engine 2 Litre 123hp -- VW engine reworked (need to get all the details) Mini Performance 419 476 3300 ?
Transmission For speed a rhino case rear mount IRS
Brakes 11 inch disc front and rear (Tol-o-Matic part # 07201024)
Emergency brake This has never worked well
Wheels Chrome 15 x 6 (pitted and may be replaced)
Tires P195 SR60/15
Options Moon hubcaps, leather steering wheel, AM, FM and cassette removable radio, -- grab handle, inside and outside mirrors, heater and defroster, Porsche style gauges by VDO, bumper guards and tonneau cover that needs snaps
Assembled by Custom Roadsters in 1990
RLFishRLFish Supporting Member
I recntly purchased a partially built CMC with a MetalCraft chassis. I believe it was purchased around 93. I have the brochure and receipts but no other documentation. The company's name was MetalCraft and their brochure says that they built chassis for a number of different applications in addition to Speedsters. The previous owner had them mount the body, engine and shorten and install the steering column.

In crawling around under the car I can see places just in front of the engine bay where metal had been cut off and the cradle for the VW engine was installed. The cut pieces weren't repainted so that's someting I have to touch up.
P Proto57
Hello guys.
I too have a Metalcraft chassis. I actually researched and visited the Metalcraft shop in the late 80's with my father. We planned on building a Speedster together and liked the strength and adjustability of the chassis. I remember walking up to a rolling chassis and actully lifting it off the ground in the front!!

As it turns out, we found a completed car for sale with the exact chassis and purchased it instead. My father ended up footing the bill and basically drove it exclusively. He put about 3,000 miles on it (1,200 on it when purchased) from 1991-2001, which is when I purchased it from him. It was professionally assembled (by Metalcraft, I think??) and hadn't been messed with much since he started driving it. Every time I took it, I would tweek something here of there and return it running better that it left.

Since I bought it in 2001, I have put over 12,000 miles on it and I have pretty much gone over every aspect of the car, and found many shortcuts were taken, etc. I am not a certified mechanic, but have always done my own servicing and adjustments on all my vehicles. I could probably offer some valuable insights into the workings of the chassis.

Feel free to contact me.

Craig Smith
Detroit area.
proto@utechniques.com
RLFishRLFish Supporting Member
Jim,

I don't know what the rear brakes are that you refer to but my Metalcraft chassis has the same calipers on the front and back and there is have a device that holds the pressure in the back brakes as an E brake. I can't imagine that I can pass NYS inspection with this so I cut off the rear caliper brackets (welded on) and purchased a rear brake kit with E brake from cip1. I tried to find a caliper that would fit the original bracket and had an E brake but was unsuccessful.
O oldsaltydog
James, Metalcraft Products is no longer in business...that I can find. I picked up my chassis on 7/9/90 and Bob SweAt was the president and chief designer. The chassis was $3875 and included rack and pinion steering, a hydraulic lock parking brake, 4 speed shifter and special 11" rear disc brakes. The rear hubs are Mercedes and the fronts are VW and bothe have Porsche 914 type 3 brakes. Bob assembled Speedsters on his chassis with a variety of engines, but he shipped a lot to Hong Kong with Mazda rotary engines where they commanded a premium price. He advertised at the time that over 60 kit bodies would fit his chassis. I personally feel it was a well built chassis.
P Proto57
Hi guys,

John, I replied to your email a couple weeks ago. I have since looked through my Speedster info "box". I scanned and saved the original build binder in a PDF format. I can forward to you via email. I don't have any info on the MC Chassis other than my personal experiences of fixing and adjusting over the years. I have replaced worn and broken spherical rod-ends and brake pads, cables, bushings, etc. Regarding the bumpers, they were only attached to the Body with fasteners and spacers. I have taken the bumpers off and plan to do the Outlaw Nerf Bar install. This will necessitate fabricating brackets, etc. The build manual has the instructions for what I believe to be the bumper install for a pan-based vehicle. I can forward those 3 pages very easily if you'd like.

As I type I am remebering another area in the barn that may have some MC Chassis stuff. I will keep you posted.

Craig Smith
Clarkston, MI
proto AT utechniques.com
O oldsaltydog
Craig, thanks for the help. The bumper brackets and CMC instructions I have are for a VW pan based chassis and I've been curious if they will attach to a Metalcraft chassis...hence the request to the three M/C chassis owners here for any pics they may have of the bracket attachments. Like you, I agree it would be useless to attach to the fiberglass body only. It's hard to imagine someone would do that, even though I can imagine their frustration sometimes.

Ricardo, I've seen you on Chevy Talk. We apparently have similar interests in cars. I'll send you a pic of my '59.

john
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