Tube and box metal chassis question.

Does anyone know of a tube or box metal chassis made for the Speedster (or VW) that's currently available? I know that the manufacturers offer it as an option, but do they sell it as a separate item? Any one else sell or manufacturer them?

Looking around right now for a possible project car and I want to place a custom chassis under it. I don't mind assembling one and welding the components, just don't want to design, cut, weld, fabricate my own.

Even a beginning or partial set-up would be a help.

Lemme know, would ya?

Thanks!

FP

TC, your best bet for something cost-effective would be a dune buggy. Somebody's old, beat-to-snot car; the mechanicals don't matter to you, and all you'd really have to do is cut a measured length out of the tubes. Cut some at the front, some at the back, weld it back together and presto.
They're all mostly VW-based anyway, and all you're really going to have to do is figure out the center-wheel-well to center-wheel-well distance, compare it to the chassis, and then cut the difference out of the tubing.
As you say, Easy-Peasy. And not all that expensive.
If a new chassis is important, and I don't guess it is, knowing your talents, you could order one in pieces from any outfit in the back of a Hot VWs.

I've already picked up a VW sand rail chassis, but it's really no good for what I'm planing. I need pretty much a chassis with a 2x2 or 2x4 box member perimeter frame, mounts for the front (ball joint) beam and rear torsion housing attached (or cut gussets where the torsion housing can be welded in place), I'm looking for a four tube "spine" with 1x1 outriggers running to the outer frame edges to fasten aluminum floor pan panels to.

You know what I mean. All proprietary, with only the VW swing axle rear torsion housing attached. Just don't want to have to fabricate it myself if I can find a reasonable something for sale to work with.

By the way, those sand rail tube frames would be kinda neat for a flip body closed car, but their WAY too busy with tubing and brackets and such for anything driven daily by a 250 pound slug like me . . .

I saw some thing at Carlisle.....Looked dimensionaly like a VW pan, but was obviously "scratch" built....I'll see what I can dig up on it....

Be careful about some of those. Carey Hines one did some work on someone's car that had one of those, and he was shocked at how thin-walled the frame tubes were.

All I can tell you is that the rolling pan I saw was in the "Dune Buggy" show area....Short and standard wheelbase units....As I did not recieve a list of the vendors present, I can't pen it down for you....Sorry...Not sure of tubing wall guage used either...

Used to see a few in the old VW mags. What about posting a "wanted" ad on TheSamba and see what comes of it? Must be some folks out there with infinished projects just hanging about.

I have seen this guys work. What I saw was excellent, your mileage may vary

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=291681

He will make a chassis about anyway you want and his prices are not completely out of sight.....

No association with them....just liked his work....

Thanks all and especially Jim! That's exactly what I'm looking for ! ! !

Just got to see if there isn't one (or something like it) within pick-up distance, or if he has a distributor or whatever. The price for the chassis is right in line, but shipping it will kill me.

Thanks a TON,

FP

I met David at the Sacramento Bugorama a couple of weeks ago. Saw some of his products and chatted for at least a half hour:: Very smart guy who has been a reader of this forum for years.
Cheers!
http://www.manxchassis.com/

FP

I know where there is a bare 2004 Thunder Ranch tube chassis sitting outside....has the Beetle rear suspension tube welded on and a saddle for an axle beam ` Alan

TC, you've already seen Dave Barrets chassis on the left coast and he makes a drive to the middle of the country to deliver chassis a couple times/yr.

Also look at Berrien buggy, they have an 80 in WB chassis with fiberglass tub for regular (short) buggies, not sure if they do a full length chassis or other sizes?

Dave Barrett on the Samba can probably do any length.

Boston Bob E

Alan,

Do you know if this chassis for sale? Could you check into it for me, maybe forward the owners info to me if you know it? This just might be something that I can work with. THANKS ! ! !

FP

I'll ask and get back to you , depends on how fast I get an email response, it may be as soon as tomorrow pm Alan

Tom:

I'm in Grafton, MA, and have my trailer up here with me if you're looking for a road trip within reason (out and back in a long day).

gn

Thank you Gordon,

As soon as I have a plan, I'll let you know. Might take you up on the offer. I've gone to Carlisle and back in a single day, that might almost be the limit though. Maybe a bit farther, but not much I suspect.


FP

I made an inquiry should hear back by the weekend.... it's located close to the Pocono Raceway. ~Alan

Alan,

I heard back from your friend with the chassis, he sent a pic and is sending more. It might work as a basis for what I need. I guess that it was built by someone at Thunder Road at one time for a project that never got off of the ground. Kind of amateur by today's standards (does ANYONE use angle iron any more?!?!) but looks like a beginning point none the less.

I'll let you know how it works out, and thanks SO much ! ! ! !


FP