Laying out a Frame
- Thread starter Studebucket
- Start date
jeffery
New Member
Wheelbase is the center of the wheels and the frame is longer right? So then the thing i am looking at is the frame and not the wheelbase. However the rear end is setting under the pickup bed and the front end it out in the front of the frame. Thats where i am just not getting it at all. The design pland i have seem to me to be SOOOOO short to me its hard for me to see any room for a 350 and the tranny and omg wheres the drive shaft at? Sorry if this sounds like im and idiot but my god there is nothing to the frame.2 ten foot sections for the side rails and a pipe for the front and another 28 inches for the rear to complete the frame.right?fluidfloyd said:
Thanks guy you are a wealth of knowledge and greatly appreciated for all your information.
HAcet your frame looks longer than 105 ro me in the picture.....
i understand where this could be confusing for you. let's try some real life measurements, maybe that will help. this is a typical frame for my t's starting at the front axle.
front axle...2"
space between axle and front spring...1 1/4"
front spring...1 3/4"
spring to front xmember... 1 1/4"
front xmember...2"
front xmember to rad...1"
radiator...4"
electric fan...4"
space between fan and water pump...1"
sbc-water pump to back of the right head...27 1/2"
head to firewall...2"
'23 body...45"
6" kick at 60 degrees...3 1/2"
kick to rear xmember- 20" box...8"
that totals 103.75"or a 103.75 wheelbase. this is with the front spring behind the axle. if the spring is mounted over the axle the wheelbase would be 97.5"
most of the front tires we run are 27" tall. the rears run from 29" to31". taking half of the two tire diameters will give you 28.5". add that to the wheelbase and you have a total length of 132.25".
there are several things that will change the wheelbase but these measurement are just an example.
Ron
front axle...2"
space between axle and front spring...1 1/4"
front spring...1 3/4"
spring to front xmember... 1 1/4"
front xmember...2"
front xmember to rad...1"
radiator...4"
electric fan...4"
space between fan and water pump...1"
sbc-water pump to back of the right head...27 1/2"
head to firewall...2"
'23 body...45"
6" kick at 60 degrees...3 1/2"
kick to rear xmember- 20" box...8"
that totals 103.75"or a 103.75 wheelbase. this is with the front spring behind the axle. if the spring is mounted over the axle the wheelbase would be 97.5"
most of the front tires we run are 27" tall. the rears run from 29" to31". taking half of the two tire diameters will give you 28.5". add that to the wheelbase and you have a total length of 132.25".
there are several things that will change the wheelbase but these measurement are just an example.
Ron
Ted Brown
Member
Well my T bucket has a 95 1/2" wheelbase, it will take either a small block, which it now has, or a big Block Chevy which I ran for many years, and or a 401 nail head Buick engine, which I also ran for many years, and all the different auto trannies... My T will fit into a tight 10' 3 1/2" box, 6' 5" wide in the rear (15" wide rims)... So, you have a longer frame than I do... Don't worry, it all will fit with room to spare...
fluidfloyd
Active Member
jeffery; Wheelbase is the center of the wheels and the frame is longer right? So then the thing i am looking at is the frame and not the wheelbase.
Jeffery,
You are correct as to wheelbase centerlines. The frame usually is longer depending on how much you extend it past the wheel centerlines. The front half of the car is usually set by front axle, radiator and engine choice. The center of the car is set by body selection. And the rear section is usually determined by how far back from the body that you want to tuck in the wheels. Some like to tuck them up close to the body and run short beds, decks or just an exposed fuel tank. Other like to move the rear wheels back a bit more giving the car a longer visual effect. Simply a matter of personal choice. You can also stretch the front out a bit and make the front very light and racey looking. All in all it is simply how you want to balance the appearance of the car. Lots of choices and probably all good. Have fun.
George
Jeffery,
You are correct as to wheelbase centerlines. The frame usually is longer depending on how much you extend it past the wheel centerlines. The front half of the car is usually set by front axle, radiator and engine choice. The center of the car is set by body selection. And the rear section is usually determined by how far back from the body that you want to tuck in the wheels. Some like to tuck them up close to the body and run short beds, decks or just an exposed fuel tank. Other like to move the rear wheels back a bit more giving the car a longer visual effect. Simply a matter of personal choice. You can also stretch the front out a bit and make the front very light and racey looking. All in all it is simply how you want to balance the appearance of the car. Lots of choices and probably all good. Have fun.
George
jeffery
New Member
Youngster, Thank you so much and now i can continue on with the build of the frame. YES YES YES!!!!!!! LOL But seriously is it important to have the old style rear buggy spring on the rearend or can i go with the half leafs on each side to get better ride? When my Father had his 1937 ford pickup truck with a flathead V8 it had the buggy style and seemed to roll side to side on turns. Also is there any chance or need to have to install wheelie bars to the back to keep from roll over? Again thanks you guys are a lot of help!!
Similar threads
