Got parts need advice!

[Chirp]

I've managed to find an old MAS body(YIKES), 2x3 tubing, donor rear, and a complete front end. I think I'm ready to start building the frame.
Question #1 Since I now realize I have to stretch the body 4-6 inches, and possibly widen a few inches. Should I just lengthen the frame a similar amount, and perhaps widen the rear also, or is there any wiggle room built into the CCR plans I am using. I plan on using a SBF with T5.
Q#2 I have a piece of 2 3/8 x .157 wall tubing is this adequate for the front crossmember.(Suicide Mount)
Q#3 Does anyone here reinforce the bodys with metal tubing instead of wood? I would really like to do 2 doors, Wouldn't tubing be better?
Thanks for the help!!

[Tbucit]

In my opinion if your going to work the body do that first then build the frame to suit the modified body.
I WOULD NOT use .157 tubing for the front crossmember.
Generally fiberglass bonds better to wood but some of the new adhevises will bond steel to anything.
I wood use wood pun intended.
Everything but the front crossmember could go either way but again use .250 for the cross member.

Randall

[Chirp]

Thanks for the info. I figured the tubing was undersized but I had to ask.
I guess I will title this chapter in my T build -"The Winging ,Fudging ,and Pondering Stage". Thanks again Bruce

[donsrods]

Randall's thinking is the same as mine, wood bonds better to glass and has the same compression/expansion rate so it tends to not crack out as easily.

We buy our front crossmembers from Total Performance. Price used to be $25, and their perch is made to fit right on it. It is the right size to put into a 3 inch thick frame too. I would buy it locally, but that size is hard to find, and they want you to take like 25 feet minimum.

Don

[Chirp]

Thanks guys It's wood and bigger tubing.

[Youngster]

If you are going to stretch the body, do that before you widen it. you might find that the stretch is all you need to do.

Before you start cutting the body, Measure the sides and the distance between the dash and the back of the body. Also cross measure the from the corners of the dash to the seams at the rear corners. if there is a difference in the sides, trim the bottom of the long side and then cross measure again. If there is a difference in the length or the cross measurement, you can fix that when you cut the body. I have used 4 of these bodies and this is the way I start to straighten the body. Let me know if you run into trouble, I can walk you through this.

To lengthen the body, if there is a difference in the length of the interior, cut it behind the door. I would take half of the stretch out there and the rest out by moving the firewall ahead.

For the front cross member use DOM tubing, not pipe. You can tell the difference between the two by measuring the piece. Tubing is measured by the outside diameter, pipe by the inside diameter. If you can't find the tubing, use Dons suggestion and order it from Total or Sprint.

I wouldn't open the drivers side door. That will really weaken the body.

Ron

[Chirp]

Thanks Youngster! Once the weather breaks I'll start the stretch, I'm trying to do the glass work outside.
My original plan was to have two doors,suicide them, and stretch the body out like a 27. That was the reason I wanted to run steel for body reinforcement.
But I'm scaling back to a cowl stretch, and going wth the wood reinorcement. Maybe my next one I'll take it up a notch, or just start with a 27. This is pretty cool I don't know why I waited so long to build one of these babies. Thanks Again!

[RPM]

Mine is stretched 8" and widened 6" and I have both doors open. I love it, you can stretch out and ride all day. Easy to get in and out of. Big boys need lots of room.

[Chirp]

I 've seen the big pic. of that car. NICE!!
Your car is what made me think of building a 2 door. That is why I was originally leaning towards steel body reinforcement.
Is that body stretched in the cowl and behind door?

You have a mach. shop? If I may ask how hard is it finding qualified machinist? There seems to be a rising demand for good people up here.
Just Curious.

Thanks Bruce

["The Bat" out of hell]

Some times as much as we wish to use what we got,it maybe time to see the balance of cost and time in getting a new body that is already what ya want for the build.