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Anyone built a rotisserie?

89GLH

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Joined
Mar 24, 2011
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1,057
Location
Westminster, MD
I have a project car I need to replace floors on, among other things. Has anyone built one (or have one I can borrow for a bit)?
 
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GCncsuHD

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Aug 19, 2013
Messages
968
Location
Salisbury, NC
My father in law built this one

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OP
8

89GLH

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
1,057
Location
Westminster, MD
WOW. In doing alittle more research I see the unibody folks worry about flexing... I han't thought of that - might have to rethink the design a bit
 

rsanter

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Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,523
Location
visalia ca
I built my own about 18 years ago. Have had several cars on it with no problems.
Used mostly for unibody cars....the cars that are the problem are the rust buckets and those need to be braced before you can do any real cutting on them

Bob
 

toolman1967

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
426
Location
Benton Illinois
I built mine with 2 CL used engine stands.I used Unistrut (the perforated metal tubing in the Electrical Isle that hold conduit to walls) for the connecting pieces. The evenly spaced holes in the metal make it infinitely adjustable. It was CHEAP and adjustable and saved me hours in fab time.

Tim the Toolman
 

E.rodz

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Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
2,435
Location
st.paul MN.
Here is the one that I built years ago.A friend gave me the plans that he found on the internet I modified it to work better for me but I had everything besides the rams works awesome ! if you would like the plans I still have the contact info on who made the drawings.



 

Vegaman_Dan

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Joined
Jun 1, 2012
Messages
2,453
Location
Pacific, WA
I've built them before, and engine stands are a good starting point. The stands are too short to allow full rotation unless you extend the vertical mast, and at that point, you could add a long ram jack ($50 on average) to each one with a telescoping mast to give you more height.

Mostly the biggest things to consider are extended legs to the sides for better lateral stability- these need not be permanent and can simply be bolted on outriggers to the existing stands.

Tying the stands together with a stringer helps greatly if you have to move the unit around at all.

Reinforcing the vehicle's door jamb with a piece of steel angle iron will maintain the body structure without doors in place- this is very important for convertibles.

I'll build another one soon, but I want to make sure it can break down for storage.
 

460Rustang

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Joined
Oct 9, 2013
Messages
208
Location
Nawlins
I have a project car I need to replace floors on, among other things. Has anyone built one (or have one I can borrow for a bit)?

I built my for about $300,...no frills. Check out my build thread below around page 8 or 9, PM me with any questions.
 

bwane

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Aug 24, 2013
Messages
178
how do you find the center of the weight so that you can roll it over without worrying that it may be top heavy?
 

liquidh8

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Joined
Sep 19, 2013
Messages
119
Location
Shippensburg, PA
I'll be building one soon. I already purchased the 2 engine hoists and the extra square tubing for the build. I'll start a thread here soon.
 

Topstrap1

Active member
Joined
Oct 11, 2013
Messages
33
Location
East OH
Built this one out of scrap I had lying around and a few purchased pieces. Wish I had taken time to add bearings to the pivot but will redo that when this project is finished. Just wanted to get something done to get the car on it and get started. Did make it so I could dissemble it and stack it up against the wall, they take up a LOT of room when put together.

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Here is the way I made my balancer to center up the car to find the center of gravity.

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First time trying it out.


Topstrap
 
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liquidh8

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Joined
Sep 19, 2013
Messages
119
Location
Shippensburg, PA
I really need to incorporate that balancer rod, I didn't think of it at first, but hell, since I am building it, might as well add it.
 

larry4406

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Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
19,576
Location
Northern Virginia
Larry, the balance idea seems to be the way to go! :bowdown:

Thank you for the compliments. The build was a lot of fun.

The balance idea is not completely mine, but I did come up with my own way to implement it. I think this feature should not be omitted.

I made mine using bronze flanged bushings and hardened washers that I got at Tractor Supply in the hardware isle. I also got coupling nuts and high strength threaded rod from Fastenal.

The bushings are on both sides of the T-arm. Hardened bushing washers mate with the bushings. Then there are jam nuts to control the slop in this "thrust" bushing arrangement. A little dab of grease applied to the mating surfaces. I think I set the jamb nuts so that there is about 1/16" total thrust.

Coupling nut welded to the arbor while the other nut at the T-arm is welded to the all thread. Pneumatic wrench and socket allows you to tune it for the getting the center of gravity on the axis of rotation. I did have to modify my body attachment brackets as I ran out of adjustment length on the all thread.

Hope these extra pictures explain better.
 

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liquidh8

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Sep 19, 2013
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119
Location
Shippensburg, PA
Larry, those extra pics are great! I was originally going to omit that feature, but then after thinking about how many cars I have slated for this tool, I figured I had better implement it.
 

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Here is the one that I built years ago.A friend gave me the plans that he found on the internet I modified it to work better for me but I had everything besides the rams works awesome ! if you would like the plans I still have the contact info on who made the drawings.




E.Rodz.....at times you shouldn't be allowed to play in the same sandbox as the other kids :lol_hitti

Everyone is showing basic rotisseries and you come to play with this high tech, ultra modern, hydraulics and handles everywhere rotisserie that was probably built to rotate portions of the Space Station.

With all of you painting and such in your garage, and all the other secret stuff going on, are you sure you're only working on cars, or are we going to see that whole garage lifting off out of the yard sometime in the future. :lol_hitti:lol_hitti

j/k. That is a fantastic looking rotisserie, and coming from your garage, we'd expect no less anyways. :thumbup::thumbup:
 

sixleaker

Active member
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
41
Location
Chico, CA
I built mine to come apart when in between projects. Always wanted one but like an engine hoist they always seemed like a pain in the rear to store. Should slove the problem
une3emu4.jpg
a5uvuta7.jpg
adadegam.jpg


Even used some engine stands to build one for my subframe
I'm definitely going to have to copy that balance bar design


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

terryl74

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Messages
5
Larry,
What size all thread rod did you use. I am guessing 3/4 but not sure. I want to use that method on mine.
Terry
 

larry4406

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Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
19,576
Location
Northern Virginia
Larry,
What size all thread rod did you use. I am guessing 3/4 but not sure. I want to use that method on mine.
Terry

I think I used 5/8" threaded rod. I bought it from Fastenal as I wanted a high strength rod. I can't recall the grade, perhaps B7 or Grade 8 not sure. The rod was chosen to match the bushing selections that were available.

Keep in mind that the threaded rod, when vertical, is carrying all of the body weight (each rod takes half the weight) if the jamb nuts on the slides are not engaged. For this reason, I wanted a quality threaded rod and the ones from Home Depot or Lowes were suspect.

Unit is in storage so I cannot measure it for you.
 

terryl74

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Messages
5
Thanks for the info on the all thread. When I get farther along with mine will post some pictures. So far I have stolen from half a dozen builds on the internet. I am building mine for a pickup truck bed. I am not looking at the weight of a full body.
 

jdmae86

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
23
I made one for a one time job. I found some stands used to hang garage doors... modified them with longer legs. Then I took some hubs I replaced off a minivan and welded them to the stands. Then made some brackets and welded those to the hubs. The car was up side down for 3weeks while my buddy and I converted a solid rear to independent rear suspension.

 

slopdog

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Jul 27, 2010
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162
Location
prince edward island , canada

Keyblazer

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Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
1,471
Location
Irvine, CA
Here is mine...
Also made enough parts so I can make a body cart when I'm not using the rottisarie
 

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Keyblazer

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Jul 30, 2009
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1,471
Location
Irvine, CA
Just converted one end frame into an Engine stand for my Cummins Motor Build...:)
 

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Keyblazer

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Jul 30, 2009
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1,471
Location
Irvine, CA
Had to use the 8T long ram to be able to get it high enough to flip the motor, yet allow it to go low enough to fit under the bench between build events...
 

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396foxRN

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Joined
Jan 22, 2016
Messages
125
Location
louisville ky
I made one once out of 2"x4" tubing, .25" thick. Overkill, really, but it was on hand already.

for the pivots, the part you spin the car with, I made that out of dodge minivan rear axle hubs. the spidle just bolts onto the rear axle with 4 bolts, then the typical hub/bearing/cotterpin arrangement. Bolted and welded the spindle to the rotisserie frame. Again, overkill, but it was next to nothing at the junkyard.

I built it with a one-time only intent to use, when I had my fox mustang stripped to the shell, and wanted to blast/bedline the undercarriage while it was that far apart. I then gave it to a friend who owns a body shop, as it was heavy, bulky, and in my way.

use common sense, and be safe. Overkill is better than wondering if something is going to hold.
 

kabinenroller

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Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
908
Location
S.E. Wisconsin USA
I built this one back in the early ‘80’s. I used mostly donated steel, some large wheels from scaffolding, and front spindles from an AMC car. The spindles have tapered roller bearings so it spins very easily. There is a large round steel disc at each end that has holes indexed and a sliding pin made from tool steel shafting so the car can be held in multiple positions.
The car can be transported on a trailer while on the rotisserie if nessesary.
Jim
 

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Mokkun

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2015
Messages
24
Location
Spanaway, WA
Cool
Thanks for the ideas.

What I am working on is a 2006 Ford F350 8' bed. I have to fix it or if
I get my hands on a nice one than I have to paint it off the truck. Because
of the color (D6 Screaming Yellow) I will have to prime all of it white of the
yellow paint won't look right.
 
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