"Washers Without Holes"

[Richard D]

"Washers Without Holes" V8 Corvair Project

I built an automobile frame out of 2"x3" tubing, I want to reinforce each weld joint. I figured big fender washers would be cheap enough, then got to wondering if anyone stamps out 2" steel disks with no holes? Don't need to be accurately sized, just cheap.

 

[Thumper68]

Check with local job shops they usually have scrap that they will either give you for free or for scrap price.

 

[Richard D]

Think they would have a dozen or more 1/8" thick round disks? I wonder what process would produce that type of scrap.

 

[lotsoftools]

Maybe a place that builds race cars or off-road vehicles or parts. They punch holes in metal pieces to make them a little bit lighter. I think an Ironworker machine can punch those all day long.

 

[Wowcars]

Try this place:
http://www.aa-mfg.com/pdshop/shop/

 

[stewie97]

Think they would have a dozen or more 1/8" thick round disks? I wonder what process would produce that type of scrap.

The laser shop i worked at produced all kinds of round drops.

 

[volvo]

Reinforcing Plate (fishplate)

http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/reinforcing-plate-fishplate/

 

[Chaznsc]

I built an automobile frame out of 2"x3" tubing, I want to reinforce each weld joint. I figured big fender washers would be cheap enough, then got to wondering if anyone stamps out 2" steel disks with no holes? Don't need to be accurately sized, just cheap.

Why do they need to be solid?

 

[tstaude]

I have plenty of ~5/32" x 2" diameter clean punchings available, but I am in WI.
Let me know if this is what you are after, and how soon you need them.
I could just put them in a flat rate envelope.

 

[Richard D]

Perfect! I can use as many as will fit in a box. I'll send you some beer money for your trouble.

 

[Richard D]

Reinforcing Plate (fishplate)

http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/reinforcing-plate-fishplate/

Yep, fishplate. I didn't know if everyone was familiar with that term. He has nice stuff, but I'm on a super-tight budget. This is what I'm building, front-engine V8 '62 Corvair. Got less than a grand in it by doing all my own work.

Early 60s style gasser/altered/street freak whatever you want to call it.

 

[ratdoggy]

OK.....We need more pictures or a puppy dies!!!!

 

[Richard D]

Here is when I first got her for $200:

Kinda hated to cut her up, looked like she'd never been wrecked. The Chevy small block will fit no problem, plus I have an early Hemi, and an old 6-71 sitting on the shelf...

Where I am so far:

 

[Richard D]

The car had been taken apart for paint, then every piece lost but the bare shell, front and rear suspension, and transaxle. He wanted to keep the doors to restore another Corvair, a Spyder. He had about a half dozen Corvairs. A month later he gave me the matching doors for another $200. I also got all the glass, some door handles, and a rear seat that needs upholstery. The paint isn't great, but at least it's shiny.

 

[Richard D]

This car is basically built like a T-Bucket, but a Corvair body instead of a fiberglass tub. I built it kinda weird; I fitted each piece to the body of the car, then welded them together. Sorta backwards, but I was working alone, laying on my back.

I had a minor stroke right after I started building this car, and I really forgot how I did it until I looked at these pictures!

I drilled and tapped a hole in some 1/2" plate, and welded one on each side of the unibody subframe.

Then I bolted on the "outriggers", then welded the side rails.

 

[Richard D]

It's just tacked together, hence the need for the fishplates.

 

[Richard D]

The front follows the shape of the stock subrails, and use stock bolt holes. I think there are six bolts on each side holding the body to the frame, should be good enough?

 

[tstaude]

Very cool!
Glad I can help you out with the punchings, we will test the limits of a flat rate box with this one. They are 1010 low carbon which is very weldable.

PM me your address, and I will get them off to you this week.

Tom

 

[Richard D]

Thanks a bunch Tom. My middle name is Thomas as well, ha ha. I can use those disks for tons of projects around the house.

 

[PapaD]

Love the Corvair!

 

[djjsr]

"There's gotta be 1 guy"

 

[Fyrme]

That's a sweet Project. I've never seen a Corvair built up as a Gasser. And who doesn't love the built in beer holder on the fender for those long nights in the shop....

 

[ratdoggy]

That is a very cool and ambitious project..... Best of luck.

 

[jcinga]

Google is your friend!

http://www.wagnercompanies.com/disks_and_plates.aspx

 

[AndyA]

This part scares me. The tube (the one we see the open end) is likely to get twisted here. I'd add another piece that diagonally connects the end of this tube to the rest of the frame (going left in the picture). This will add a continuation of the 45deg vertical tube and unload the torque from the (viewed on end) tube.

Also welding a plate over the end of the tube will provide some resistance against it folding up like a parallelogram. You'll need this end plate to effectively tie the 45deg tube to the diagonal tube. Otherwise the two are tied together only via the small amount of material in the corners of the open ended tube.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[Fyrme]

AndyA, not sure how you determined all that necessity from that one pic. I agree the open tube needs to be fishplated to the 45* tube after the two tubes are fully burned together. However, the other reinforcements you mentioned may not be necessary. A better pic of the perpendicular tube in relation to the other tubes would be needed to determine if more reinforcements are needed.

 

[Richard D]

As for the last two posts, it may not be necessary, but I plan to do exactly what Andy was saying. It will have plenty of bracing done once the basic shape is firmed up and the body is off.

 

[ScurvyPete]

Very cool!
Glad I can help you out with the punchings, we will test the limits of a flat rate box with this one. They are 1010 low carbon which is very weldable.

PM me your address, and I will get them off to you this week.

Tom

As long as it's under 70 pounds

 

[softailgarage]

OK We need more pictures or a puppy dies!!!!

Think I found my new signature

 

[bad_idea]

An ironworker has a hole punch on one end. I have used the disk they punch out for projects, we have an ironworker in the shop. If you know anyone in the fabrication industry, they should have an ironworker in their shop.

 

[Richard D]

I found some, thanks.

 

[ratdoggy]

OK We need more pictures or a puppy dies!!!!

Think I found my new signature

I'm glad I could help

 

[Richard D]

If y'all are interested, I posted lots of pictures of the construction up until where she is now, along with lots of ideas back and forth with other members on the H.A.M.B.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=542558
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=531331

 

[Kevin54]

Well since no one has mentioned it, I will.......YOU ****!!!!!!!

For only having $400 in a Corvair that clean, that is a hell of a deal. At least around here it would be. Looking forward to seeing more of the build pics and the initial firing up for the test drive.

 

[Richard D]

Check the links above, I had forgotten how many pictures I took, there's a bunch.

 

[tstaude]

The discs shipped out today, with a strange look on the postmaster's face...
They only came in at 8# in a flat rate.


Enjoy!

 

[Richard D]

Thanks Tom. Eight pounds? How many were in there?

 

[tstaude]

30+
get an exact count, they add up pretty quick

 

[Richard D]

Thanks again, that's plenty.

 

[smokem2020]

A buddy of mine built a 60's corvair funny car style. It was black with a 396 in the front seat. We ran it at bunker hill drag strip. It was a street car mostly. He built 3 vairs total. They were a blast. Yours look a lot like his.