Thread: frame measurement?

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I am building a bobber car and it is about time to start designing the frame. I have slid the rear axle up behind the car in the place I wish to put it and the same with the front. Now all that I need to know is where to start. Do i start at the front and measure off the top of the leaf spring, or do I start at the back and measure off of the coil overs? I am planning on kicking up the back end to get a little extra drop and will try to get some pictures of the car I am building, so you can get a little bit better picture of what I am trying to do.

Not sure how to answer that question, but I will tell you what I have done.

You start with what you know and keep adding detail in your design untill its done. Think as much of it through as you can adding details like steering box, gas tank, shocks, everything. Think and imagine as much as you can. Sketch some stuff. Measure some stuff. Prop some stuff up and stand back and look at it.
Eventually it will become reasonably clear what you have to do and what the frame is going to look like. There are thousands of possibilities. Whatever you want (within certain limits) is possible.

I like to think in terms of closing in on it. Lots of backing up along the way. I will think its going to be like this, then my buddy comes in and asks me where I plan on putting the gas tank. Opps, forgot about that. Back to the drawing board.

I am in the middle of building my first car. I have built a lot of other stuff and even some vehicles but this is my first ground up chassis. I am having a blast.
There is lots of great information here, learn to use the search function, its like being at the library of car builders. I would not be anywhere near as comfortable as I am without all these guys help.

Good luck. Post some pictures.

For those of us who don't have a clue, a bobber car is a ________________, using ______________front suspension and _______________rear suspension. The wheelbase will be about ______________and the car will be powered by a _______________with a __________transmission and a ______________differential. Ground clearance will be about ______________.
(please fill in the blanks)

I assumed it was a short car or truck with the rear axle right behind the cab.

But now that you mention it, I'm not sure either.

Whatever, I would still approach building it the same way I build anything. Put everything I have on the table and see what takes shape.

I agree dog, but the attack varies depending on the whole scope of the project.

sorry that i havent posted anything in a while my computer took a big crap on me so I will be posting some pics later today. I have mocked my chassis up with 2 by 4's and an just now working on fabing the front perch for the suacide suspension so check back soon I will have pics sooner or later today.

Alright here we go. I have a 1940 ford truck cab, a straight ford axle aprox. 1947 that will get setup suacide style. I have a 1950 ford rear end with mavrick breaks. The rear end will run two carrera coil springs, the wheel base will be about 122 inches. the motor I will be running will be a 1985-89 ford 302 not quite shure witch model of tranny I have so I will get back to you on that one. I also would like a pretty low stance I have mocked the cab up with the othe components i have and would like the cab to sit about 5-6 inches off the ground.