cutting down a chassis

[Norman]

I wanted to cut down my chassis on my old is new car. I was looking a few cars on here with cut down chassis and was wondering if there is like a template or something that you can go by to make it perfect.

it would be my first cut chassis and i dont want to destroy it by cutting it wrong.

i like the way this one is cut and would like to cut mine similar to it

(nvxwax old is new)


thanks

nvxwax - sorry for not asking you if i could use your photo. if you want it down just let me know.

[a01butal]

I don't know of any templates to cut the sides of the chassis. I think if you just set the chassis on a flat surface and and use a ruler to mark the height of the sides at different spots you can use the straight edge to draw your cut lines. I would use duct tape to mask off where you don't want any marks on the good portion of the chassis and then cut away. Maybe even double up on the duct tape just to be safe in case you slip with the dremel.

[RJK33]

Use masking tape and a scale to create your cut lines. After that I'd mount the chassis to a piece of wood and lock the wood in a vise. This will keep the chassis secure while you dremel.

Kooz!

[nvxwax]

No problem Norman,

I actually got that car from (bigjeepzz), He did all the tub work and custom parts

I have cut down a tub or two, Like the other guys said, Use tape to protect what you want to keep, The more tape the better, When i cut them down i cut about 1/16 -1/8 inch from the line, Then went back with a file to clean it all up, takes forever....

[klavy69]

if you have access to a belt sander/grinder you will save yourself a ton of time, effort and frustration. Otherwise like the others have said I have put several layers of electrical tape on to keep from dremel marking the sides The electrical tape makes for a crisper line to follow but not has HD as duct tape so 3-4 layers of it.

Todd

[rc10johnny]

Here's mine....

[Charlie don't surf]

Make sure to leave 20mm worth of aluminum at the lowest point (widest part of the tub) then make a straight edge from that point to the nose tube mount, then to the rear triangle mount. If you cut it so there is less than 20mm remaining, you will have to brace it if you want to run it-

[LTO_Dave]

I cut one side after covering it with blue painter's tape and made the cutline with a sharpie. Then I used clear contact paper and traced the line I just cut, then used the contact paper as a pattern for the other side to keep the cuts the same.

I cleaned everything up with a file, dremel and sandpaper until it looked straight and even on both sides. I didn't care about scratching the anodizing because it went straight to the sandblaster then I powdercoated it. There's no way I could keep a tub as clean as some of you guys do while cutting them.

[rc10johnny]

Hmmmmmmm,me like the chromies....

[Norman]

alright i think i got it.

thanks for all the info. luckily i have a extra chassis in case i mess it up.

i think i might try it tomorrow.

[Norman]

nevermind not going to do it any more. i dont want to mess it up haha.

[nvxwax]

nevermind not going to do it any more. i dont want to mess it up haha.

lol, did it go wrong? You can always get other members to help ya out..

[littleVETTE]

really no big deal to cut it up. if you have a pneumatic "pizza" cutter, vise, and a little patience, you could pull it off. you could get away with it also with a dremel and a appropiate cutting wheel. just measure what you want taken away, mark the line with a strip of masking tape to keep the line straight, figure out where you want to stop the cut and make a steep line up back to the top of tub. use your dremel and file to clean up the cut lines edges.

make sure you wear a mask and goggles. because it gets nasty to have that crap going into your eyes and lungs.

[Johnboy72]

Have this cheese grater that I think I'll cut down. B stamp chassis with barely a scratch on it is screwed anyways with all the holes. I'm looking at the holes on the side and picked the lowest one and use that to determine how low I'll go on the sides. What a shame. Anywho, looking at my taped off side, from your opinions, will I still need a chassis stiffener like what Johnny has on his posted above? Eventually if this tub comes out nice, I might use it for a WOIN project with a lexan undertray to protect the future tracks from the cheese grater.

[GoMachV]

That's not a lot of side left, I'd sure brace it if it's a runner