American Motors Xperimental full frame

[gofastwclass]

Yes, 100% tig welded, C/M

You sir are an artist!

I need to learn to TIG from a functional standpoint but I know I will never have the time invested to be that good.

[DCPerformance]

You sir are an artist!

I need to learn to TIG from a functional standpoint but I know I will never have the time invested to be that good.

Thank you.
All I can say is practice, practice. I learned by doing it. The first time I tried it I thought I will never get this.LOL

[Ron S]

I have been really enjoying this build, I knocked the chassis out pretty quickly, then Dominic got on the cage really fast and didn't complain once about how anal I was about bar placement. Now I've traded off some work with my buddy Frank, I'm fabricating the center console for his twin turbo project and he's doing the exhaust on mine. Its been fun working with other craftsman on these projects, usually I'm all alone in my garage with nobody to BS with. Kinda sounding like a baby, but truthfully it hasn't felt like work once.

[gofastwclass]

Its been fun working with other craftsman on these projects, usually I'm all alone in my garage with nobody to BS with. Kinda sounding like a baby, but truthfully it hasn't felt like work once.

That is the best kind of work.

Thank you.
All I can say is practice, practice. I learned by doing it. The first time I tried it I thought I will never get this.LOL

I agree. I have the patience, I just know I will never have the time to spend on mastering it. I can MIG and it looks decent and I never worry about failures but I simply don't have the free hours to put in to make them look perfect every time under every condition (like upside down). I feel TIG welding would be similar, look OK, strong but not the prettiest. I guess that's why I own a grinder.

[coolwelder62]

gofastwclass U are in kcmo I am 30 miles SW of KCK.Maybe some Sat. come over and I can give you a few pointers.Scott Mock.

[MonzaRacer]

Also if you like watching instructional videos on welding sign up over at www.weldingtipsandtricks.com ,,,,he also sells an awesome tool called the tig finger,,, great for welding on stuff that gets hot and holds heat!
ok sorry just nosing back in for more fun fabricating with RonS! That was a short plug for a cool sight for the ones who want to learn some good techniques from a professional welder. Just make you can watch youtube videos,,,none very long but very informative.
Great car by the way.

[Yelcamino]

...but truthfully it hasn't felt like work once.

Like said above, that really is the best kind of work!

[the dan]

Ron i followed the mustang a little bit and am now following this thing. You do phenomenal work. hopefully my C-10 looks half as good

[Ron S]

I have built alot of cars through the years, but I have NEVER been so tortured trying to get exhaust to fit. I had a choice to make, the car could either have exhaust or seats. The torque arm eats up so much realestate that it makes it damn near impossible to have exhaust. Frank and I contemplated about 10 different designs, we even thought about a single 4" exhaust set up. In the end I cut a chunk of the frame and tucked the pipes under the driveshaft down the right side side, standing both mufflers on end, leaving just enough room for seats, and everything else. The tailpipes will go under the rear, and exit behid the passenger rear tire. Frank was hurried to get some pipes in before one of us changed our minds.

[HectorM52]

No home-made mufflers? I can't believe it!

Glad to see it's coming along, Ron. Keep it up.

[65_LS1_T56]

Look at it this way, now you have heated seats! A nice luxurious option Ron.
Awesome project, been waiting for an update. Looks great.

[johngross]

I'm thinkin, maybe some big flashy sidepipes would have been perfect!!!

[Bryce]

getting structure back to the torque arm chassis mount looks fun!

Are you going to have any issues with sounds levels at autocrosses? If so design in a way to point the exhaust exit away from the DB meter. I have turn down under the car and I can angle them to point away from the DB meter. My small motor hit 95 dB at 3500rpm and full throttle.

[Mike Holleman]

Brother, Does it not suck when practicality interferes with a great design? If it was easy it wouldn't be as much fun. Looks like you guys are finding the best available solutions. Wish I was there to join in the fun.

[exwestracer]

getting structure back to the torque arm chassis mount looks fun!

Boy, I was thinking the same thing!

[Ron S]

getting structure back to the torque arm chassis mount looks fun!

That actually gets another 2"x2" crossmember that has the mount on it. Its out to get the exhaust eyebrows put in it, once its installed it will get an X brace out of 1 5/8" chromoly between that and the trans crossmember. When something sets this low, every single part becomes a challenge to install.

[the dan]

damn that exhaust is clean

[wellis77]

What is the ride height to the chassis again Ron? Looks good, and I totally get the packaging challenges. I'm working through my own, just a lot slower than you.

[Ron S]

What is the ride height to the chassis again Ron? Looks good, and I totally get the packaging challenges. I'm working through my own, just a lot slower than you.

Love the Dart, I'm a Mopar guy at heart. The chassis is around 4.5 inches to the ground, and nothing hangs below that. Although the exhaust was challenging, the pictures don't do it justice. Each pipe has probably has 6 manderal bends in it, and it follows the shape of the transmission perfectly.

[gofastwclass]

Wow, I can only imagine the exhaust completely welded. Excellent work.