mookaloid
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| posted on 9/5/09 at 11:52 AM |
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Engine cradle
Hi there fellow BEC builders (I can't believe I just said that  )
I could do with some tips on building my engine cradle, I have some steel, a hacksaw and a MIG welder.
Where's a good place to start?
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 9/5/09 at 11:59 AM |
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look at where the engine mounts are on the engine, then look at engine height in the chassis.
That will give you a good starting point to figure out how to construct a good cradle.
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slimtater
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| posted on 9/5/09 at 12:04 PM |
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There may be a few engine bay pictures in my album. If you want any more, let me know.
[Edited on 9/5/09 by slimtater]
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/19919222
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Guinness
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| posted on 9/5/09 at 12:07 PM |
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Hi BEC builder!!
I got MK to make my cradle, but if it were me, I'd start by putting threaded bar or long bolts through the mounting holes. Then I'd have a
go in bits of timber to make a frame.
Are you building a front engined car, middy or rear? My front engine one has a top frame that is sort of like a splayed H shape giving four mounting
points to the chassis (wider at the exhaust side and narrower at the gearbox side). From the cross bar on the H there is a pair of mounts that stick
down to the upper rear mounts on the engine.
There are then a pair of lower mounts that stick up from the inner lower chassis rail.
 
1 Cradle
The other side (exhaust side) just has a pair that come up from the lower chassis rail.
 
2 Cradle
It's true that a picture speaks a thousand words!!!
Mike
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zilspeed
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| posted on 9/5/09 at 12:31 PM |
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I lifted the engine into position based on.
1) Sump height
2) Bonnet height.
3) Output shaft position.
4) Clearance for my front crossmember.
5) Clearance between the exhaust primaries and the chassis top rails
Once I had it sitting there on some timber, I started picking up bits of steel tube and worked out how to go between the engine and the chassis.
Picking the best position is the tricky bit, because once you're committed, then there's no going back. Making the mounts was relatively
simple.
In my case, it isn't a cradle. It's a support bar on the offised side picking up the 'rear' engine mounts and two angled
engine mounts on the other side picking up the 'front' mounts.
Easier done than said.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 9/5/09 at 02:08 PM |
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Thanks for the input guys 
Great Pics thanks Mike - they are a great help.
It's the blackbird engined indy as mentioned on the left
<<<<<<<<<<
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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