NS F355 Project (Page 15/73) Bloozberry JAN 26, 10:12 AM That's the idea! Yarmouth Fiero JAN 26, 12:48 PM Keeping the theme of the transverse frame with integrated flanges to tie to the chassis, I designed the additional vertical frames ( left and right) using 1 1/2" x 3" x 1/8" HSS and kept two flanges / tabs on the lower end to secure the vertical frame to the lower frame rail. The upper end of the vertical frame will be butt welded to the underside of the transverse frame. I also modified the large gusset that will help tie it all together and give additional strength to the transverse frame where the roll over hoops will be fitted. When it comes time to install this assembly in the chassis, I may end up cutting out some of the horizontal flange on the upper frame rails to allow it all to drop in vertcally and slide forward behind the firewall. Yarmouth Fiero JAN 26, 01:00 PM Here is a shot with more on the structure turned on so it looks a little more familiar. Bloozberry JAN 26, 01:01 PM quote Originally posted by Yarmouth Fiero: When it comes time to install this assembly in the chassis, I may end up cutting out some of the horizontal flange on the upper frame rails to allow it all to drop in vertcally and slide forward behind the firewall. That's perfectly fine. The flanges are primarily there as a means to facilitate the automated spot welding robot's job on the assembly line. You can cut them off and bead weld the corners with negligible impact on strength. Yarmouth Fiero JAN 26, 01:04 PM I think the spot weld robots were trying to wrap the week up early when they built my chassis....... wow... those spot welds are seriously random in places. Bloozberry FEB 13, 12:05 PM Bloozberry FEB 13, 02:03 PM I was doing some work on my own project when I noticed that something might not be quite right with your drawings above. Your plan to tie the transverse beam into the upper frame rails may not work exactly as you wanted because the frame rails aren't as long as you portrayed them. Here's a side view drawing from my measurements that shows your transverse beam in purple and how it intersects the upper rail. If I'm right, you won't be able to weld the transverse beam to the inside wall of the upper rail because it is simply too short. Your thoughts? Yarmouth Fiero FEB 13, 03:02 PM Hi Sorry I have been a little slack posting updates. Work has been crazy with new boats under construction and others being delivered plus a new ferry for Halifax to bid by next Tuesday. But as you know, the best way to get an engineer's attention is to tell him he made a mistake. ha-ha-ha-ha. You may be quite right regarding the length of the upper frame rail. I didn't draw the monstrostity of a B pillar yet because it's so complex in shape so I may have conveniently lengthened the frame rail to suit my needs. I assumed it went all the way forward to the firewall. The only picture I have on my laptop is this one showing us removing the lower window support. When I get home tonight I'll get a shot looking up at that area. If in fact it is the way you say, I may have to rethink the end connection. I haven't cut the 3" x 4" HSS yet so I have lots of material if it needs to be a little longer. Yarmouth Fiero FEB 13, 05:23 PM Ok, so I had a nice close look at the intersection of the upper frame rail and the top of the firewall/ rear window support and you are right Blooz. The upper frame rail does in fact stop short of the firewall but I don't think its a deal stopper for my current design. However, the upper frame rail does have a lowered top section ( that I missed) that is going to require some consideration and design "adaptation". I'll have to add this detail to my current drawing and then proceed from there with a suitable solution. Thanks for the heads up. Yarmouth Fiero FEB 13, 10:03 PM So now I have updated the drawing of the upper frame rail to reflect the actual construction of the chassis. It took some serious digging away of the rear window urethane sealant to see what was really there. Now I need to figure out a structurally sound way to connect the proposed 3" x 4" x 1/8" HSS transverse frame to the upper frame rails.