Mini A Arm single seater

[TutTech]

I did not have a lot to post but wanted to post this up just to show that I started another build.
I will come back to this later as I have more to post.
But basically this is the same as my new mini a arm kids car but with a 6 inch
larger cab and 2 inch higher sides for adults.

The big deal here is this is a single seat version. I am building this off the two seater and as I prototype and make changes to the two seater I am making the differences and then making them into plans and then building this frame to make sure the plans and measurements etc. are correct.

So far I have managed to set up the car to be built in layers.
Bottom will be built and fully welded on a table fixture.
here


Then the mid rail will be built also on it's own table next to the floor and welded.
Here.


Then I have pre cut side bars notched to clamp on and hold the mid rail and pan at the correct distance, height etc. as fixtures.
Then why the clamps hold it I fit in some webbing and support bars to hold the mid rail at the correct height etc.
Then the clamps and fixture bars can be removed and used on the next frame.

I then build the roof section and then it can be lowered onto the mid rail and welded into place. Not to that part yet but that's what I am setting up to do at the same time I am building the two seat mini.

By building like this I have the option to build 4 different styles.
2 seater kids, 2 seater adult, 1 seater kid, 1 seater adult.
All with there own options etc.

Here is the clamps, mid rail and pan ready to be welded and put together.


As the pan and mid rails are built on a flat work bench I can set up the cars a lot
more accurate and make all the cars match much closer to one another.

Now I just use some jack stands and square up the car and weld it in place then
mount the roof and move a long.

As I perfect the two seater I will transfer stuff to the single seater and update this post.

Thanks for reading and looking.

[David M]

You're amazing don't you ever sleep?

[Stomper]

It's good that talented builders like yourself put your project up for beginners like myself to see. Like to old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words". looking forward to see more. keep up the good work.
By the amount of work that some of you get done, Sometimes I wonder if you have a job or a family. I am envious.

[TutTech]

Job? I thought this was my job.
Actually my wife was gone on vacation to her sisters house so I was free to play some of last week and this weekend so I was able to get extra stuff done by working in the garage all night and as some people noticed up very late on the computer talking to everyone.

I don't know about talent but I like to think I am a pretty quick learner and learn from my mistakes
and from seeing others work etc. I then quickly adapt my changes and what I have learned.

I already have 3 people (4 if you count me ) wanting one of these little buggies in our group that
goes to the desert. So I had to come up with a way to make them .... not faster per say but just easier to make over and over correctly & more accurately without haveing to measure ten times, set up everything over and over.
So I came up with the way of making all the floor pans, all the mid rails, all the roofs together
and then assemble them onto the car.

I will do the same when I get a good pair of a arms I like I will fixture them up and then
make 3 sets.... sheesh that's 12 arms I have to build

Oh well I like it.
Work has been a little slow so I have been home early a lot aond off on certain days so was
able to do more work than most. I have no kids so really other than my wife I do not have
any distractions..... oh other than this site.


Thanks for the input and kind words.

[sicksand]

How do you learn to do this,I have thought about getting a jd2 tube bender and trying it out but I don't understand all the degrees and where to bend to make both sides etc...What do you use to bend,notch,cut,and weld?What should I look at getting into price wise to get started into something like this?I'm more of a hands on learner but don't really have time to go to a school,I have a freind that does some on a jd2.I guess that I will go over there and learn what I can from him before I try myself?Seeing your work makes it look like I can do it but I know it is far more advanced then it looks...

[TutTech]

Uhm I have an older bender etc. no degree wheels I tape measure and check my bends.
I set it up and see what I like. Then if I like it I copy it by going the same amount of clicks
on my bender as it is a click and bend type bender manual so easy to remember how many
clicks I went. Then set a bent bar on top of the last bent bar and make any corrections to it.
It's the basic starting point and I have used these tools for years.
A lot is common since. A bar must bend or meet back to a certain spot so bend it a little
and if it does not meet bend more etc. until it fits correctly where you want it.
It takes more time but it's easier to under bend and bend twice than over bend and mess
up a piece of tubing.


I learn by doing also. I set it up make changes and take notes.
When I like it and so do others I write down my notes so I can make another.
I have patterns set up for some things so I can copy them like I was saying on this car about
making mid rails etc. all the same then mounting on the car.

How do I learn? Also by doing I have been building cars for a long time mostly beam stuff
and always vw stuff but then I went to Mosebuillt and worked for them as an assembler of
their cars but I also helped in fabrication and so working with the supervisor and owner I
took in everything I could. I used that to design and set up these mini cars.
I have used my experience to build my race car and as a smaller car as far as racing goes
I have done very well and so I like to think I have a good grasp on building cars. I really do well at suspension and setting it up also.

I started with decent equipment. Low Buck Tools in Ontario CA. I believe.
I bought there notcher and bender and got started with those and a 110 MiG welder.
Since then I have picked up the JD2 bender and recently I picked up the MiG with gas and
a sander notcher.
The sander notcher is just to expensive for the average guy but it's awesome the angles
and what not I can do.
As for benders I don't have very many dies yet as they are expensive and I have only dealt with
1.5 inch tubing so I have to get another 180 degree wheel for my 1.25 tubing I am building with
now I only have a 90 degree die at the moment and no smaller dies so that's why I can't do
the mini buggy wagons etc.

Well I think I went on a little to long there but I hope that was helpful?


Also I know you live kind of far from me as I live up in the high desert by VictorVille, but you or anyone on this site is always welcome to come by on a weekend anytime. Ask questions, check stuff out in person so you can see and understand better.
A few of you have so don't think I am kidding I have had members come by and you guys really
are welcome to do so.

[sicksand]

Thanks Tut I may take you up on that offer some day,I would like to see what yo do in the shop?I live in Nor-cal by Yosemite but I have family in San Diego so I head that way alot.I may get that jd2 and just start bending.Well i'm off to work for some overtime(on my day off,yuck).I will tell you that my 4 daughters will keep me broke the rest of my life,lol.

[ageekwithabuggy]

make that 5 people that want one

[TutTech]

Thanks buddy.


And Sicksand I am always working on something every weekend if I am not at a race or desert
so you are welcome anytime.