Olds Dad

I've always wanted one, but couldn't justify the cost - so I did a little web research and decided I would make one.


Bought some surplus tube steel, two Harbor Freight Engine Stands, and two Harbor Freight Ram Jacks - a few metal blades for my chop saw and a lot of wire from the welder, and now I have one.


If anyone is interested, here is what I did


Photos 1, 1a - The materials...1-1/2" to 3" tubes, and my HF Haul

Olds Dad

2 - Cut up the Engine Stand to allow it to telescope inside the 2 x 4 tube


3 - Bar stock for spacers to make the clearance more acceptable


4 - Holes for pin stops for the vertical adjustments


5 - Welding the tube to the base of the engine stand

Olds Dad

6 - Widen the base of the (inverted) engine stand


7 - Mock up of the vertical adjustment for the telescoping tubes


8 - Add brackets to hold the ram jack for lifting


10 - One End Frame complete

Olds Dad

13 - The rotating frame part that will attach to the car


14 - Bracket for attaching to the modified engine stand


16 - Threaded rod with stops to give the rotating frame adjustment for finding the center of gravity when the car is on the rotisserie


17 - Better view of the threaded rod set up


19 - Rotating frame assembly

Olds Dad

22 - A few cans of Rustoleum


23 24 25 - The completed assembly

Olds Dad

Fun project overall - about half the cost of buying a new one - two weekends to complete.


First up is my '55 2 door sedan...will post pics when I get that up on the thing.

Tedd Thompson

Good interesting info but mostly I'm jealous of the space you have to put it in. Wish I had a shop like that. Keep us informed on how it preforms when you put it into action. Witch one of your cars will get the first ride on the merry go round? Good work Gordon...Tedd

Olds Dad

Thanks Tedd - Yes, I am very fortunate to have the garage space that I do - yet somehow it's never enough!


My '55 2 Door Sedan is first up - hopefully next weekend!

mrolds69

Wow...you have been really busy! Nice work Gordon. It's great you have some space there now...I can't believe it. Now you have room for one of my Buicks!

Olds Dad

I say we load test it using one of your Buicks!

Run to Rund

I used two engine stands for a frame rotisserie. As you no doubt noticed, the tube that the head pivots on is not parallel to the floor; a little slop allowed in the mounting of the frame took care of that, but I suppose you fixed the issue when you modified yours.

Olds Dad

Yeah - that initially threw me for a loop, but if you see my first batch of photos, the part that was angled back is what I cut off and inserted into the larger 2x4 tube to telescope. The larger tube was cut off square and welded onto the base vertical to eliminate that problem.

RetroRanger

Wow nice work. Can't wait to see the first car on there!

TripDeuces

Olds Dad I'm bring my 66 over to give that thing a try!

Olds Dad

Thanks! I'm looking forward to spinning one around myself!

Olds Dad

Sounds good!

Gary's 2 442-S

Very nice!

Boldsmobile

Nice work.

Olds Dad

Thanks for all the kind words..

steverw

Very nice job, I bought steel, hydraulic rams and other to build the same maybe a year ago. Im hoping I am soon to build it. Yours looks very nice, I bought trailer stub axles and hubs to use for my rotating head. Im sure thats over kill but it should spin nicely once lined up and balanced. I like your Idea of the long threaded shaft to raise and lower it to balance it. Do you have any recomendations for someone whos building one?
Thanks
Steve

Olds Dad

Sounds like you've already thought it out - I like the stub axle idea. I hope to get a car on it this weekend - maybe after that I'll have some better pointers. The only thing I can say at this point is to try to make it so it breaks down for storage - this thing is big. Mine will come apart and store against a wall

Napoleon Solo

Dang!
Having seen yours, I find it hard to justify buying one now...
I'm right on the cusp of needing one for my '64 coupe. The body is coming off tomorrow and going onto a dolly for the time being whilst I blast and PC my frame and suspension. That should give me enough time to build it...

1968_Post

Just when I think I've become pretty handy, I see this... I'm jealous!

Nice work!

Boilerz25

Awesome thread. I like other wish I had the space and time to build one. They are too pricey to justify buying. Please share some photos once you get the first body setup.

Sean

2Olds4U

Very nice, Gordon. I am interested in how well the assembly moves on those casters loaded. The rotisserie I have is an absolute biatch to move on pavement. I'm thinkung of changing them to something else but was wary due to the weight with a body on it.
Nice welding. Seems the only way I manage to weld something good is when I short a battery cable.

2blu442

Nice job! Thanks for sharing the steps and pictures with us.

John

Bernhard

Nice
I like the creativity in building your own unit, what do you have in it.

jozw30

Hey Gordon, great job!

You will love having this tool. Worth every penny, whether DIY, or purchased. I Saved up until I could afford one and wish I had done it long ago.

One question/comment, on your "center of gravity" adjustment you do have those horizontal locking bolts going through holes in the inner tube right? You aren't using them like set screws. I know it limits your fine adjustment but I'd recommend through holes.

Joe

Olds Dad

Yeah...I've wrestled with that aspect - currently no through bolts at that point because of what you said....limiting the fine adjustment. My thought was that the double set screws (both beefy 5/8" diameter bolts) as well as the redundancy of the threaded rod assembly would be ok.


I'm an engineer by trade and I put "numbers" to this stuff and on paper one set screw alone is more than enough - so that, times two, plus the rod assy makes me feel a little better - but like I said, I wrestled with putting through bolts in as well. Still may depending on how it "feels" when I get it on there.


I appreciate the input and suggestions -

Olds Dad

I think after all the misc. hardware and etc... I have about $550 into it - about a third of what a decent one costs. Biggest cost was the tube steel - nowadays it's hard to find it since everyone scraps everything - had to buy it new although it was 'surplus' so it was a little cheaper.