BODY FITTING

[keith w]

Im not to far off fitting the body to my DAX. At the minute I've fitted the engine and gearbox so its all in yhe right place and have now removed it again. What I wanted to know was wether it is easyer to fit out the body with the engine removed and how easy is it to put the engine back in with the body already on. Anyone got any ideas on which way I should go about this.

Cheers Keith

[StuartH]

If a Dax is anything like an AK (and I presume it is pretty similar) then puting the engine in first is MUCH easier. I have now done both and I definitely prefered the body off option!!

Stuart

[wilf]

Keith - I fitted engine into bare chassis first to get all mountings both engine and gerbox sorted, plus to get an idea of where the headers would run, clutch arrangement etc. Then I took it out again, fitted the body and ran all lines etc.
Obviously, putting the engine back once the body is on is more difficult, but no big deal, and working on all body related items like clutch, brake & fuel lines, wiring loom, and all other ancillaries, from a great big empty engine bay is so much easier.

Have fun now

Wilf

[griff]

Stuart

I have a Dax and fitted my body before the engine was in the advise I would give is:

1) Fit the bulk head kit before fitting the body (if your having one), fit fuel / brake pipes and battery leads and earth straps

2) For extra support I have fitted 2 steel strips in the boot to hold the body down (drill these hole first as its a pain from underneath).

3) If you haven’t got the latest chassis i.e. with centre support, upgrade this now as once the body is fitted its a pain.

3) The new chassis have a tank support strap on the chassis fit this now.

4) Once the body is on the standard engine crane won’t reach from the front of the body (use an A frame or fit from the side).

5) If your making your own headers do this before you fit the body you can shape cardboard to where the body goes.

6) Think about what you are going to mount on the chassis and pre drill with the body off.

If you want any other advise email me.

Hope this helps

Dave

[Shelby]

Im about to build my second Dax, with the first, i trial fitted the body, having finished the chassis, panelled out the engine bay, fitted the wiring loom, without the engine fitted, (but had a spare dismantled engine that i lifted in and out for location and fitting of ancilleries) installed the steering column and shaft etc, removed the body, refitted the engine, and did all the little jobs on the body whilst off that came to light during the trial fit, then refitted the body. I belive this to be the best method.
Good luck with the fit, you will now start to see some semblance of a car emerging, exciting times.

[dave]

Keith.
My usual proceedure is to place the body on the chassis,drill and cut all holes,fit bulkhead panels,fit loom,fit pedal box,fit column bush and just about anything else that is in the engine bay including the bonnet,remove bonnet,remove body.And then to the chassis fit axles,fit brake pipes and battery lead and fuel line,fit engine and box,fit radiator and then remove,sort out headers using templates for footwell,remove headers,re fit body and fix it down.Fit wheels,fit doors,fit exhaust and so on...
My proceedure will probably vary from yours as all my builds are done with all the parts "on site" from the word go,but you get the general idea.
This proceedure works with small block engines,but a big block may need to be removed from the chassis and re fitted after the body has been fitted.
Any probs,give me a call.My contact details are on my website www.v8cobra.co.uk
Advise is free,i only charge when i get my hands dirty.

[paul]

Hi there do fit the engine bay surround before you fit the body I did mine afterwards in stainless what a job. Re fitting engine / box after body on I built a frame out of 2x4 box section later to become the car port (that's what I told the wife) and used a block and tackle and I made up a lifting frame to hold the lot at the right angle then lifted it all up and rolled the car under as I lowered it all in first time with no hiccups.
cheers
Paul

[millsd60]

Friends
[font color = "Brown"]
Same question to the GD builders amongst you. Is it easier to fit the engine and gearbox before fitting the body?
I know the body comes off quite easily on the GD, but I am nearing the stage when I am going to fit the engine and gearbox into the chassis. So would like to learn from your experiences.
[/font]
Dave Mills

[Stefan]

Keith

I fitted my Chevy smallblock before the body, then ended up taking it all out again to have the body painted. Refitting the engine after the body was on was easy and took only a few hours.

I certainly found that having to take the engine out gave me some valuable insights into things to look out for when putting it back - ie in what order to re-attach various bits. I suspect that Dave is right, once you have done it once you put the engine in last, but I didn't hit any major obstacles.

Stefan