R4 Chassis Jig

[malcolm]

Has anyone made up a full chassis jig for a Renault 4 before?

Been stripping down the latest project, and that triangle connecting the sills to the front chassis has completely rusted away on 3 sides, and the car appears to be held together only by the front torsion bars and the roof. It's moved a bit.

I'd considered jacking the middle until the torsion bars were straight then making repairs, but I've been thinking about replacing the sills on another car so a jig might well be the answer.

The factory manual has a good sketch of a full chassis jig, but was wondering if I would be the first to build one or if there is someone to cocmpare noted with.

 

[Steve Hennessey]

Malcolm - I have a brand new chassis if you want to take some measurements! Or indeed, build a jig and compare it to my chassis. Is your manual a GTL one?

 

[malcolm]

I'm working from a 1970 manual MR61 - All the mounting points are the same for the GTL aren't they? Actually, does anyone have access to any decent dimensions? There is only a single page in the manual and it's not printed clearly.

My thought is to use a spare GTL chassis for setting up the jig, then I can check it against a nearly new chassis I have. Would be better to use the better chassis, but I can't be bothered removing it from the car just yet.

 

[Simon.AU]

Actually, does anyone have access to any decent dimensions? There is only a single page in the manual and it's not printed clearly.

Is that page N-9 in the MR 61 4th edition, January 1970? That seems to be the only page that has dimensions. The other pages (if you are missing them) only have the trammel checking points with no dimensions, it seems the only criteria is that the measurements match, and to see if it has losenged from a prang. Anything else and you need the Car .08A checking bench. If you are missing them and want them let us know.

The 1985 bodywork quick reference guide is equally as useless with no dimensions onlyy the trammel and bench checks......

 

[malcolm]

That's the manual. The dimensions are horribly unclear, but after a closer look it seems probably all the ones I need will be there once I figure out where all the arrows are pointing to. Might scan it in, print a bigger version, do the drawing properly, and see where I end up.

I'll do something similar to the checking bench, but while I'm at it I'm tempted to extend the jig forward and backwards and attach it to A frames to roll the car. I'm getting too old to weld underneath.

 

[malcolm]

I've thought up a simplified design that will allow space to work on the car, and have ordered the metalwork. It'll be made from really thick 4*2 inch C-section and 1/4 inch plate and will weigh about 200kg. Ordered some sheet too and the whole lot came to £270! (all cut to length and delivered).

With luck it'll arrive for next weekend. Should be a fun project.

 

[Wingnut]

Do post everything from development to final product. I have a sneaking suspicion quite a few people will be needing one at some point in the near future.