2"x3"frme tubing. What wall thickness you use

For those who have built frames using 2x3 tubing what wall thickness do you use? Is the 1/8 " wall tubing too thin? Waiting to buy some and not sure what would be the best.

 

11 ga. is what i use...

 

1/8 is good and what I used.

bret

 

isn't 11 gage about 1/8" thick?

 

i use 3/16. It has a better look to the bends and 1/8 will flex too much in a long frame

 

It REALLY depends on whether or not you plan on additional reinforcement (like a roll cage) or not. The old Pro Gas cars used 2" X 3" X .090" - I used it on my car also, but I put in a decent cage. If you weren't planning on any cage I think I'd go .125" even more if it was a longer wheel base. Just thinking out loud

 

just bought 11 ga for my gasser willys chassis anymore is excess weight on the race track...

 

It would probably be better to go to 2x4" tube for a longer non-reinforced frame. The extra height does a lot more to reduce flex than using thicker wall tubing.

 

we used 1/4 on my brothers rod. but it might of been 2x4

-TDWK

 

I used 2x4 7ga. (3/16") on my frame because of the HEAVY BB ford motor up front....and 'cuz my brother worked at a steel fab shop and could get it new at scrap prices

 

fwiw

1/8" =.125"

11 gauge = .1196" (.120)

five thousandths of an inch difference.

 

I also use 2X4, .125 wall thickness for a Model A style frame. Works good, last a long time.

pigpen

 

1/8 wall has always workred for me... remember its pre-boxed, so theres a quarter inch of thickness in the vertical plane.

 

I know some people think it's overkill but I like 3/16, this is my Son Kyle's metal shop project for his senior year. The Frame is 2X4 X 3/16. He won 1st place in the High School M.I.T.E.S. competition in the regon, 2nd place in the state. ( because it was unfinished )

 

used 1/4 inch but there was a caddy motor up front and bags at all four corners. the frame had lots of movement so we used some heavier wall to compensate. Its a 500 cad with 500 ft lbs so im sure it can handle the extra weight. i think that 1/8 is a good strength to wieght ratio though. Look at stock rails or even a late model car. and most cars arent even boxed. I would think 1/8 or 11 or 10 guage would be fine.

 

From total performance catalog.their frames are made from1 1/2" x3" .120 wall tube. This is all A and T frames.for anyone wanting to build their own frames I highly recommend buying their assembly manual its 25.00$ but it gives you blueprints for every single piece you need to build a T roadster and I do mean every piece these are the exact parts used by them in their cars!there are also tons of assembly tips as well.they also have the Shade Tree Mecanics tv series about building a T roadster on vhs for 15.00$ app.3 hours long 6 episodes this manual should be on every rodders book shelf for reference.
just mho

 

Keep in mind, if you’re building a relatively light car like a T - A or even a 32, a little extra weight in a street car is a big plus. Makes a big difference in ride quality.
When I built the frame for my 31 p/u I used 2x3 and 2x4 3/16 wall.