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Building a very tight on space rotisserie for the shop / Belvedere . . .

conv67bdere

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really have been needing to work on the bottom of the car, but laying on my back on the cold concrete does not rank high on my hit parade . . .

So it's time to build a rotisserie for the car . . .

but . . .

I've got about 12" of room to make it fit and be able to close the shop door . . . so the plans are to use 3X for the uprights, and 3X for the spinning supports . . . do that on both sides and you have 12" . . . so it's going to be tight ( and fun ? ? )

First of all - ALL of these scraps are drops from the steel supplier - find it much cheaper that way to build this stuff . . .

Here's the bottom parts of the (2) supports . . . 3 x 3 on one, 3 x 4 on the other . . .

sm_rotisserie01.jpg


To hold the round tube on top of the channel, cut and grind the metal to accept the tube . . .

sm_rotisserie02.jpg


So it'll fit like this . . . I'm sure the welding will hide the gaps and give room for the weld metal too . . .

sm_rotisserie03.jpg


Here's the plan . . . but they cut the tubes on top to 3", and I decide to drop them down to 2 1/4" - to have room to put a bolt on the back of the inside tube . . .

sm_rotisserie04.jpg


Tossed them on the lathe and got them milled down and cleaned up . . .

sm_rotisserie05.jpg


Now to get this all welded together - then work on the spinning support brackets . . .

Sure hope that I can make all of this work out . . . WANT to have it on the rotisserie before the new year . . . . ( that's the plan . . . )
 
Looks like a good start, pretty sure I made mine out of 3X as well? To bad it's on loan or I'd snap a few pictures for you.
 
You already have it but 3X3 is overkill. Also, instead of cutting half round holes I use a piece of channel on top with the round tube sitting in the channel.
 
You already have it but 3X3 is overkill. Also, instead of cutting half round holes I use a piece of channel on top with the round tube sitting in the channel.

I built two of them over the years. The first one was sold of with a Project Challenger. The second one has been on loan and
100_1317.jpg
100_1322.jpg
has a couple of cars on it & a truck cab & bed. I just finally got it back not that long ago. I numbered all of the pieces so once taken all apart for storage it is easy to reassemble. 100_1318.jpg
 
More work on the rotisserie . . . the "inner" tube dimension was just a little too big to fit inside the outer tube . . . so to the lathe . . .

First, I'll have to set up and get the picture of how the tube was trued to the 4x3 channel in the notch - but that's done . . .

Now the milling of the inner tube has been completed and it's ready to go . . .
- you can see the milling marks on the left picture, and it can push up tight to the lip of the outer tube . . . works great . . .

sm_rotisserie06.jpg
sm_rotisserie07.jpg


Next step - to true up the up the "top assemblies" and get them welded onto the bottom assemblies . . . heading to the shop right now . . .
 
Built my own from scratch. Works great. I'm a machinist, so I thought I could do it without too much trouble.
In hind-sight I should have sent a $1300.00 check to autotwirler and bit the bullet. $500.00 in materials, and
then my labor. I spent time working on the rotisserie rather than on the car! When I'm done with it, someone
here will be able to buy it from me. I think It could handle a full car. Ha! Glad I was able to clean and paint the
underside of the car! There is just no other way to do it. My back feels much, much better!
 
You already have it but 3X3 is overkill. Also, instead of cutting half round holes I use a piece of channel on top with the round tube sitting in the channel.

If you've seen any of my other threads of things that I've built, they are all stamped - BSH - as in, they are built like a Brick Sh*t House . . . I build them to last . . .

Secondly, after 3 years invested in this already, the last thing that I want is for something to happen and damage all of my hard work already . . . so "overkill" it was . . . and SAFE.

Thanks . . .
 
I built two of them over the years. The first one was sold of with a Project Challenger. The second one has been on loan and View attachment 696292 View attachment 696294 has a couple of cars on it & a truck cab & bed. I just finally got it back not that long ago. I numbered all of the pieces so once taken all apart for storage it is easy to reassemble. View attachment 696293

Question for you . . . please . . .

What is the height measurement from the floor to the center of the rotisserie pivoting point . . . ( center of the tubes . . . ) - Think the Belvedere Convertible will have a slightly different center of balance then a hard top . . . and I'm hoping that my "planning" accounted for the extra height that I'll have with the windshield supports . . . I hope . . .
 
Taking a short break to let the Derma-Bond dry and stop the bleeding on the gash that I just cut in the back of my hand . . . ( sigh ) . . .

Here's the direction and plan . . .

Made this "tail" an inch longer figuring I'd be able to do my alignment with it . . . ( wrong ) . . . it was not long enough, it just barely centers on the other bracket . . .
( is it enough . . . maybe . . . but I just want to try and make this right . . . )

sm_rotisserie08.jpg


So back to the lathe to turn down a "longer" alignment tube . . .

sm_rotisserie09.jpg


Then all of the braces are clamped together, and aligned, and then the "alignment tube is inserted through both upper supports . . .
- base of the brackets are checked for level - check
- alignment tube is put in place and make sure it spins - check ( this it how the gash got in my hand )
- make sue the tops to the brackets are level - was working on that . . .
- if all is good to go . . . tack in the corners of everything - double check level and tube spinning - then weld it all up !

sm_rotisserie10.jpg
 
Question for you . . . please . . .

What is the height measurement from the floor to the center of the rotisserie pivoting point . . . ( center of the tubes . . . ) - Think the Belvedere Convertible will have a slightly different center of balance then a hard top . . . and I'm hoping that my "planning" accounted for the extra height that I'll have with the windshield supports . . . I hope . . .
I don't remember and it is all disassembled and in storage now. For some reason 48" sticks in my head for the over all length. I know everything knocks down and fits on my 48" shelving section.
 
Built my own from scratch. Works great. I'm a machinist, so I thought I could do it without too much trouble.
In hind-sight I should have sent a $1300.00 check to autotwirler and bit the bullet. $500.00 in materials, and
then my labor. I spent time working on the rotisserie rather than on the car! When I'm done with it, someone
here will be able to buy it from me. I think It could handle a full car. Ha! Glad I was able to clean and paint the
underside of the car! There is just no other way to do it. My back feels much, much better!
Mine was only $174.85 for materials from my local steel place and used all of their cut off scraps. cut everything to size and wiped down one day, welded everything up the next day, painted the third day, mounted car the fourth day.
 
Got the upright supports done and ready to go . . . now onto the pivoting and car supporting parts . . .

sm_rotisserie11.jpg


Was going to make them solid and just weld them up . . . now wondering if they should be made adjustable to use it again on my next car . . .
 
Question for you . . . please . . .

What is the height measurement from the floor to the center of the rotisserie pivoting point . . . ( center of the tubes . . . ) - Think the Belvedere Convertible will have a slightly different center of balance then a hard top . . . and I'm hoping that my "planning" accounted for the extra height that I'll have with the windshield supports . . . I hope . . .
Measure the width of the car, divide in half and allow for your bottom cross brace, that should do it. Remember you only need it tall enough to clear the side of the car when it's on it's side, don't forget to figure in the Sasquatch factor too:lol:

Nice looking work Larry!
 
Measure the width of the car, divide in half and allow for your bottom cross brace, that should do it. Remember you only need it tall enough to clear the side of the car when it's on it's side, don't forget to figure in the Sasquatch factor too:lol:

Nice looking work Larry!

It's actually more than half. If you don't go a little more the roof will hit the cross bar that goes from end to end near the floor when trying to turn over completely. I believe mine was 46" on center from the center of the pivot point to the center of the lower cross bar. The best thing I learned is the car becomes the best 6' & 17' shelf there is once turned up side down.... LOL.

I mounted my car with the suspension still on the car with my over head crane in the garage on one end & a engine hoist (cherry picker) on the other end. Picked up the car evenly. Removed wheels & tires. Mounted the car. Then rolled it over, removed the front suspension & rear end assembly altogether & lifted them off from the top with the over head crane. Never crawled under the car or got dirty. Well, until another day doing body work.
 
It's actually more than half. If you don't go a little more the roof will hit the cross bar that goes from end to end near the floor when trying to turn over completely. I believe mine was 46" on center from the center of the pivot point to the center of the lower cross bar. The best thing I learned is the car becomes the best 6' & 17' shelf there is once turned up side down.... LOL.

I mounted my car with the suspension still on the car with my over head crane in the garage on one end & a engine hoist (cherry picker) on the other end. Picked up the car evenly. Removed wheels & tires. Mounted the car. Then rolled it over, removed the front suspension & rear end assembly altogether & lifted them off from the top with the over head crane. Never crawled under the car or got dirty. Well, until another day doing body work.
That may be the difference, you mounted yours with suspension whereas mine was a shell so the center of gravity was higher on mine. It cleared with minimal clearance to the sides... I'm short so I like them low.
 
You already have it but 3X3 is overkill. Also, instead of cutting half round holes I use a piece of channel on top with the round tube sitting in the channel.
You'll have to share pictures of your rotisserie and your car, so that we can make a fair judgement call on the differences. :thumbsup:
 
Picking away at this project, with my "goal" to have this on the rotisserie before the new year . . .

Here's what's been done today . . .

Decided that building it "adjustable" made much more sense than building it for just this car . . . so a quick trip to the steel place to pick up a couple pieces so that it can be built that way . . .
Been told that ( on paper ) a 1/4" wall 3" x 3" square tube "should" fit over a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square tube . . . so I picked up a piece of 1/4" - 3" x 3" to see . . .

First had to grind the weld out of the inside of the tube . . .

sm_rotisserie12.jpg


and guess what . . . it actually worked ( should I say IN THIS CASE ) . . . your results may vary . . .
The other 3" x 3" square I have is 3/16" . . . it'll have a little wiggle to it - got an idea for that too . . .

sm_rotisserie13.jpg


Next step was to decide how to make the brackets to bolt onto the car - first the rear brackets . . .

Plan A . . .

sm_rotisserie14.jpg


Plan B . . . ( not sure there is a "right way" or "wrong way", think they will both hold just fine . . . )

sm_rotisserie15.jpg


went with Plan A and welded up the Brackets - and then welded the angle on backwards from my original plan . . . so it'll still work . . .

sm_rotisserie16.jpg


Next, the "hope" was that that my planning would make it tight to the car and not hit anything . . .
there is only about 1/8" clearance between the brackets and the car - something DID work out as planned ! ! !

sm_rotisserie17.jpg


What was I thinking that the holes would be straight and at right angles to the new support bracket . . .
Time to get that fixed up - as needed . . .

sm_rotisserie18.jpg


Moving along . . . slowly but surely . . .
 
Great weather down here today, and I took advantage of it to get some good progress done on the rotisserie . . .

Decided that this time the brackets would be all "pre-fitted" and clamped together . . . to try and make everything "fit" better as it went together . . .

put the parts together on the passenger side, tack weld them together . . .

sm_rotisserie19.jpg


put the parts together on the driver side, tack weld them together . . .

sm_rotisserie20.jpg


fit the cross tube in place - add the vertical support . . . then weld it all up . . .

sm_rotisserie21.jpg


Ok, worked a little bit better . . . but still had to do a little reaming to make a few of the bolts go in easier . . .

After that, spend some time working on the through bolt holes, drilled them on the drill press to make sure they were aligned properly . . . only thing left for the front support is to "try" and figure out the proper "balance location" for the bolt hole so that I can bolt it all together and get it on the rotisserie . . .

Oh - got to get the through bolt holes done on the back too - and find the "balance location" for it too . . .

This ought to be a whole lotta fun . . .
 
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