Thread: American Graffiti Coupe, My Version

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Originally Posted by rspears

Gary, that one scares me with the 2x12's on edge, held by lag bolts up through the base. It wouldn't take much side force on the body to split those 2x12's at the bolts, and lay the whole thing over on the plywood - like moving the body to the side. Glad it's worked for you but I think you're dancing with the devil without at least some cross bracing between the lateral 2x12's.

Been doing it this way for 20 years and never any weakness much less problem. since the 2 x 12's are not parallel with each other, they run at an angle same as frame does, that triangulates them for the cross bracing you are wanting so they don't just fold over sideways. Bolted down tight to plywood and to floor of car they never try to tilt at all, they are going no where. If they were parallel to each other I would then consider some bracing but with them bolted down so tight I wouldn't foresee any problem. Especially since very little force is needed to push the body sideways. I have a 63 chevy nova body on good casters now and can push it straight sideways with one finger. Never enough force needed in moving it to put any stress at all on 2 x 12's. If I were not bolting the body down I would agree with you. On bodies where I am just quickly moving it and I do not bolt the body down to the 2 x 12's I then make a have a full 4 sided box out of the 2 x 12's bolted to the plywood like my first post in this thread describes so it has full strength pushing it in any direction.