Rotisseries and e30's

[E30 Wagen]

Yeah, I'd like to know the measurements, too. It makes me nervous, though, seeing how it's only bolted to the front and rear bumper shock points. I worry that the middle will sag a bit or that those areas just aren't meant to support the weight. I'd want to figure out a way for the support arms to extend farther in and possibly bolt into where the front subframe goes, same for the rear. But the problem with that is then I can't actually install those parts while it's mounted, which is what I planned to do...

I've been thinking about this all day at the shop and coming up with ideas for a levelling system and even being able to raise and lower the entire car using a gear and cable system kind of like the shore station for our boat, which I think could be done much cheaper than buying a cylinder for each end. A gearing and locking system would also be used to safely spin the car. Again, safety and build quality is my main concern, especially if I'm going to let others use it. But right now the big challenge is the fact that my shop told me I couldn't stay after or come in on the weekend to build it there, so now I really need to get serious about buying a good welding setup.

[flyboyx]

i don't know if you are aware of this but a bare shell isn't very heavy. i have a cabrio shell that i have been stealing parts off as i need them. the car is almost stripped down. i can pick the front end of the car up off the ground myself. it is at the limit of my strength, but i guess the empty shell only weighs 700 pounds at the most. i would guess the front end weighs 250lbs or so. there are four bolts in each bumper. each bolt probably has a shear strength of around 300 lbs. i know my math is coming out of my ass but i am pretty sure those 4 bolts are way more than enough to hold up one end of the car.

when you say "those areas will sag", what do you mean by that? are you talking about the body?

the setup that ironfreak posted photos of in this thread is more than adequate for the task at hand. it is in fact, so economical, i would say its genius. if you need something stronger, build something stronger. i am telling you that you are wasting your time and money, but it is yours to do with as you please.

[brent5631]

Unless you are going to be doing a lot of car restorations I dont see the point of spending a bunch on a very well engineered rotisserie. You can accomplish the same for much less if you get creative.

Something like this maybe.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44539&showall=1

[MoreMayhem]

Aww hell, I want one just so I can put Christmas lights on it in my front yard. Add a small electric motor, a belt, and some pulleys and have the best display on the block

[IronFreak]

Practical until a gust of wind comes up...mine cost $100 bucks in materials and can hold a lot of weight.

A stripped chassis is not going to bend or tweak, a loaded car might feel some stress but this is a unibody style car, it was designed to support its own weight. By lifting at the bumper mounts you're only 18 moreinches out then where the car sits on its own suspension in either direction at most. Youre over engineering your idea. I am a bigger guy but i can lift this chassis as it sits right now, its not going to fold on itself.

Thanks for the kind words flyboy.

[E30 Wagen]

IronFreak, flyboyx - thanks for the advice, I'm listening. I suppose I need to remind myself not to get too carried away, particularly with cost. I'm going to pack as many features into it as possible, though. For example, it has to have a locking mechanism to keep it from spinning freely, even if perfectly balanced.

But, after taking another look at how low the ceiling is in my garage, I doubt this is going to work.

Actually just went and measured, and I've only got 7'8" ceilings, so there's not enough working clearance when the e30 is flipped on its side. :(

[flyboyx]

by chance are you one of those guys that always looks at the cup as half empty?

7'8" is a low ceiling, but it should be more than enough for a rotisserie. the car is less than 6.5 feet wide in rotational diameter. if you make the rack ends so the car is 4 or 5 inches above the ground when it rotates, it will clear both the ceiling and floor.

[slammin.e28]

I'm getting all excited in my pantaloons at the prospect of one of these. Would make life so easy.

[IronFreak]

IronFreak, flyboyx - thanks for the advice, I'm listening. I suppose I need to remind myself not to get too carried away, particularly with cost. I'm going to pack as many features into it as possible, though. For example, it has to have a locking mechanism to keep it from spinning freely, even if perfectly balanced.

But, after taking another look at how low the ceiling is in my garage, I doubt this is going to work.

Actually just went and measured, and I've only got 7'8" ceilings, so there's not enough working clearance when the e30 is flipped on its side. :(

The lowest part of my ceiling in my garage is 7'.....which is right over the middle of my car......easy up buttercup you'll be fine. Locking mechanism can be had by drilling holes in the pivot tubes and inserting a pin........did I do this?.....no, I live by the "KISS" rule, this chassis is light enough and the way I built it is when I want it locked on its side I kick in one of the a frame stands and let the bracket arm rest on it.

If I have time this weekend I'll write something up as well as maybe make a short video so you guys can get a good feel for how its put together, what I'd do different, how I mounted it and other things.

If there is something specific you'd want me to cover or would need an answer for let me know now and I'll cover it in the video as well.

[Andy348]

I don't have anything improtant to add but I'd love an in-depth DIY because I'm sure I'll be building one in the near future.

GL OP

[Jozi]

This is mine:




It's losely based on one by xworks, I don't think he's on here but he has a drawing with materials etc in his thread - which is a full on M3 resto with every last bit of the car replaced/refurbed, maybe the best resto thread out there?

Mine cost me roughly 100euro in metal, the castors were about the same. If I was to do it again I'd "V" the legs and brace the vertical bit, also a castor under the vertical section would stop it bouncing and bracing would stop it moving back and forth. It worked perfectly and served it's purpose, the shell wasnt quite balanced but was easy to rotate, with the sunroof panel removed it was balanced perfectly!

I've only ever had a stripped chassis on it, wouldn't trust it with much more than that and subframes/suspension.

[Cinnabar325is]

Here's mine, not an E30 but very similar. The bumper mounting points are more than sufficient and you don't have to worry about the chassis sagging or not being able to support it's own weight. At least not with a coupe/sedan.

Mine probably cost $300 all said and done. The castors were the most expensive part, I wanted nice ones that would roll on uneven or bumpy surfaces.