Engine swap cradles

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My main business is building chassis and suspension for custom cars, but as one of very few fab shops in the area, we get appoached with all sorts of interesting (and not so interesting) projects.    Last year a few of the local demo derby guys asked us to build some engine protectors for their cars to save damage to the crank, pulleys etc. They were very pleased and brought us a new project last week. These are "universal" engine cradles for transplanting small block Chevy motors into the demo car of your choice, in this case mainly Chryslers.    The first pics show the cradle they were buying in years past,  but fitup was poor and they wanted something with better fit and a bit stronger. Obviously price was also an issue but these guys usually will pay for something that works.     I designed the brackets in Solidworks and added tabs etc so it would basically be "self-fixturing" with little measuring and hard to screw up. Welding was done by my newest guy, 17 years old and currently in a welding program at the local HS. We are grooming him to start here once he graduates and he is already taking to it very well. I don't have kids so when I can train a young guy and give him something to be proud of it makes me feel good. Also doesn't hurt that he is trained my way and I don't have to unlear bad habits.    I would like to know what other guys would have charged for these, and I will share what we charged when I get some opinions. They were all built in house, from design to plasma cutting to welding. Attached Images "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:A few pics of the new guys welding, I am very proud of him to come this far in only a few months so don't be too harsh. He is only 17 and has better work ethics than 99% of the guys I have had in here the last 10 years. Attached Images "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:I can't be harsh on the welds they look like mine. The cradle, looks to me to be $150-200 at least I would feel that's fair as the welding seems minimal and using the plasma to cut the meterial they could be all cut out fairly quick.Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:The brackets are well thought out and made. However I question why the tabs do not penetrate through the mating part and get plug welded from the back side. this would also have insured proper placement and alignment.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120Fair enough but....if you're using jig fitup, why bother?All it does is create more work and cutting plus, if the base plate needs to sit flat, it would also create extra grinding.
Reply:Nice work. As for the price... what kind of time to you have into the project?Last edited by forhire; 05-29-2012 at 01:43 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by skipweidnerThe brackets are well thought out and made. However I question why the tabs do not penetrate through the mating part and get plug welded from the back side. this would also have insured proper placement and alignment.
Reply:Guess my 150 was not too far off, but my 200 was way off. I would love to get jobs like that at 110 each and a days worth if work, I could live with the 440 in profits. As it would be part time for me. Now if j could just make 440 a day profit 30 days a month I would be happy.Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:I hope they hold up,  they look a little light to me,  but then my son tore the mounts off the block a few times,  or the bolts out of them,  we had two one inch square bars, (they were some what hard) but we broke both of them when he went to the front of the engine and built a plate that would bolt on up and around the front timing chain cover,  and we have had the front of the car pushed back about 6 to 7 inches in some good hits as well, mostly crushing in the fire wall area,  (the Chrysler's are better with that torsion bar suspension, and the way the front is boxed in, but if you can not keep the engine from going forward  you will lose your radiator,
Reply:Farmerboy, you can see what the original looks like that they brought in and wanted "copied" and that had been in a car for a few years, these obviously are quite a bit different and stronger, but again just a transplant cradle at a reasonable (cheap) price.    However if they are looking for damage protection rather than just a swap they can spend a few more bucks and buy one of our pulley protectors shown here. These are made of 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch plate and hold up real well to the abuse. Attached Images "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:I like the looks of the green unit, and the pully guard is a good idea,
Reply:Nice work, Coupebuilder!    Originally Posted by skipweidnerWhy bother using tabs if it is a jig fitup?
Reply:Nice work Coupebuilder, I think ur price is fair and have repeat customers thats always a plus. Tell the young man nice work as well.
Reply:For a demo derby car they are MORE than fine.    looks great to me.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieFor a demo derby car they are MORE than fine.    looks great to me.