What is the purpose of holes in chassis frame longitudinal members?

[heltaher]

Hi,
Can someone please, tell me:
What is the purpose of holes in chassis frame longitudinal members?

Someone suggested that they are reducing the chassis weight, another suggested that they are to allow for homogeneous distribution of the stresses along the members.

Thank you,
H

 

[TVP]

Those are both valid reasons.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Additional reasons might include:
Holes punched for mounting optional accessories, or additional frame members for other models based on the same chassis.
Sometimes a hole is punched in a blank in order to allow an odd or severe draw in forming, to prevent cracking or wrinkling.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Tmoose]

Like these ?

http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/entries/3488/Ed_Roth_Mysterion.jpg

 

[CoryPad]

If the parts are hollow, then another common reason is to allow liquid paint into the inside to prevent corrosion.

 

[swall]

Or to provide for hook/hang points for conveying through the paint or primer bath.

 

[blacksmith37]

And , before you guys were born, GM used an "X" frame ; the drive shaft, exhaust, etc, ran through the holes.

 

[GregLocock]

I imagine that the life of a body designer largely consists of trying to say "no" to people who want to put holes in his chassis rails, for reasons that seem perfectly sensible to them.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[stimpy1966]

also used for the jigs as they have line up finger on the fixtures when they weld the bodys together

making people scratch there heads for 40 years and ask me why??? ..

 

[EngMark]

E-Coat drain holes
Water / road salt drainout
Welding / assembly fixture locating holes
Tie down holes for rail transport
Measuring holes for collision repair (unlikely)
Recommended attach points for tow truck use
Adjustments made late in development program to tweak crash performance

Guesses, but highly educated guesses after 8 years experience in body design at one of the Detroit 'big 3'.

Mark