Engineering Help: Building a rotisserie

[Schema]

Well,it looks like I'm going to be putting the Datsun in the air a whole hell of a lot sooner than projected, so I need to start considering designs for the rotisserie.

I'm not going to have issues/questions/concerns about strength, layout, etc. That's all set.

So, what I do need to figure out is how I can find the center balance point of the car horizontally if you're starting at the front or back, best decribed here :




I already have plans for an adjustible rotisserie, but I'd like to exclude the trial and error and build things the right way, and specific to this car.

Also, I'm not going to consider one of those square jigs that you just roll over on it's side, though I'm sure it workes well for some appliations, I'm not going to consider it due to the limited space in my shop. If need be, I'd like to be able to literally put the car on it's side, and up against the walll

[crazybrew609]

i was getting all hungry until you said it was for your car

[JClark]

I helped build one. Find your attachment points and measure. What do you need a balance point for? I'll see if I can find pics of mine.

[Schema]

Originally Posted by JClark

I helped build one. Find your attachment points and measure. What do you need a balance point for? I'll see if I can find pics of mine.

If you dont find the center of balance then one end becomes top or bottom heavy. Attatchement points are the bumper mounts.

[Schema]

Originally Posted by crazybrew609

i was getting all hungry until you said it was for your car

hehe, I'd love to be able to adjust the title , especially when I make updates to my project thread, but it's not enabled on this forum. :shrug:

[JClark]

Originally Posted by Schema

If you dont find the center of balance then one end becomes top or bottom heavy. Attatchement points are the bumper mounts.

Getting it to balance dead center is a long shot. Plus you wont be working on the car in one position all the time. Build it so the rig can be locked every 45 or 90 degrees around, so then who cares where the balance point is.

[xceebeex]

I hope you are good at math and taking precise measurements if you want to find the CG of a car. That CG will change drastically once you start adding weight too.

[Schema]

Originally Posted by xceebeex

I hope you are good at math and taking precise measurements if you want to find the CG of a car. That CG will change drastically once you start adding weight too.

Probably should have meantioned this will be the center of gravity on a frame, the only weight that will be added to it are replacement metal and paint, so no, no drastic weight changes.

BTW, talked to a restoration shop this morning and came up with an ingenious solution, so I'll post pics when it's completed (It will be near the end of January)

Thanks!