pic: 6CIM WCD

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

Have you considered how your corner gussets will stand up with significant torsional loads? Or are you using a bellypan? Also, how will you make sure that the two sides of the drives are parallel? Rivets holes usually have enough play in them that locating of them doesn't work super well. Are rivets the only things holding the frame together, or is the tubing welded too?

Rivets and gussets are definitely both rigid and adequately strong for this application. I don't understand where you're getting rivets with enough play that you can't hold a frame together with them.

We used overly thick 1/8" gussets and a 1/16" solid belly pan this year instead of welding. Chassis was just as rigid, really. No noticeable performance or strength difference at all. Welding is not mandatory for this kind of drive. And there is definitely no need to do *both* permanently.



Here's a picture of our setup. The thickness of the gusset and the number of rivets used were both excessive, but rivets are almost "free" in terms of weight.