Rosco
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| posted on 12/11/10 at 11:44 PM |
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How to find the centre line of a car.
I'm trying to fine the centre line of my Fury for locating lights, fuel filler, number plate light.....etc. I'd be interested in how to
go about it.
I've tried taking some measurements across the rear wheel arces, the front suspension and bulkhead and then taping a verticle rod at each point
and piece of string between them, but am not totally convinced by the results. I know there are issues with a Fury body not being totall symetrical -
so what works best for a Fury and other cars; eye or measurement? Any how do you do it - either way.
Thanks
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ReMan
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| posted on 13/11/10 at 06:08 AM |
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AFAIK IVA does not stipulate any light being fitted on the centreline, thats for motorcycles
l'll get my coat!
Seriously I'd work inwards from each outside edge so that the distance from edge to light is the same. The eye would be less likely to notice if
that is correct?
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LBMEFM
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| posted on 13/11/10 at 07:13 AM |
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I would suggest that you place a piece of timber on the floor aligned with the rear tyre, draw a chalk line on the floor out from the rear of the car.
Do the same on the other side. Measure the distance between the two, divide by two and thats the centre. Put a spirit level from the centre line up
to the rear body work and mark with a wipable felt tip. Repeat at the front.
But finding the centre line is not the required, I would say follow ReMan's advice, measure in from the edge it will look much nicer. Barry
[Edited on 13/11/10 by LBMEFM]
[Edited on 13/11/10 by LBMEFM]
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Blackbird Rush
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| posted on 13/11/10 at 08:19 AM |
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If you feel the body is not exactly symmetrical and measuring from the outside edges is inconclusive then the old fall back is your eyes, amazing how
measurements can be overruled if it just doesn't look right.
So long as it looks right to the eye then if its a few mm out then who cares.
The only one who will get a tape measure out is the IVA tester and he is not looking at the aesthetics.
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zilspeed
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| posted on 13/11/10 at 09:41 AM |
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In agreement with all of the above.
It's a hand made plastic car.
It'll certainly be a bit assymetrical.
Go with what looks right.
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Fred W B
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| posted on 13/11/10 at 10:45 AM |
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Finding the centre of the body would be different to finding the centre of the chassis, and first price would be to centre the body on the chassis as
you build it, than the wheels could be referenced to the chassis and would be also correctly positioned in the body, assuming the body is square.
But if the body is mounted, and if you want a centre line to mark out stripes say, I would use a lazer level line shining down the length of the car
to split the difference between as many centres as you can mark on the car from cockpit edges, outside of doors, outside of wheel arches, centre of
rad opening etc.
Easiest way to establish a centre across say the rear wheel arches is to use a piece of light alloy square tube or a builders straight edge a little
longer than the overall width of the car. Mark the centre of this bar, then lay it across the car above the centre points of the arches. Hold a spirt
level vertically up from the edge you are measuring form, and measure from the level to the end of the bar. Do the same on the other side and than
adjust the bar position till the measuremanets are the same on each side. Then mark from the centre mark to the body with a square.
If the tube lies exactly horizontially you could also hang a roofing square over the ends of the tube and measure from them to the body, which would
be easier than using the spirit level.
Cheers
Fred W B
[Edited on 13/11/10 by Fred W B]
[Edited on 13/11/10 by Fred W B]
You can do it quickly. You can do it cheap. You can do it right. – Pick any two.
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