Pro-Body Tool

Who Moved My Wheels Part 2

In some Pinewood Derby races, extended wheel bases are allowed, and if so in your race, you had better enlist this speed tip or choose to just be competitive.  Extending the wheel base is basically moving the axle slots further towards the front and rear of the car as shown in figure 1.  

(Note:  We have marked the new axle holes on the same side of the block as the regular axle slots to show the difference in locations.  In marking and drilling the new holes, it is best to use the opposite side of the block.)

 Figure 1

New Axle Holes for Extended Wheel Base

 The rear axle slots are moved back just short of the maximum distance one can without surpassing the 7" length requirement of the car.  The front axle slots are pushed well forward of their location out of the box but are located just a little further from the end of the car than the rear axles to alleviate any risk of the axles being damaged or misaligned in the race.  After all, even with foam padding at the end of the track, there is a fairly abrupt stop.

The Pro-Body Tool as shown below was created so someone without a drill press could incorporate an extended wheelbase by making it easier to drill straight axle holes with a hand drill.  

Pro-Body Tool Used for Drilling  Extended Wheel Base

The Pro Body Jig however includes the following major improvements: 
 

Axle Slot Preparation- The Pro Body Jig as shown below is a single tool comprising of two Pro Body Tools connected by a metal stem and has adjustable seating for each of the Pro Body Tools.  This way, one can place the block on the tool, adjust the location of each Pro Body Tool with a hex key, lock the tools in place and then cut each of the front and rear holes without removing and re-adjusting the Pro Body Tools.  This allows for a more precise drilling of the front and rear axle holes on the same body line.

Axle Hole Drilling- An added advantage of the Pro Body Jig is that it drills the holes higher in the car body (5/32" from bottom of car body) so the car body and the enclosed weight will sit lower to the track.

Pro Body Jig

To use the Pro-Body Jig:

•    Test fit each Pro-Body Tool on the bottom of the block with the two ‘ears’ on each separate body tool positioned on the sides of the block.  If the tool will not fit onto the block, use coarse grit sandpaper to reduce the width of the block until the tool fits snugly.  If the tool is loose, tighten the fit by placing a piece of paper, folded as needed, between one ‘ear’ of the tool and block.

Pro Body Jig with Block

•    Measure and mark the desired position of the new axle holes on one side of the block as shown below  (5/8” from the rear and ¾” from the front end as stated above).

Rear Axle Hole 5/8” from Rear of Car

•      Extend the mark from the bottom of the block to the top of the block using a square rule as shown below or make a similar measurement at the top of the block and use a straight edge to join the marks.

Marking Line for Pro-Body Tool Location

•    Loosen the hex nuts on each of the pro body tools and then adjust the tools to the desired wheelbase by lining up the channel in the top of each tool with the marked lines on the block.  Once each of the pro body tools is lined up, then tighten the nuts with the hex key.
   

Lining up Body Marks with Channel in Pro Body Tool

•    Clamp each of the body tools to the block with vise grips as shown below.

Pro Body Jig with Vise Grips

•    Hold the block firmly, position the drill bit in the hole of the body tool and drill 3/4" into the car body as shown below.  Then repeat for the other three holes.

Drilling Hole with Pro Body Jig

•    If you have a raised wheel on the front of the car, extend the front axle marking line to the bottom of the block.  Align the axle marking line with the drilling guide channel on the bottom of the block, clamp the block in place and drill the raised hole.

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