PVC Rig conversion from metric to imperial?

[ItsAllAboutWins]

I wanted to try to build my first sim cockpit. Here is the design and blueprints that I want to use. Only problem is, I'm in America and the design is in metric. It's using 50mm pvc pipe, but I can only get 2 inch pvc pipe (which is 52mm.) How would I go about building this rig correctly?

 

[grog]

First thing I would recommend is to maybe find a plan that's just a tad simpler. This is a cool F1 design but its pretty complex for a first build, unless you're used to projects like this or you just must have the laid out F1 position. I dont think I would like that seat or the seating position personally. I only mention this because with a seat setup like that there's no way of adjusting it if you're uncomfortable. Also do you want to mount a sequential or H pattern shifter? I see no provision for those.
Sorry to nitpick but I can imagine someone might go to a lot of trouble to build this only to find out afterwards that its too short or missing this or that. So its much better to look into those areas early on.

To build this right you could source metric pvc which is available but harder to find, or simply convert all of the dimensions to standard, maybe print out the pages with dimensions and start converting them on the paper.

 

[ItsAllAboutWins]

First thing I would recommend is to maybe find a plan that's just a tad simpler. This is a cool F1 design but its pretty complex for a first build, unless you're used to projects like this or you just must have the laid out F1 position. I dont think I would like that seat or the seating position personally. I only mention this because with a seat setup like that there's no way of adjusting it if you're uncomfortable. Also do you want to mount a sequential or H pattern shifter? I see no provision for those.
Sorry to nitpick but I can imagine someone might go to a lot of trouble to build this only to find out afterwards that its too short or missing this or that. So its much better to look into those areas early on.

To build this right you could source metric pvc which is available but harder to find, or simply convert all of the dimensions to standard, maybe print out the pages with dimensions and start converting them on the paper.

I wouldn't be using any kind of shifter except for paddles, also it's adjustable on the pedals. The wheel is only adjustable front to back. I would only have to make sure it's at the right height. The reason I chose this to build is because it requires no seat. I just ordered a G29 and I have nothing to mount it to.

I can build it, I'm just curious if the different measurement systems are going to throw off the build and what I need to do it compensate.

 

[grog]

So you'll need to convert the measurements, and you'll have to do a bit of math as the lengths of some of these will change because of the standard sizing being 2mm larger. So the side to side lengths will be 2 mm less due to the pipe being 2mm bigger, 1mm on each side= 2mm. Maybe you don't want to lose the 2mm interior space, in that case don't subtract the extra 2mm.

I'm unsure on the math for the pipes that run length wise and how all the different size fittings will add up. Since multiple fittings are butting up to each other using a slightly different size here will add up to large changes. I would gather up the elbows and T fittings that are the size you're thinking of using so you can figure out how much longer they might be. Remember if the pipe is bigger so is the fitting and its overall length.

Are you going to bring a cut list to a hardware store or will you be cutting it yourself? If I were cutting it myself I'd try to do the math then with parts in hand.

You could also just ignore the fact that the sizing is 2mm larger, sure it will be slightly different but as long as there are 2 mirror images (left and right) that can be connected you'll probably never notice the fact that its 2mm smaller inside and a bit longer.