To build an aluminium sim rig you need very few tools. A SIMGASM rig ships with the aluminium profiles, the chassis brackets, all assembly hardware, the tools for that hardware, a pair of white assembly gloves and a clear assembly guide. Add a tape measure, a spirit level and a soft blanket on the floor, and you have everything for a clean build in an afternoon.
In this guide you read what comes in the box, which extra tools make life easier and how to tighten each bolt so your frame stays stiff for years.
Which tools come in the box with a SIMGASM rig?
The short answer: everything you need to bolt the frame together.
Hardware and matching tools
Every aluminium sim rig from SIMGASM includes the profiles, the structural brackets, the wheel mount you picked at checkout and all bolts and T nuts. The tools that fit those bolts come in the same box. So you never search your garage for the right size at ten in the evening.
The bolts slide into the T slots of the profile through a T nut. You tighten the bolt, the nut pulls against the inside of the slot, and the bracket clamps onto the profile. That simple system holds the whole rig together. Want to know exactly which fasteners hold what? Read our guide on which bolts and T nuts hold an aluminium rig together.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
White gloves and the assembly guide
The white gloves look like a small extra, but they matter. Aluminium profiles have a finished surface, and gloves keep fingerprints and grease off it. They also protect your hands from the sharp edges of fresh cut profile ends.
The printed assembly guide shows each step in order. Follow it page by page. Skipping ahead is the most common reason people take a frame apart again.
Which extra tools make the build easier?
A few simple items from your own toolbox speed up the job and improve the result.
A ratchet with hex bits
The included tools do the job, but a small ratchet with hex bits saves your wrist when you tighten dozens of bolts. A cordless driver works for loosely running in bolts. Set it to a low clutch setting and always do the final turn by hand. Too much force strips threads or pushes T nuts out of shape.
Tape measure and spirit level
A tape measure helps you place brackets at the same height on both sides. A spirit level shows if the base frame sits flat. Both sound basic, yet they decide if your wheel deck ends up straight or slightly twisted.
A blanket and a second pair of hands
Lay a blanket or a piece of cardboard on the floor. It stops profiles from scratching each other and protects your floor. A second person helps when you lift the uprights and the wheel deck into place. Alone it works too, but with help it goes faster and safer.
SIMGASM | Club Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
How do you tighten the bolts the right way?
The order of tightening matters more than the tool you use.
First loose, then tight
Fit all brackets of one section with the bolts only snug. Then check that every corner is square and every part sits where the guide shows it. Only after that do you tighten each bolt firmly. This way the frame settles into the right shape, and nothing ends up under stress.
Check again after the first races
Aluminium profiles and brackets settle a little in the first sessions. Strong braking and a direct drive wheelbase load the frame hard. Go over every bolt once after a week of racing. Our sim rig maintenance guide shows a quick routine to keep the frame silent and stiff.
How long does the build take?
Most racers finish the frame in one afternoon.
From Hobby to Pro
The Hobby uses a 40 x 40 mm main profile and measures 500 x 1270 x 580 mm. One Hobby owner wrote in his review that the build took about two hours when he followed the manual. The Club (40 x 80 mm), Sport (40 x 120 mm) and Pro (40 x 160 mm) use deeper profiles and heavier parts, so plan some extra time. See the full timeline in our article on how long it takes to build an aluminium cockpit.
Mounting the seat, wheelbase and pedals comes after the frame. Set aside another hour for that, and for the first fine tuning of your driving position.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
Why does the tool list stay so short?
A short tool list is a design choice, not luck.
Designed by someone who knows workshops
Founder and product designer Johan Akkerman worked as a technical specialist and workshop manager for brands like Mercedes Benz and Jaguar before he moved into sim racing. He knows how much a missing tool or an unclear step costs in real life. At SIMGASM he takes every product from 3D model to physical prototype and stress tested production part.
Tested as a complete simulator
Every SIMGASM product is tested as part of a complete simulator, not as a loose part. That includes the assembly. If a step needs a special tool, it shows up in testing first. The result is a sim racing cockpit you build with the contents of the box and a free afternoon.
Questions and answers about tools for a sim rig
These are the questions we hear most often before a first build.
Do I need a torque wrench?
No, it is not required. Firm hand tightening with the included tools is enough for the frame. A torque wrench is a nice extra if you like even results on every bolt.
Can I use a drill or impact driver?
Only for running bolts in loosely, and only on a low clutch setting. An impact driver is too strong for T nuts and aluminium threads. Do the final tightening by hand.
Are the tools included with every SIMGASM rig?
Yes. The Hobby, Club, Sport and Pro all ship with assembly hardware, tools, white gloves and the assembly guide.
What if a bolt does not line up?
Loosen the bolts around it a little, slide the bracket until the holes line up and tighten again. Forcing a bolt into a misaligned hole damages the thread.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
