Sketch.....
 

I ran across this on my computer this morning, and I thought I should share it.

All projects start with a vision...... I had one.... and I sketched it. The following is my original sketch. As you can see, the vision is now becoming a reality.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...ept-Sketch.jpg

Rodger knew I was into SolidWorks, and laughed when I sent him this sketch....... He was expecting more at the time.


--Eric

Expecting more, Your a Solidworks designer for a living. Not a redneck fabricator. I draw that stuff on napkins.

The show is Phoenix is the last goodguys show of the year. I was thinking of taking my truck, Erics frame and a certain 66 if she is about ready for paint by then. That is one week after SEMA and 1 week before the Street Car Super Nationals in Vegas. November will be a Busy month for me.

But, but.....
 

But, but........ when I have an idea, I like to get it on paper so I don't forget it.


--Eric

Update.........
 

This photo shows the hoop going across the top of the 6-speed transmission. The half-shafts were also installed to start checking for clearance considerations. I love this shot:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...8-1-200861.jpg

This shot is of the transaxle cradle tubing. IRONWORKS is zeroing in on the design, so this may change slightly.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...08-1-20085.jpg


--Eric

I have a quick question. I was lookingat the pictures and Ive seen this on the others the plates to mount the front lower control arms. Are they perpendicular with the tubes? Or are they angle with the control arm? Or does the control parallel with the tubes? I'm wanting to build a suspension with this method and was curious as to how you guys went about that. BTW car looks great!

The lower control arms are level at ride height in this application so that allows the plates to be perpendicular. The stock corvette has a tiny upward angle from the front toward the back. The upper mount is a separate plate with the antidive built in.

Rodger

So you guys determined that control arms could be parallel to the ground at ride height using a suspension program or calculations?

Both. All it does is lower the side profile instant center a bit in the front. But we had to modify the antidive to get the narrowed package to clear the parts and pieces in the front end. So in turn the instant center is in the same place. We are custom building uppers and lower a arms on this car in order to not use an expensive aftermarket rack and pinion. The steering arms will be lowered 2 inches to get all of this to happen. I have yet to see an aftermarket C5 front clip that did not have level a arms in the front.

Rodger

What do you know:lol: .Not bad work at all.I bet your pretty good with an erector set to.Sending your Stainless out on Friday Morning.

I pictured Rodger as more the Lincoln Log type. You know the round cross section and all! :unibrow:

Can you provide the rack manufacture, model # and width please ? Thx !!

Jim

It is the rack and pinion everybody in the universe uses on their front ends. It is 24" pivot to pivot. It came out of mustangs.

http://www.agrperformance.com/produc...Ford&model=124

Thanks Rodger !

Jim

Ironworks.....
 

I'm heading to IRONWORKS tomorrow for the day.... Anybody need anything?

I have some new photos, and I'll try to post them tonight.


--Eric

Update.....
 

I finally got my computer talking to the photo-hosting site, so here are a few new photos..............

This is the frame as it came off of the frame-table:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...-6-2008007.jpg

Next we start attaching rear lower-control-arm mounts. First, the cradle tubes are tack-welded in place and mock-up brackets are used for initial sizing:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...-6-2008009.jpg

Next, the lower-control-arm brackets were cut on the water-jet cutter and slid over the cradle tube:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...-6-2008015.jpg

Front Susupension....
 

The upper-control-arm mounts are going in. IRONWORKS will fab some mock-up control arms (upper and lower) soon, then these will be used to model (and machine) some billet arms.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/P8080026.jpg

Also in the photo above, you can see that more of the original firewall was removed.


--Eric

Progress............
 

Headers and front suspension mock-up!!!!

Here is a sample of the recent work at IRONWORKS:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...9-13-08024.jpg

I'll post more soon!

--Eric

:cool:

Wow
 

KICK ASS JOB --IRONWORKS :thumbsup:

MORE PICS PLEASE.....

radrambler

Thanks!
 

Thanks radrambler!

I'll post a bunch of pics tomorrow. What till you see the .............


--Eric

It's not nice to tease your Lat-Brothers. We know where you live, we have tools and we're prepared to use them .... :unibrow:

One question, on the rear lower a-arms - what type of fastener(s) do you plan to use that will grip without machined pockets for the adjustment eccentric ?

Looks GREAT !

Jim

Man slow down the eccentric pocket has not been put on yet. JEEZ. It will get welded onto the outsides of each tab with a 3/16 to 1/4 plate. I did not want to make the tabs 3/8 thick at the attachment point around the tube. The 1/4" tabs are already twice the thickness of the tubing they mount to.

Rodger

Ah, you're not machining the slot in the tab - rather adding the eccentric channel to the tab. Me sees ....

Thx !

Underside...........
 

Thanks Jim..... By the way: Can I borrow some of those tools??!?!?!? I'm looking forward to seeing progress on your project!


Here are photos showing what the underside of the car will look like. The bolts in the frame/body mount will ultimately be replaced with flush-fitting bolts. The bottom of the car will be FLAT. The rockers will transition to the bellypan. To accomplish this, IRONWORKS will be removing the pinchwelds.

Also, notice the collectors (far right-side of the first photo)!........ The exhaust will be run down the center of the frame, below the Torque Tube. What we wanted to achieve is a clean undercarriage...... Nothing should be visible when you look under the car from the side. The headers, exhaust, oil pan, front cross member, are all above the ride height.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...9-13-08025.jpg

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...9-13-08026.jpg

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...9-13-08027.jpg

--Eric

Sticker
 

All: Check out the sticker I got in the mail recently (it measures about 6" X 4"):
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...RCHSTICKER.jpg

I also have a shirt and baseball cap from them! Check out their web-site.


--Eric

Front Suspension........
 

Here are a few Front Suspension photos. These show the left side as well as the right side. The UCA and LCA are only mock-ups as of this point. They were fabbed to verify proper Front Suspension geometry.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...9-13-08003.jpg

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...9-13-08004.jpg

Once everything checks out, we will model some trick parts in SolidWorks and machine them from billet aluminum.

This photo shows the clearance between the frame and the header for the UCA.
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...9-13-08009.jpg

--Eric

LOOKS SICK!!!! One question though. How much gap is there between the headers and the frame? Just curious. Oh by the way i want you car:unibrow: .

Josh

3/4" of an inch at the narrowist.

Thanks Josh...... And someday the car will be for sale. I'd like to come up to Paso sometime and checkout your truck!!!


--Eric

what kind of steel are you using for the frame rail? mild steel or 4130 tubing? killer job.from what I can see their will be tons of weld inchs in this chassis which mean a lot of heat in the weld zone. :thumbsup:

I'm heading to IRONWORKS tomorrow. I'll post update soon!


--Eric

REALLY..... CRAP, we better get something done.

Rodger

Here is a hint of the progress made by IRONWORKS:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/P1010090.jpg

More to follow!


--Eric

LOOKING SICK!!!!:woot:

Josh

Not sure how I missed this thread..but WOW what a killer build! Nice work guys!! :hail: :cheers:

Man I'm jealous. Looking good Rodger & Eric!!:hail: :thumbsup:

Updates.........
 

The guys at IRONWORKS removed the rest of the flooring sheet metal:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/P1010091.jpg

The gas tank is taking shape:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/P1010097.jpg

You can also the start of the wheel tubs in the above photo.


--Eric

Rear Suspension Mock-up............
 

Here is the first cut at the rear suspension components:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/P1010106.jpg


The intent is to design and machine the the upper and lower control arms from billet aluminum.

A quick shot of the frame/body mount:
http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/P1010107.jpg



--Eric

First Class!! :hail:

Thanks Tony.............

I can't wait to see the frame with rims and tires, and the drivetrain installed!!!!!


--Eric