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That looks fantastic! Well worth the effort I'd say.
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Congrats on the progress Russell. :thumbsup:
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Thanks all!
Sorry I've been out of touch. Holidays, TIG died, had to help the girlfriend move, Jim (aka dad, works here with me) had back surgery and we had a TFC4 TriFive C4 Stage 4 Chassis to wrap up. But no relatives were murdered, the TIG has been fixed, girlfriend is moved in, Jim doesn't have any of the pain he's had in his legs and was walking again same day after the surgery and the Stage 4 Chassis is awesome! http://www.nerdrods.com/Images/Produ..._4/01/S-03.jpg http://www.nerdrods.com/Images/Produ..._4/01/S-05.jpg http://www.nerdrods.com/Images/Produ..._4/01/S-17.jpg I'm almost done with the truck frame. I didn't bother doing extensive photography in favor for speed. It was all just little bottom welding and a few loose brackets but I'll get few photos posted in a day or two I hope. The rest of the photos are here. http://www.trifive.com/forums/showth...87#post1282187 Later -Russell |
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Looks great Russell! I'm calling "Shotgun" for the first ride!!
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well if the purpose you are showing us the frame is to make us think that it is a great looking frame, well engineered, reasonable to put together, well thought out, make me want to have one, ..... then it is working.
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Not pretty parts but its rolling. I need to get something together for a temp coil over shock and then its time to bring the cab in. It just got really cold down here but we'll be back to normal shortly. I need the stage 4 on the lift to go away and I'm working on the wiring harness to the 38 Ford in the background as well and I need to finish that to bring the Cab and front clip in to mount up. Hopefully that will happen Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-01.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-02.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-03.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-04.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-05.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-06.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-07.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-08.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-09.jpg |
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-10.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-11.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-12.jpg
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-13.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-14.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-15.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-16.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-17.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-18.jpg Later -Russell |
And we've mounted the cab and bed. Everything fits nicely when you use a little rubber body bushing. Factory is a piece of pressed particle board. You can see the photos with the trimming notes. And you can see the one with the frame note showing it just barely under the bed between the bed supports. It worked out really well and everything fits awesome. We will need to trim all the inner fenders weather it be tall or short for A frame clearance. That is shown as well.
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-19.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-20.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-21.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-22.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-23.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-24.jpg https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/...53107410_n.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-25.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-26.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-27.jpg |
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-28.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-29.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-30.jpg
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-31.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-32.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-33.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-34.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-35.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-36.jpg I'm getting my wheel stash out so I can check for the wides and look for possible clearance issues in the next few days. After that the body comes off and we mount the motor and check its fit. Later -Russell |
It's coming together nicely!!
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Looking good! Seems like minimal trimming to make it all fit nice.
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Thanks! I was hoping for no modifications but I already pushed the borders of engineering doctorate on a few places and I figure if you don't have tin snips to make these mods you shouldn't be swapping your own suspension much less welding your own frame.
Alright, we got her on the ground. I need to adjust the shocks a little and these tires are different sizes from the other side so its sitting a little odd but close enough for photos. Tires! So a 245 with an 8.5 inch wheel is going to be the easiest thing to put under the truck without modifying the bed. Room is just tight under there. Now, you can see in the previous photos that the frame is designed to accommodate a lot of tire should you be willing to make the simple modification. Up front is amazing. A 275 on a 10.5" tire will fit easily and turn so you guys who want to see on of these babies handle, a 11" with a 295 should be cake with a little work to the outer fender and exact sizing to steer and stop the beast. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/M-37.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-38.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-39.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-40.jpg Miles and mile and miles of room under here!!! We're pulling the cab back off to mount up a 5.3L and see what the firewall clearance looks like. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-41.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-42.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-43.jpg Tires all fall nicely in their exact places. The gray wheels are 18" and the chrome are 17" to give you an idea of size. Some taller tires on the back would be a good look to the truck as well. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-44.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-45.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-46.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-47.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-48.jpg Later -Russell |
Congrats Russell :thumbsup:
Good idea to post all the pics...very helpful for those following along. |
killer job hope my chassis looks that good (good Job):thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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So here a some of the final mods I've made to the frame for the production batch. I'm happy that I'm only going to raise the front cradle a little bit in the production batch to get the suspension angle perfect. It will be more critical on the lower body height.
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-49.jpg The rest are just opening up tolerances to accommodate for welding deflection in a few of the ears and the additional thickness of powder coating I didn't think about when I was designing. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-50.jpg Finally I replaced these gussets with tubing parts so we can cut the total assembly down by 12 parts and 20+ inches of welding. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-51.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-52.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-53.jpg Got the LM7 mounted up and we have MILES AND MILES of room!!!! http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-54.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-55.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-56.jpg We have plenty of room up here with small electric fans but we also have a lot of room behind the motor to move it back for bigger fans or longer pulleys. These are the OEM truck Pulley and are the longest OEM LS pulleys but a forward mount system will need more room. We also have plenty of room to clear a distributor for SBC guys. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-57.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-58.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-59.jpg |
Tons of room for headers, steering is going to be cake (the cake is no lie), We even have plenty of transmission room with the high body height on this 4L60E and will only need a little modification on a 4L80E or T56. You can see we're even using the stock tall oil pan and we still have room to move the motor down a bit more if we need more room.
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-60.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-61.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-62.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-63.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-64.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-65.jpg Chassis Clearance http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-66.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-67.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-68.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-69.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-70.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/09/S-71.jpg Later -Russell |
Russell
Set up looks good on the truck and chassis. One question though... In the picture of the oil pan in relation to the front crossmember, it looks like the tailshaft of the trans could come down to level out the bottom of the engine oil pan. Would that help the trans/floor pan clearence without hurting driveline angles? |
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So if you didn't want to mod the floor you've got room to go down but on say a t56 where the shifters position is almost as important a choice for the drive train placement then you can come up and do a little modification. Later -Russell |
List of parts to get ordered! This is why I don't normally do full builds. The paperwork kills me. A necessary ordeal of course but I just here this looping in my head the whole time I'm working up prices, number and contracts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sor9GzivGbk#t=01m45s Body
Power Windows
Power Wipers
Gauges
Wiring
Steering Column
AC System
Cooling System
Brake System
Powder Coating bits right now, We'll get back to you soon with more photos! Later -Russell |
Things are grinding to the speed of paperwork and parts shipping. I'm also working on the second frame time lapse video so look forward to that soon as well.
For guys who want to speed through all these photos I've made some of those cool galleries that you can just click through instead of all the back and forth. Truck Drop off, Dis assembly and Adventures in Crappy Body Work Over Rust http://gallery.nerdrods.com/custom_p..._1956_chevy_01 The New Cab and the design of the frame http://gallery.nerdrods.com/custom_p..._1956_chevy_02 The FRAME! Pickup, Arrival and The Welding. http://gallery.nerdrods.com/custom_p..._1956_chevy_03 Assembly into a Rolling Chassis and the first sit on its own wheels. http://gallery.nerdrods.com/custom_p..._1956_chevy_04 Later -Russell |
Update time!
Sorry, we’ve been dealing with a ton of drama in regards to our frame tubing laser. They decided without notice to triple the cost of the frames. I called up to order truck frames for the first full production batch and at that time the shop decided to inform me that my frames had been costing them over 1,000.00 each out of there pocket. This puts me in a bad place because it not only interferes with the truck frames but it also put a complete stop to the TriFive frames as well leaving me with just the few frames I had in stock. The machine that cuts the tubing is rare here in the US and when I started they were the only job shop with the equipment I could find. After going round and round with them I paid their extortion level prices for 3 more of the truck frames. I had 2 sold already and had to buy the third just to get the order big enough for them to process it and all out of pocket. So needless to say things have been tight dealing with this. The light at the end of the tunnel. So I need one of 2 things. One I need 2 shops to tell me that my old price is reasonable and continue manufacturing my parts at that price. This way if one gets to a point where they can no longer manufacture my parts I’ll have another that I know will make the parts at the same or similar price. Second is that I get the same numbers from these new shops as the original and find out that Nerd Rods has no future building my existing kit frames. However, getting a price isn’t easy on these frames. There are lots of parts and they are almost all different. This is what makes it possible for you all to assemble them but they are also difficult to price just from looking over the data. Lots of programing is needed to see how long each part will take on the machine, how much material will each take up, how will they all be nested on the source material, packaging and handling. And on and on. Next comes with the fact that almost no one’s software likes each other so I keep needing to convert my files into different formats for each shop and then answer questions different for each as well. Talk to the sales team, email the engineers and make drawings for the drafts men. I’ve already been told no by 4 shops but they all have the older machines without the auto feeding system so their handling was what killed the projects. I’ve got 2 shops I’m waiting on now for a final quote. One shop’s laser is so new it’s still in the crate but it’s also the latest model and the faster one available and while they change 400.00 and hour their machine is 4x faster than the place in Dallas that charged 185.00 an hour so to me that means half the price. Here’s hoping. On to the actual prototype. Lots of parts are on order still but lots of other parts are here now. Have a look see. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-01.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-02.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-03.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-04.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-05.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-06.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-07.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-08.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-09.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-10.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-11.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-12.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-13.jpg I'm working on the Time Lapse of the second frame and the 3D animation right now as well so with luck I should have those out shortly. Later -Russell |
Good luck, Russell! :thumbsup:
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Well this has been an educational experience. I'm having to go out of state to get my laser cutting done. I've got 3 shops looking at my models and working up number for me. It was kind of funny. These tubing laser start around 800k, most are closer to 1.2 million and the big bad boys are 1.8 million. With a huge piece of equipment like that you would think these guys would advertise the heck out of them to keep the blasting metal around the clock.......... NOPE!!!
Finally in the last few weeks I started calling the tube laser manufactures. "WHO THE @#$% HAS YOUR MACHINE!" A few days later most of their sales guys called me back and several shops were tossed my way. I've already been turned down by 15 or so shops because they have older multi purpose machines that can't do the tube like a dedicated machine can and each one of those request are at lease a full day of talking, emailing, converting files, making special drawings for what ever questions they have and so on. I've been at that for months now trying to find a shop that can cut up the frames. So my silence hasn't been for naught. What have I gotten done? Here's a beta video to kinda show you. I just slapped the footage together so you guys can take a look. [VIDEO]bzf37qaVy5Y[/VIDEO] Make sure to kick it up to HD for all the beautful details and look for the big clock in the background toward the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzf37qaVy5Y Back to work! Later -Russell |
Here you go Russell, I put the actual video in the thread for you.
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I didn't realize it was a "YOUTUBE" Tag instead of the "video" tag that the other forums I frequent use. I swear I didn't see the youtube button the other day either. Weird. Thanks again! -Russell |
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If you strike out on finding someone to do your tubing work here are a couple shops local to me. I've used them both for flat laser work and have always had great results. They both have tubing lasers and some other cool big boy toys. Definitely "out of state" for you... But if interested shoot me a pm and I'll send you contact info on the guys I work with. http://www.kooimacompany.com/index.html http://www.siouxlandfab.com/ |
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And thanks for the links! The problem with going farther meas that the frame has to be cut for less to offset the shipping. I would love to get the frames back down again for guys but the shop in Arkansas sounds like they are going to kick this little bugger in the teeth so fingers crossed. The idea that I spent the last 3 years of my life dedicated to a doomed project just because a lazy sales man didn't do his job is kinda depressing. Back to work! At least I get to just weld for the next few weeks. -Russell |
YES!!!!!
We have a laser shop again! And they are actually almost $50.00 bucks cheaper than the old shop. Now they are also an additional 300 miles away from the last shop and in another state but I'm not worried about my design not being reproducible for the same price. Basically I was worried that I had blown the last 3 years of my life developing a product and business model that would need to be entirely scrapped thanks to one lazy sales guy. Back to work! -Russell |
Good news. What do you think will be the next product you design?
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Later -Russell |
How's Progress Russell?
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Because of all the activity on getting a new laser shop I'm WAY behind. So I needed to back burner the truck frame for a time. When his frame is off the table Jim (aka Dad) will start the assembly and powder coating and I'll get back on to this Truck Frame and get underway. Thanks for keeping up with me! Later -Russell |
So this is happening.
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/M-14.jpg Click for full size Basically in the down time since I last posted I've got 2 lasers up and running now, blew the motor up in my personal car, fixed that, one minion moved, got 2 new minions, been training them, had to change banks (if your a small business you know what kind of a royal pain this is) and my local laser shop has been teaching me to program his laser so I can save a few bucks. Cross that with a girlfriend that lives 240 miles away and its fun fun fun and busy busy busy on all fronts. I should have more photos up within the week. Their on my computer and need to be sorted. Also waiting on other parts. Later -Russell |
Here are the rest.
http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-15.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-16.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-17.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-18.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-19.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-20.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-21.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-22.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-23.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-24.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-25.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-26.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-27.jpg Later -Russell |
Ah man, it was so cold today that no one came into the shop all day, It was AWESOME!!!
And thanks to the quite I manged to get the gas tank about 90% worked out. I'll need to build one real quick and make sure the lower gas filler hole will let the tank fill without backing up. It should work with the vent at the top to bleed off the air but I want to make sure. The tank is only 18.5 Gallons but it under the bed and it will use the stock filler neck. I've never liked the rear bed mounting solutions with the filler in the bed but I'm also 6'2" and more room in the CAB is a must for me. For more fuel I'll just add extra tank in the bed and just let it over flow down into the bottom tank and move the filler up higher. http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-28.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-29.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-30.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-31.jpg http://nerdrods.com/Images/customer/...ll/10/S-32.jpg Later -Russell |
I know its in the thread somewhere, but I am just going to ask again.
What year model Corvette suspension does your frames use? BTW, those pics look good. |
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But you can also do a live axle rear. The provisions to move the center crossmember and install different control arm system have already been incorporated to the design. I'll just need to design the kit for the axle. Finally I'm thinking about designing a front suspension that will be supplied DIY and will be narrower for guys looking at deep offset wheels or in my case heavy duty parts and bearings for building a towing truck with big truck brakes. I plan on building a small haul truck for the shop show rig in the near future. Later -Russell |
good stuff Russell. things are taking shape
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