Project PT-57, 1957 Truck, Built By Hot Rod Jim's
 

I just wanted to introduce our 57 Chevy truck Project PT-57. This is going to be the test bed for our 55-59 Chevy and GMC trucks to C4 corvette suspension. The PT-57 will be replacing the shop truck so it will have plenty of power, gas mileage in the mid 20’s and an automatic transmission. We will also be going for the best ride and since the truck will see trailer duty as well as daily driving use by Jim, Billy and I so we’ll be equipping the car with air ride.

I’ll start posting updates as the build evolves and updates are available. Check out the project page and see where we are now.
http://www.hotrodjim.com/projects_shop_57_truck.php

Quick Run Down
LQ4
4L80E
Air Ride
C4 Corvette Suspension
C6 Z06 Corvette brakes
345's out back with 275's up front.
Air Brush work everywhere

Thanks to Ben and Hermance Design for the rendering and some of his ideas for the truck. Click here for a larger version of the rendering
http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...dering/l-1.jpg

Thanks
Russell Alexander
Hot Rod Jim’s

Cool Concept!! Kind of like F Bomb!! Look forward to seeing it come together!!

damn! thats gonna look so sick!

Cool concept but a pretty blatent influence by F-Bomb...

how...

o let me guess the color?
yeah because f-bomb was the first car EVER painted flat green!:lol:

Not seeing the whole F-bomb deal either. For christ sakes it's a truck. Looks like a cool project and off the beaten path.

Sorry but I'd not seen F-Bomb until yesterday when some one asked to see the two dog fight when we're done.

Thanks for all the kudos I want to try to get this one cranked out asap. Since I sold my 57 Sedan I've been without a cool car. And its getting to me. So with our further ado here's another update

With the new equipment we’ve obtained and the addition of the laser cutting to our arsenal we’ve decided to scrap the original frame for several renovations making it stronger and simpler to build. The easer to build the frames the lower the price will be. We’ve started over with the design taking everything to the computer to so we can look at every aspect of the chassis. This is how we will start playing with sizes and reference them to clearance on the car. Next we’ll take the corvette suspension geometry and plug it into Suspension Analyzer and then find the specific angles and mounting points of for the suspension that will best work for the trucks.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-1.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-3.jpg

Parts have been rolling in steadily and work is progressing on the body. The Air Ride bags have been here for some time and we’ve been playing with them but the Air Ride 4100 Level Ride System just got here. You can see the details these guys go though to make sure you have everything. It never ceases to amaze me the quality in each box. You can see the considerably longer bags in for the rear pivot system. The two aluminum bottles on the corner are going to be 2 of the bombs for our bomb racks. These will be sealed and plumbed to act as air tanks for the air ride system.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-4.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-5.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-6.jpg

These are the tires going onto the PT-57 so we can put all this effort to the ground. The right is a 354/35/R19 for the rear and the left is a 275/40/R18 for the front. (no it’s not the actual tire for the front but I couldn’t get to it right then.) And a little reference for the guys who’ve never seen a 345 in person.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-3.jpg

The Transmission got painted then we noticed the case had that ear cracked on it, taped it with a hammer and chased it down. We’ll clean it up and patch it back up later. The motor and transmission goodies all came in a few days ago too. The custom PTC torque converter, custom cam, dual valve springs, titanium retainers, all the gaskets and bolts that would need to be replaces also come with Thunder Racings swap kit all shown here.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-7.jpghttp://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-1.jpg

The 6.0 is in another chassis having headers fitted right now but the next set will be the same. We get the LS1 Street headers from LG Motor Sports then modify them to clear the transmission. Their tight and clear the steering linkage beautifully, plus there stainless.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-8.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro.../parts/s-9.jpg

-Russell

Not to mention the blatant rip off the whole WWII bomber fleet! I wish we could be original here! :lol:

This project is looking Bad A$$. Great Job to Ben as usual! I'll be subscribed to this one.

:thumbsup: Can't wait to see this come together:thumbsup:

I have seen many cars that were similar to F-bomb built many years before, since you must just look at mags, and the internet you have not seen any of them.... It helps to get your stuff in ink when your in the biz...

Ummmmmmm im all for a great theme and flow to a build not really feeling this. thats such a nice style of truck be hard to put the energy in it and be flat green!

Thanks again for letting me help out Russell....I can never pass up a chance to work on projects like this.

I like the design in the grille with the horizontal and vertical lines.

If you get it done, we can race, for the fastest truck on LAT-G with vette suspension.

He telling the truth about not see the F-bomb 73 camaro the what I thought went I saw the art work but this is a fifty seven truck(pickup) I love it.Rodger I have a c-note says he will out run you loaded with a trailer hook up.IT a shop truck:yes: :yes: :yes:

Rodger-one of the first things I thought of when Russell told me it was a 57 is that I wanted to get rid of those vertical connectors to the inner grill. Then we got the idea to turn it into a set of cross hairs. (one on each side)

Maybe if I get that stroker in mine or if we get to race on my home track :D. I've seen your C5 truck and it looks killer, I know I can't hold a candle to you on the track... right now :unibrow:

But I like Kendall's Idea too, we can go bumper to bumper and play that would be fun, eat a set of tires but still a blast.

Ben's idea entirely same with the design of the door logo,the speed holes in the visor and the GMC front bumper. His flow of the plate lines and rivets on the truck is perfect too. Saved me a bunch of time

Thanks
-Russell

Me personally, I'm not into the looking at kind of shinny. As a compromise this one will be semi gloss. I need to seal the air brush work and I've never seen a 100% flat that I really liked that wasn't a single stage. So a semi gloss clear will have to do.

-Russell

Yeah that Ben guy is pretty slick with all his new fangled Iders...He should draw pitures for a livin or somethin.......:D

Warning this post requires translation, I do not type this bad, Just pretend your Paul Sr.....

Update 13,May,2009
 

Update Time
Jim’s been back in the shop more and Billy was told by the doctor if your back hurts then don’t lift that. I swear that kid’s healing rate is ridiculous, breaks 3 vertebra and losses 1” to his height. 5 months later he’s back at his weights and working 7 days with me in the shop, just wow.

Onto the truck, the Grill is going together nicely, we’ve taken out all the teeth, welded up the seams and slicked them off with marine tex. We’ve welded in holders on the back so we can start shaping the cross hare supports for the front.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ill/01/s-1.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ill/01/s-2.jpg

Jim’s been shaping some exhaust tubing for our hood “Exhaust” These will be our heat ducts for the engine compartment and look like the old plane exhausts.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ood/01/s-1.jpg

We’ve found the mother lode of body gods, Terry is in his late 50 and has been doing body work since he was 14. He’s been kind enough to take time out (and escape from his wife) to teach Billy and I tricks to body work. But despite being an old guy he’s up on the latest body world technology too. Front fenders are done and un warped thanks to Terry’s welding tricks. I’ve also rented him a space in the back of the shop where he can do other projects for guys he knows. We’ve also been getting a lesson on how much uni-body suck but that’s another story.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...y_work/s-1.jpg

Exhaust Question’s
He’s the dilemma, the car will have LQ4 6.0 with a cam (274/274 .556 lift and 112+4 LSA) Long tube headers, 2.5” stainless mandrel bent tubing, TIG’d together, with a X pipe. There will be the turn outs in front of the X on a remote for “fun time” but my problem is what kind of song to I want the tail pipes to sing. I heard a ZR1 the other day with Borla mufflers and it sounded rowdy and all kinds of evil but at the same time I keep thinking go with the flow master 50 series. Their more reserved with a rumble of “I’m not stock” to them. I’ve got a set of both right now, Borla for a C5 race car I’m specing out and some Flow Master 50’s going on a 57 hardtop I’m doing too. What are the preferences of our members and why.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ust/01/s-1.jpg

Click Images to enlarge

Thanks
Russell Alexander
Hot Rod Jim's

Update 05, June, 2009 and a Change of Plans
 

Thanks for all the positive feedback. We’ve been rat killing down here and upgrading the shop. New toys and some reorganization move the welding table and getting some of the old Jigs out of the way. We’ve also been researching several parts and dealers.
New Band Saw

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/oth...s_1800/s-1.jpg

The Big News is that we will be going to SEMA this year and the truck with us. Part 2 we’ve also been invited to the Optima Batter Street Car Invitational’s with the PT-57. That presents a bit of a problem. See, I’m competitive by nature so the original plan of a good driving trailer pulling truck is going to need some modification to make the truck capable of running with the toys going out there. So we’re permanently halting the Meteor Project (Dad’s 57 Hardtop) and sacking some of its goodies for the Truck project. The LS7 we had for sale if you missed it. We’re going to be upgrading to a TKO600 or Magnum T56. LQ4 is going to transform into a 408 Stroker and several other upgrades to the chassis and suspension.

Cough cough, carbon fiber half shafts and drive shafts, cough cough.

As for the truck we’ve just about gotten the dash sorted out and hood vents are starting to come together. We’re building a new Jig table to make this project even easier and better so stay tuned.

The Hood Vents (Sorry but my good camera was gone so I took these on my Phone)

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ood/01/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ood/01/s-3.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ood/01/s-4.jpg

The Dash

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...k/dash/s-1.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...k/dash/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...k/dash/s-3.jpg

Thanks
Russell
Hot Rod Jim’s

:thumbsup: This truck is going to look way cool.

I really like the color scheme and I can't wait to see it at Sema.

Moving Right Along Update 2009, June, 13
 

That makes two of us, LOL. :willy:

We have the new table finished. I spend 3 days tweaking and heat shrinking to make sure the welding from attaching the legs made the table square and level. Plus this metal is not that great from the factory so compensating for that as well. Got the cab up today the bead will be up on the table tomorrow with the rear fender and the big wheels.

Big change, after tweaking and playing with the C4 bits and pieces plus I started looking at widening the rear end to get some better wheel scrub radius. I was going to need 4” wider rear and the C4 hubs still have almost no scrub angle. From what I can tell it’s .25 degrees maybe, I almost thing there was something under the caliper at one point. Plus the brakes and on and on I’ve decided to just run the C5/6 goodies. I had 3-4 complete suspensions out back, I need to test the C5/c6 differential adapter we’ve built and it’ll be a whole lot easier to set up right. Pfadt sway bars only need to be shortened a little and bow-chick-a-bow-wow we’ve got fun. You can see the Solidworks drawings, this makes life so much easier.

As you can see a lot of the simplicity originally planned went out the window with our SEMA invite, oh well.

Potential project changes, TKO600 or T56 Magnum, Stroke out the LQ4 and a bump to the compression. Carbon fiber goodies here and there to include a carbon fiber driveshaft for reduced rotating mass.

I’d also like to thank Air Ride Technologies for sponsoring by upgrading our Shockwaves to the I.S. Internal Ride Height Sensors. One less thing to mount, more accurate, and lighter once you consider all the pushrods nuts and bolts used to prevent binding on the old ones. I’ll get some photos up when I get them back.

Solid Works Updates

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-4.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-5.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-6.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-7.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-8.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...awings/s-9.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-10.jpg

PT-57 one the New Jig

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...jig/01/s-1.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...jig/01/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...jig/01/s-3.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...jig/01/s-4.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...jig/01/s-5.jpg

-Russell

Awesome build! Good looking shop cat.

You do know that SEMA is in November, right? How do you guys do it? :hail:


Jeff-

No life :thumbsup:

-Russell

You care to share the vette a arm solidworks files?


lookin good

And Monster, cases and cases of the Green Monsters

The admin at SEMA would kill me. Hunt me down and kill me, arrrr :captain: I asked the head of the Tech Share program a while back and they told me no, sorry.

-Russell

Update Aug 2, 2009
 

So I had a hard drive crash on me and I lost a bunch of photos of the truck that I hadn’t gotten onto the backup server, o well. So there has been work done I just can’t show it.

I’ve finally gotten my hands on Suspension Analyzer v2.0 and I’ve spent a few weeks playing with C5 corvette suspension geometry in finding the weak links and where to improve on them. I’ve also been racing a few C5 Z06 Corvettes getting more familiar with their traits and trading suspension tuning for seat time so I could get some hands on time looking into actual tuning results on these babies. I work on them plenty but I almost never get a chance to tweak, log, tweak, and log to see what the actual results look like in real life.

So our goal is improved handling over a corvette but in our PT-57. The C5 Corvette relies heavily on the face that the large rubber bushing will deflect. Under heavy turning the C5 will see up to 8 degrees of positive camber on the outside tire. Way too much but the roll center on a C5 is a thing of beauty only moving a few inches through almost any suspension travel or roll. Better for drivers to feel the car but it hurts the possible handling that the car could be capable of with a few minor angle changes and upgrades.

What I’ve done with our car is lower the roll center and remove a large portion without getting too much roll center migration. Migration make it harder to feel what the suspension is doing but it also directly related to how much grip you can get out of a car. I’ve cut the positive camber in half during turn in and I’ve relocated the A arms to better accommodate the anti dive needs for the truck. Front swing arms have been moved out to match up with the swing of the rear suspension so the tires will roll together so I can simply soften a corner for improved grip. I’m going with all Pfadt upgraded bushing and for the sake of simplicity coil over shocks for now. I’ve attached some photos the current setup and I’ll be getting more knocked out soon and get some more updates out as soon as I email the frame parts out to the Laser.

Power train upgrade, STS Twin Turbo system will help push our little baby around the track. The Side pipes will be hooked up to the waist gates so when we hit that back strait we should see some flames. :evil:

I miss worded my previous statement about the Optima Battery race and I apologies. We have not been 100% officially invited as the car is not finished yet but I talked with Jimi Day over at FM3 and we have a tentative spot in the race as long as we get the truck done in time. With that said I’m heading back into the shop.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-11.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-12.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-13.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-14.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-15.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-16.jpg

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http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-20.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-21.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-22.jpg

WOW!!
Sweet looking rendering. Can't wait to see the finished product.:cheers:

Excellent! My next build has to be a truck, you guys are killin' me here! Thank god we have guys like you and Rodger to figure these out for the boneheads like me to bolt together!! :thumbsup:

Update Aug 6, 2009
 

Thanks I hope Rodger brings his truck so I don't feel lonely :unibrow:

On the to the update

Parts and Design

Finally broke down and bought a new processor for my computer and now I can work without the darn thing dying when Solidworks loads up calculating changes.

Steering arm parts came in from the laser yesterday. I just got them nailed together, I’ll try to get some photos on the knuckle next time. You can see the 3D model up in my previous post.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...arts_2/s-3.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...arts_2/s-1.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...arts_2/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...arts_2/s-6.jpg

BIG thanks to the crew over at Pfadt. Not only did they send me there new aluminum lower mounts they also built special models for me to add into the computer. They even build special radius pieces into the shock so when I check the suspension travel I make sure the Patten Pending Delrin / Aluminum upper mount doesn’t bind up. Huge thanks for that. Next to the shocks are the Sway bar arms from Pfadt. The Rear is going to be the stock C5 width (The C5 rear is wider than the C6) so we can use Pfadt’s stock rear sway bar and the front will be custom cut for our narrowed front end.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...arts_2/s-4.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...arts_2/s-5.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-23.jpg

-Russell

Very cool project! I can't wait to see some more progress.

I need to start playing around with Solid Works again (hopefully my lisence is still good)

I love it!! This is right up my alley since I am very into military vehicles and my favorite trucks of all time are 58-59 apaches. This just made my day!!!

Good luck and keep up with the updates!!!:hail:

Update Aug 7, 2009
 

Chassis preview, I should be done this weekend and have my cut list out to the laser Monday. Mawhahaha, Nothing like an October dead line for a 3 man shop and a truck on a table. :lol: need more monster and red bull.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-24.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-25.jpg

-Russell

mmmmm, Turbos
 

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...wings/s-27.jpg

- Russell

I'm jealous of your solid works skills:hail:

I can only do the basic stuff on soildworks...

Nice build by the way:cheers:

Update Aug 14, 2009
 

The first batch of Laser Cut Parts are here for the PT-57's frame. You can see that the frame is designed with keys and center reinforcements to take the loading from the suspension and spread them out across the frame preventing deflection or flexing at the frame rail without making it crazy heavy. With the interlocking frame pieces I weld the interlocking centers from the insides and tack them real heavy all over. I was thinking of fully welding them but I warped one even after it had 5 C clamps holding it to the table. The second one shown here was much easier with the heavy tacks. Got it all clamped together then started tacking the other side once I got all the individual parts tacked to both sides I didn’t have any problems and you can see she’s strait as an arrow.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/01/s-1.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/01/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/01/s-3.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/01/s-4.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/01/s-5.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/01/s-6.jpg

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http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...me/01/s-10.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...me/01/s-11.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...me/01/s-12.jpg


The Corbeau Forza seats got here Monday. I’m going to put them in my roadster for now and then into the truck if I can’t get a set of the FX1’s. We plan on dyeing the seats silver and embroidering rivets into them to look like old aluminum bomber seats.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...terior/s-1.jpg

Suspension came back from Southern Powder Coating in Lockhart Texas. We left the ball joints in because I’m waiting on Aaron with Pfadt to get his first batch of their aftermarket upper ball joints in then I’ll swap them out but for now and mockup these will be fine. The C6 diff up on the table in place and I’ll get the suspension back to the hubs and we’ll get this chassis rolling ASAP.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...arts_2/s-7.jpg

-Russell
Hot Rod Jim’s
http://www.hotrodjim.com

Russell,

Nice progress.:thumbsup:

(BTW-when clicking on the pics in your 1st post today, it doesn't make the pics bigger.)

you think I would stop posting these before I go to sleep.

Thanks Skip

-Russell

Those laser cut parts look outstanding Russell! :thumbsup:

Update Aug 29, 2009
 

Rear frame main rails are knocked out, that’s these parts.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-1.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-2.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-3.jpg

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-4.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-5.jpg


The Front batch of laser parts came in, see the erector set frame on the table. I’ve tabbed and keyed everything to make them interlocking, they’re dropping together like a kids jig saw puzzle. That means all my geometry and angles I spent all that time working out with Solidworks and suspension analyzer will be duplicated in real life in a repeatable fashion.

http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-6.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-7.jpg http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...ame/02/s-8.jpg

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http://www.hotrodjim.com/immages/pro...me/02/s-16.jpg