Nerd Rods, 55-59 Truck Frame Project 1956, C4 suspension, 5.3L Auto, Kit Frame Design

[GregWeld]

Yeah --- I was thinking maybe 60+ hours start to finish. MIG would be way faster… but not as nice. Well that's a debatable statement so I probably shouldn't even type it.

Sorry 'bout your Dad -- back issues suck!

[rat_rod_russell]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Yeah --- I was thinking maybe 60+ hours start to finish. MIG would be way faster… but not as nice. Well that's a debatable statement so I probably shouldn't even type it.

Sorry 'bout your Dad -- back issues suck!

Thanks, I'm just happy he's not going to be in such pain anymore. Watching the man you looked up to get old and slow down is tough but after the pre surgery physical the doctor described him as "exemplary condition" and I know his tolerance for pain in amazing so it'll be interesting to see how he is after it stops pinching his nerve and he can walk for more than 5 minutes at a time.

MIG has is advantages in certain places as does the TIG but I told the customer I would TIG this whole frame so I am. Ideally for production I'll MIG most of your 90° corners and lots of the heavy plate at the back of the frame. I would say start to finish a first timer would have 50-60 if they didn't have that many clamps, prep time and going back and forth between the video. A shop should be able to bag it out in under 20. I just dropped one of the 3 frames off with a friends shop so we'll see how long it takes him granted he'll be modifying his for a C10.

Later
-Russel

[WSSix]

That looks fantastic! Well worth the effort I'd say.

[rat_rod_russell]

And the photos!









Now for some suspension

-Russell

[ChuckDriver]

Looks great Russell! I'm calling "Shotgun" for the first ride!!

[Hotrod1]

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.

[rat_rod_russell]

Originally Posted by Hotrod1

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.

Goooooooood (insert evil laugh)

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.

[fleetus macmullitz]

Congrats on the progress Russell.

[rat_rod_russell]

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!



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

[rat_rod_russell]

BAM



real photos coming soon

-Russell