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

[ChuckDriver]

Nice work Russell! Just a quick question, will the battery be on the firewall or will you be putting it some where else?

Thanks!

[Rick D]

Russell what other frames do you plan on building?? 2nd gen??? just a thought.

[ScottieB]

Can't wait to see this build unfold. We will have to talk when my Nomad is finished as I want something for my 61 bubble top.

[rat_rod_russell]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Nice work Russell! Just a quick question, will the battery be on the firewall or will you be putting it some where else?

Thanks!

There will be room on the frame in the bed as well as room under the passengers seat but people who want to run their battery in the stock location will be able to as well. We might make a kit to mount it down there but we'll probably just leave that to you guys.

Originally Posted by Rick D

Russell what other frames do you plan on building?? 2nd gen??? just a thought.

Right now we do the 55-57 Passenger cars and we're devolving the 55-59 Trucks here an now. My plans are more trucks, A-bodies and C2/3 Corvettes. I'm not really planning anything for the F-bodies because I feel that the market is hugely over saturated but if enough people beat on my door I might change my mind. I'm always listening and making tally's on my list here at the shop. I've even got a few requests for 57 Cadillac frames on the list. But C10's have the top spot closely followed by the A-bodies. I feel the Corvette will be a good place as well. 63-83, 19 years in one frame, that's a hard market to overlook.

Originally Posted by ScottieB

Can't wait to see this build unfold. We will have to talk when my Nomad is finished as I want something for my 61 bubble top.

NICE! They are longer at 119 but you might be able to mod one of the TriFive frames to fit with some work. Y'all should check out Scott's 55 Nomad project, https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=41965

Thanks again
-Russell

[rat_rod_russell]

So I just got a little more data into the computer about the bed and then I remembered. For a no body modifications frame the floor board of the cab and the motor aren't the biggest problem...... Its the bed and the rear suspension. Turns out at 6" off the ground the bed hits the differential pretty badly. So we're going with 8" off the ground as your "I want corvette suspension but I don't want to cut my body period!" option seen here. This will give you miles under the hood and a completely stock bed as well for guys who just want to buy everything OEM stock ish for finish out.



And 4" off the ground, seen here. The frame will be shaped as such that even this low you won't need to cut the bed steel braces just the wood to clear.



And just for you guys who didn't know this is 14" off the ground or STOCK!



And for it to all make more since here's a cool animation. Click to see the 1080 version with more detail, Warning the image is huge by computer standers so it might take a few to download.



I'm going back to work, you kids keep those question coming. Its egging me on!

Later
-Russell

[rat_rod_russell]

Updates!

We're making room for lots of tire out back for guys who NEED it and still make it easy to build and fit the 8" ride height without body modifications.






I know a few guys were having trouble with the grid looks so I colored in the sections to make it look correct. Also these are 20" wheels front and rear at the request of the customer to see what they would look like. Again one at 4" and one at 8".





Later
-Russell

[rat_rod_russell]

Transmission looks like its going to be cake. This is a 4L60E model and its got tons of room. I couldn't find my 4L80 model on the computer.






So the customer asked me to CAD up his wheels to see what they would look like. These are 18" Foose Nitrous II 18" with 245/40/R18 up front and 275/40/R18 out rear.






Also did some pocketing magic and now we've got an even longer shock (we already offered more wheel travel than the major competition.) And I've got miles of room for Ridetech Shockwaves, We area dealer for Ridetech as well so I hope to have that kit worked out soon enough.



Last note, We we'll make these frame rails air tight. You will be able to use the frame as an air tank and no have to mount it anywhere.

Thanks again
-Russell