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

[SickSpeedMonte]

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)

[SicMonte]

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!!!

[rat_rod_russell]

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. need more monster and red bull.



-Russell

[rat_rod_russell]

- Russell

[BuiltByBrooks]

I'm jealous of your solid works skills

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

Nice build by the way

[rat_rod_russell]

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.










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.



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.



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

[fleetus macmullitz]

Russell,

Nice progress.

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

[rat_rod_russell]

Originally Posted by WaterCooledNelds

Russell,

Nice progress.

(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

[fleetus macmullitz]

Those laser cut parts look outstanding Russell!

[rat_rod_russell]

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






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.