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

[rat_rod_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

• Bed
• Tail gate with crossmember
• Rear Fenders +3 inches, Pair
• Fender Supports

Power Windows

• Tucker Power Window Regulators

Power Wipers

• Newport Power Wiper System
• Washer Pump kit
• Washer Pump Switch

Gauges

• Dakota Digital
• Blue Lighting
• Chrome Bezel

Wiring

• Isis Power System
• 3 Cell Starter Kit
• inMotion Power Window Controller
• inTouch iPhone interface
• inVert Mini (fuel pump)
• inViroment Vintage Air Controller
• inReserve Battery Monitor
  
• Engine Wiring
• Engine Harness
  
• Optima Battery Yellow Top
• Battery Ends and Terminals
• Battery Cable
• Assorted Weather Packs
• Ignition Keyset
  
• Lighting
• H4 Head Lights
• LED Tail Lights
• Front Turn Signals

Steering Column

• Stainless Column Shift
• Column Adapter
• 3/4 U Joint Weld
• 17 DD to 3/4 Weld on U Joint
• Steering Shaft
• Shifter Cable
• Supports & Hardware
• Powder Coating Other Parts

AC System

• Vintage Air Gen 4 System

Cooling System

• PRC Polished Radiator Assembly
• Radiator, AC Condenser, Core Support, Dual Electric Fans, Transmission Cooler, Fan Wiring Harness, Over Flow Tank
• Radiator Hoses
• Coolant
• Installation Hardware

Brake System

• Firewall Mount Brake Pedal System
• Stainless Steel Brake Lines
• Brake Fluid

Powder Coating bits right now, We'll get back to you soon with more photos!

Later
-Russell

[rat_rod_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

[rat_rod_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.











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

[WSSix]

Good luck, Russell!

[rat_rod_russell]

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

[214Chevy]

Here you go Russell, I put the actual video in the thread for you.

[rat_rod_russell]

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

Here you go Russell, I put the actual video in the thread for you.

Thanks for that!
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

[pokey64]

Originally Posted by rat_rod_russell

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

Very cool products Russell!

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/

[rat_rod_russell]

Originally Posted by pokey64

Very cool products Russell!

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/

Defiantly!!
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

[rat_rod_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