Nice ! One day I’m going to get something like that and wrap it around a 1-ton Ford Diesel chassis.
such an awesome build. great start so far :tup:
hmm…not quite sure what ya mean. i checked my first post of the build and its the same as i plan haha but yes, heres some pics of the truck that is the original inspiration for what i plan to do.
this truck is a '48 which is a generation newer then mine, it is a little more “plain” with the body lines then the cab of the 41-47 generations. i want more of a retro hotrodish look with my own take, but this truck is what made me want to start this build.
well, race season has kept me busy, but now with that being over for the year, and having the s10 packed away for winter ive been able to make some progress on this one. but i cant build a frame until i have a chassis table. had a hard time finding one, so i just built one. lol.
so heres the progress as of tonight. built a chassis table out of some w6 i beams, and used some 1" bolts to make levelers. i will be adding some casters so i can move this around, but its good for now to start on the frame. i spent hours just getting this thing squared up and level, but it is 100% perfectly square and level 
frame construction will start this week.
:tup:
At first I thought you were going to build the FRAME out of W beam. Lol. Excited to watch this further.
Very cool. Cab looks solid :tup:
so i started on the first frame rail tonight. got 3 of the 4 sections of the first rail tacked together. tomorrow night i will cut the last piece and tack it in, then make an exact copy of this for the other side, and then set it all upright tack in the crossmembers, and finally when everything is tacked in place i will fully weld it solid. after that all the fishplates will be done, and the tapers and frame horns will be cut into the front rails of the frame and re-boxed.
unclamped the rail and stood it upright so you can get an idea of whats going on here. the front of the rail is about 6" longer then needed as i wanted extra room for making the frame horns
made more progress on this last night. got the first frame rail all tacked together and started tacking together the second one. will have that one done tonight and then start tacking in the crossmembers and get ready to cut for the taper.
finished up the other framerail and got it all squared up. gonna get some heavier steel tomorrow to tie it all together and hold it in place so i can start on the crossmembers.
that looks proper. How did you decide on the shape and size of the frame rails? Are you just working off the OEM fame as a base template? Also, where did you get the Ibeams, I need a setup like that.
the frame is my own design, i looked at alot of rods and rats at carshows as well as builds online, mostly on killbillet.com. from there i found ideas i liked and combined it. right now im just tacking everything together, after it is welded it will be getting fishplates and such, but those will be my own design as well, and will be cnc cut and have certain design traits that will be throughout the build to give it more character and appear well thought out instead of pieced together…while still being functional. as for the size of the tubing, i used 2x4x3/16". i used 2x4 over 2x3 because it looks better, the 2x3 just looks too small on anything other than a tbucket imo. as for the 3/16", i used that because it will be easier to tap and thread holes for tubing holddowns and such along the frame, and it also isnt necessary to have as much bracing in the center section of the frame (x brace at the trans) instead i can use a simpler design with more room underneath. the only thing i am going off of from the original frame is the outside width of the rails for the rear section and under the cab. just behind the z however i will start a taper that narrows the front of the rails in to the front.
as for the i beams, the one used to make the base was from on craigslist. the two on top are w6x25’s. i got them from a friend who had them at work, they were left over from a project. the levelers i made using grade 8 1" bolts and nuts. right now i have a total of $385 into the chassis table. i need to add casters to it so i can move it, but for now im not concerned. im very happy that i built this one instead of using someone elses, its a great tool to have if you have the room to store it.
Coolest build on NYSpeed right now. I love it, real hot rodding right hurrrrr :tup:
This is awesome. I want something stupid low and really old as well. Looking forward to seeing more
thanks guys, appreciate it. trueblue, carefull saying stuff like that, you might make others angry haha…but then again its all about the stuff you like
anywho, made alot of progress on this the last few nights. got the frame together more, cab on the frame, hood on and cut, grillshell tacked in, tapered the front frame rails. need to make up a front crossmember and tack that in, then cut the bottom of the rails to taper them over the axle and make frame horns…after that the body can come off and i can do final welding of the main frame and weld in the gusset/fishplates.
added some bracing
tacked in rear crossmember
set the cab on, also notched the front frame rails under the cab for narrowing
fits pretty good
hood on, marking for the cut
braced bottom of hood to keep width, cut hood and tacked in the grill shell
welded in some braces to keep the front rails at the needed width, started marking where i want the taper in the rails to be
made some more progress. tacked in the front cross member and sliced up the front rail to taper it and make the “frame horns” still need to finish that off and get the other side done. after that its all ready to weld up solid.
Ha, nah. I stand by that statement. You’re actually building a vehicle quite literally from the ground-up, not swapping engines or bolting parts on. This is all custom.
haha its all good, i was just joking around.
i expect to make alot of progress this week. hoping to be able to start mocking up engine placement and mounts by next week.
finished up tapering the other frame rail, braced everything up, and started welding everything up solid. also welded in the other rear crossmember. ran out of gas for the welder, but all thats left is welding in the gusset/fishplates and then i can flip it over and weld the joints on the underside. after that i can tack weld in a temporary crossbrace/transmission crossmember and then the motor mounts and suspension mounts. also measured up and checked everything, and its all perfectly square
Awesome work :tup: I gotta check this thing out sometime. :biggthumpup: