I need a little advice. I have a 50 Chevy coupe that needs a complete frame off (rat rod style of course) I am going to bag the front like they did in Lowrider mag by using the original IFS and bag the rear using a Gambino notch and triangulated 4 link. The body need to come off the frame, and I'm wondering what part of the airbag install if any should I do before removing the body? I will obviously need to cut the trunk and maybe the rear seat support. I'm not sure if I will have to raise the driveshaft tunnel or anything else? I'm converting the whole driveline to open and using either a inline 6 or SBC depending on what I find about header clearance issues etc. I just need a little direction before I end up making a mistake.
I also need to know where to get OEM type suspension parts at decent prices. I see Kanter has the stuff, but they seem really expensive.
Whats Rat rod style?? Youll need to cut the trunk section and the sides of the wheel wells to clear the notch, You will definetly have to cut your tunnel out if its gonna be notched and bagged from the front seat floor brace all the way back to the back. Cut sections just like I did in the pics in the gambino notch thread. Why are you going to cut out the back seat brace? The gambino notch is designed so you dont have to do this. For OG suspension parts go to www.nationalchevyassoc.com. if your gonna bag the stock front, youll need a set of dropped uprights if you want it to lay out up there.
I am actually going to try to follow the tech thread you did on this a while back. The lowrider article makes no mention of having to use dropped uprights so I am really confused now. I was trying to figure out if I should do this all before removing the body or not, sounds like maybe I should do it before I pull the body??
Alex Gambino can answer this better than I 'cause he did a body off on his '53 (and probably several others). If it were me, not having done it before, I'd mock up the notch and cut out the wheelwells and trunk for the notch to clear. Cut as little a possible first, you can always cut more. One reason I cut as much as I did was to for access to weld the frame and notch. Since you'll have plenty of room with the body off, you can get away with less than what rustypipes and I cut in the pics you see on the Gambino notch thread. I would wait to cut the driveline tunnel until the notch and rear are in place and the body is back on. Then you'll know how much to cut. Here are a couple more pics for reference. Remember, get creative...you might find some tricks we didn't think of. Just my .02 Bryan
Shoot this was my first time on a bomb doing it and I cut up a lot too! I got my notch from Suicidedoors.com and trimmed everything up to fit(wasnt much if you get the S-10 kit) But I think Gambinos looks perfect to use! Good luck and measure twice so you only have to cut once!
Bryan is right, I would wait till the body is back on to cut the tunnel. Since that body isnt bolted down and you will cutting all the floor braces etc.. that floor might get tweaked and start floppin around like like a pair of old titties.
rustypipes I have been trying to reach you in PMs. Thought I'd hit you here just in case your not getting them. If you didnt get the PMs email me at ChopTopRodz@aol.com
Hey 51chevysled , is that a VW solar panel battery charger in the back seat in your pictures? those kick ass , ok back to the choppin'
Hahaha...good eye. The pics are of my friend's '54...he hasn't done the 12V conversion, so he's running a 12V battery for the compressor. Apparently the solar charger works pretty well...weird to see a bagged car that still cranks slow, but it works! Bryan
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