New year, NEW RPU Frame-PICS!!

Well as most of you know, my once fordor underwent lots of changes in 2007. It turned into a RPU first. And these changes were tough to make really work, since I was adapting one car into another, and "using" what was already there and trying to make it work into something very different. In some ways it worked, in lots of ways it didn't work, and led to lots of compromise.

There are MANY things that I didn't like about the change from fordor to RPU that I just could not change or make work, that include the following:
LONG wheel base
suicide front end w/tie rod in front of axle-hated that
w/airbags car looked ok laid out, but not so good at ride height.....
the rear end was WIDE for fordor body,so rpu bed was too wide
proportions got thrown off in switch to RPU etc etc etc

So to make a LONG short somewhat short, i just wasn't working for me now. No biggie, I learned a TON, and my fab abilities got lots better along the way.


So I started with a clean sheet of paper, and made a clean start. I designed a new frame. I never really liked the look of my old frame made from box tubing. So I stole an idea from hamb'er hillbillyhell's 34' pickup, and made the frame from c-channel that I had a local steel shop bend up for me. The c-channel is 3/16" steel, and is 4.5" tall, and 2" wide. It has a real nice radius on the outside edge. I had them bend up a tapered piece that the front rails are made of, that swept the front rails up 3", and tapered the front down to 2.75".

With these sections welded together, I had the basic rails done, the center section I made from more c-channel that I had bent up, and it is 4" tall by 2.5" wide. I punched it with some holes, and have the basic frame:


For the back rails, i wanted them curvy & attractive, so I had Autoweld in PA bend up some mandrel bent sections. I had them bent a little big so that I could trim them down to give me exactly what I needed:


Then I went to town and welded it up. I went with a new Model A bed from Brookville Roadster-KICK*** Hamb Alliance pricing!!

The rear will use Posies 1/4 elliptics and a parallel 4-bar from Autoweld. The rear end is a new 56" wide 9" housing from Autoweld also.

Here's some pics as it stands. I am excited about it! Tomorrow I will fab up the 4-bar tabs & get the rear hung, and it will be a roller. I still have to finish up the rear clip with some dom crossmembers, some front frame horns, box the frame etc, but no biggie:

 

Sweet looking frame. Keep us posted!

 

Very impressive work. I like it a lot. Is your flat front crossmember an aftermarket piece or something that you fabbed? Just curious - it looks nice!

 

Very nice work. Like to see it with motor trans and rear without the body

 

Wow! that is so much better than before. Proportions are right on.
Now I look forward to updates.

 

Some serious metal fabrication equipment and skills.
Very Nice.
HemiDeuce.

 

I know this old Florida hotrodder---Don somebody---that does some pretty nice work.---Youve probably met him---

 

I hadn't seen any updates for a while, I was worried you gave up. But this is progress for sure.

 

Very nice work on that ch***is. I can't wait to see more.

 

Nice!!!:d

 

looks sweet you got skills!!

 

VERY nice... well set up

 

Very, very nice, man. You should be proud! Keep it up.

Malcolm

 

Hey Dan,

What day do they pick up your garbage? I'm thinking about coming by and doing some dumpster diving.

Your new frame looks great! I can't wait till the next update. Did you receive the second pm I sent the other day?

 

Beautiful work, very nice.

 

lookin good mang !

 

Very nice looking frame.... looks awesome!

 

Whew....glad to see your still at it ....... will you make Billetproof at Garlits place in 82 days ???

 

Wow! That looks great. can't wait to see the next update.

 

Wow, that's the nicest RPU build I've seen in a long time. The proportions, stance... everything is dead on! Dig the frame too!

 

that looks real good!

 

NICE START!!! Keep us posted. Like the looks.
Rex

 

Thanks for all the nice words guys, I appreciate! For next year, I want to get this thing turned into a 32' coupe...............

I am going to get my tired rear end moving today so I can get the rear end
hung from the frame Dan

Thanks man-I got the front crossmember at the Turkey Run. It is the new flat crossmember from Jim Weimer(JW Rod Garage). I liked it because it is wide enough to go between the outside of each rail, instead of between boxing plates. It will be really strong once I weld in the boxing plates

Yeah, he's a trouble maker. He just wants me to get it done now that his car is finished so he doesn't have to drive around alone. And, I did meet him before, about 37 years ago.......

Hey ck, what's up? I didn't give up, I promise. I am too stupid to do that. How's your tub doing? That thing came out great, looked great in all black. Do you have a new project going?

Haha on Friday morning. My dad & brother get over there early to get the good stuff though. Hey man, your fordor looks great. Makes me think I should have left mine alone. I didn't see your 2nd pm, let me scoot over there & check it out

What's going on fellow Florida rodder?? I will definitely be at Billetproof, though I doubt it will be with completed, painted car. I will keep bustin on it though. I think it will be the almighty dollar that keeps me from finishing on time. My dad & brother will probably have to take me, won't be the first time. I will have to meet you annd the fellows though for sure, I can't wait

 

Hey ck, what's up? I didn't give up, I promise. I am too stupid to do that. How's your tub doing? That thing came out great, looked great in all black. Do you have a new project going?


Thanks, no new project yet, I still need to "finish" the tub.

 

clean, I like it

 

Hey Don that thing is looking great.Are you using 4 bars and 1/4 elliptic spring's or are you usind the spring's as link's also?Hope to be seeing you at Billetproof. GREGG P.S. got my RPU on the road a couple week's ago

 

SWEET build! Nice to see someone build a nice rear suspension that outa hold up to some horsepower.

How do you like Autoweld? Ive been checkin out there stuff.

 

Thats one of the nicest frames Ive seen,Really I love it

 

Hey man, congrats on your rpu, I just looked up your thread. It came out real nice Gregg, you should be thrilled.

I am going to run the 1/4 elliptics separate from the 4-bar, on shackles off the rear. The springs will run just outside of the 4-bar. I will definitely be at Billetproof, I am really excited for that

Thanks man. Autoweld has always been great to deal with, and very reasonable too. The cost to have them bend up rear rails isn't that much more than a stick of steel really, and I think that the bends look lots better than welded up angle cuts would.
Dan

 

Well done, that whole truck raises the bar a few notches.
Straight forward and no nonsense, I like it.