I am trying to get started on a project and this is the first time for anything of this type. Is there anyone in the Knoxville, TN area that would be willing to help me start on seting up the stance and mocking up the frame for a starting point? Thanks Eric
BTTT Come on guys! Help out the FNG! I'm in AZ so its a little hard for me to travel to TN to help him out.
I have a '28 chevy coupe body that has had the top removed. I have the frame as well. I had originally hoped to use the parallel springs but have settled on going to a diffreent suspension, so I can get it lower. I am most interested in figuring a plan of attack on the frame, I don't want to get working on it a discover I am going in a direction that won't work. On the body, I am thinkging of cutting that back off and going to a roadster truck body. There is no wood left, so the adding of a internal fram may be a bit easier with the simpler tub. Eric
EricE, Yes, it would be much simpler to build a bucket. Especially if you just put a flat panel (with some bead work of course) on the back...Like a '29 Ford RPU. Since you have the ch***is already, it won't be too hard to set up. I would use the parallel leaf front end if I were you. Check out a pic of Plowboy's "Spacetruck" He used a chevy frame and parallel leaf front suspension. In my opinion, his truck is PLENTY low. Plus it looks super cool. SUPER low **** is for California people. Out here, we have mud roads and hills to climb. I live about an hour and a half away from you. I'm not going to drive all the way out to your place for the "privelage" of putting your vehicle together. So don't ask me to. But I'm on here plenty, and I'm putting together a heap right now. I've built a frame from scratch. I've done everything including the suspension. If you need some questions answered just PM me and I'll do my best. Harrison lives out there in Knoxville. Maybe he'll come over to your place and put your car together for you. Hmmmm....wonder why he's being so quiet? Just joking around with you a little. Your best bet is to Get on here an ask SPECIFIC questions. Believe me, they will get answered. I signed up on here 3 years ago not knowing anything, and now I'm working on my second hot rod. The HAMB works! After we see how cool your **** is, then you watch...we'll be coming over and checking it out. SO, first thing...post some pics of this machine of yours and lets get started. TINGLER
I just re-read your post. So you've decided on another front suspension? What did you decide on? Show us some pics. I'm interested now....hell, do you have those strippers lined up yet? I'm coming over there.
well, instead of parallels, can you go to a 1/4 elliptic with the axle out in front of the frame? that will get you low and still be cheap, but it alters your wheelbase. im ***uming the reason you wanted to run parallels was thats the way it came from the factory. i dont believe that this set up would be too difficult to build either. another alternative is maybe to raise the spring perches on the sides of the frame up. im pretty sure you'd have to c-notch with this plan though, but pretty much any plan you come up with to lower will need some clearance from a notch or "z"ing. just some ideas.
Hello from middle TN. As Tingy said ask specific ????'S Maybe next time the Poor Boys rumble with the Greasy's,you can come to the frac***,where we can meet, and BS a while. I believe there is a Hamber get together Halloween day.Hope all of you can come. P.M. me for more info..Sparky
Eric, I'd be glad to come look at it but I'm just a hack. Your best bet is to ask lots of questions here and search the old posts for information - that's how my RPU got built. It was my first ground up too. My work schedule is nuts and next weekend is Shades of the Past but call if you need help. 719-9919. JH
The reason I had hoped to stay with the parallel springs, you just don't see that kind of set up. I did have a friend suggest I flip the frame on the front and run the springs upside down. I talked to some people at the NSRAs in Louisville and it was suggested I consider going with a suicide front end, as it would be the easiest. I like the idea of the 1/4 elipticall, but I have heard that the ride is not very stable. So I had sort of settled on a suicide. I had planned to Z the frame, front and back. That is one of the reasons I had wanted a little guidance, I want to do as much as I can myself, but want to make sure it is safe. Especially, because I plan to drive the heck out of this thing. Harrison, if you don't mind looking at the frame sometime, I would really appreciate it. I had planned on going to the Shades as well so I understand it is not a good weekend. Maybe sometime after that. Thanks fr pointing out Plowboys Spacetruck. I was knocking around the idea of eventually heading down that direction on the bed. Figgured once I had it in the road I could work on making a similar bed for it as I had time. Tingler, is there going to be a Greazy Bash this year? Thanks Eric
Where in K-town are you? I live in So knox and have some time. I am not a pro by any means. I have built several muscle cars and off road jeeps though. What are you GOOD at? What I mean is maybe we can trade some time. Help each other out?
Yep, Ratster ain't lying. Also just so everyone knows.....Ratster is higher in the ranks than me in the Greazy Hubcapz. I'm only the cheerleader / goat wrangler. Here's the flyer. Eric, you are of course invited. I look forward to seeing you there!
Eric, Stop & say hi at Shades. I'll be in an army green RPU with black '35 wires. Kennedy will be with me. He'll either be in a green '34 highboy or dark green '47 convert. JH
Eric, Give me a call if you want some help. 922-7979 or 524-5788 Work, just ask for the Capt. I'm not an expert on anything but have been fooling with old rusty junk for about 30 yrs. now. If we can't figure it out I know a bunch of guys that have been building hot rods longer than I have that probably will be able to. Be happy to help you out. I'm out in Halls Crossroads on the North side of Ktown. I'll be up at the Shades this weekend also, be driving a Raspberry Red Anglia with Cragar S/S wheels. Probably be with Harrison if he has his tent and a lot of liquid refreshment...
I'm nowhere near TN. but I think you ought to use the parallel leaf front, just put in a dropped tube axle, like Speedway or MAS, set up for Chev spindles w/ stock drums. You can run a side steer or cross steer box with those spindles due to the availability of steering arms, all kinds of options.
The club will get there early in the morning. Other than that, I don't know. Show up when you feel like it. Most people showed up around 11 or so last year. This year there aren't any trophies or activities or anything. We're just getting together to stand around and look tuff. See you there.
I looked for you guys at Shades but ended up getting out there later than I planned. I saw Ratster's car and a few other GH cars around his. I spent some time looking at the frame and front suspension. After looking at it, I think the parallel front suspension will work great. The axle is mounted under the axle at this time. So I can flip it to the top side. It wouldn't do me any good to really move the springs, as the front mounting point is at the tip of the fram horn. So I guess the next step is to decide how to Z the frame. Are any of you guys going to be in Sevierville during the the Grand Run? If you are and have some time, maybe I can buy you a beer and pick your brains a little. My cell number is 804-1937 Thanks again, Eric
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