Has anyone used the gearheadworld.com frame rails or anything else from them? How were they? Their service? Thanks in advance! https://www.gearheadworld.com/store...ont-Crossmember-32-Deuce-Coupe-P11029C55.aspx
I've looked at them at them at a show and they look like 32 rails. I never checked their accuracy. In my chassis business I used ASC from the time they became available. I see why Gearhead interests you, freight is a really big deal these days. Interesting, they have the front cross member inserted in the rear. They may not know the front from the rear?
I don’t know who the seller was at this point but I bought a rails/crossmember kit just like that off eBay, delivered, for the same price a few years ago and I imagine they were the same ones. The quality was ok. They had a lot of twist in them which is easy enough to straighten before you put the frame together. I was cutting up and sectioning the rails anyway so it wasn’t that important at the time.
Freight is a huge deal. Do you think the difference between 10 ga of the ASC and the 11 ga is a big difference? Model A coupe with A front and rear crossmembers, boxed and F1 center crossmember? Thanks for your input.
I don't see 10 gauge vs 11 gauge being a big deal - especially with a boxed set of rails. You didn't say what engine, what trans, what rear and what horsepower? Without knowing more, hard to make a guess on the strength of your frame - though most guys building hotrods aren't going nuts on HP (though some of us do!). You don't have an X-member, so it won't be as strong as a well-built frame that has one, but I have no idea as to your application?
Very mild Flathead, T-10 four speed, banjo rear. More for looks than too much power. I have thought about an X member from a later chassis.
First off I'm not sharing this as to the difference in strength between 10ga. and 11ga. in a frame rail aspect, this is only technical information as to the gauge thickness differences. I looked up 3 references that are published. First is Machinist Handbook 18th Edition, 10ga =.1345, 11ga=.1196 Second is Machinists Ready Reference 9th Edition, 10ga=.1406, 11ga=.125 Third is Pocket Reference by Thomas J. Glover 2nd Edition, 10ga=.1406, 11ga=.125 These are published standards for gauge thickness that vary over approximately 35 years. Realize this is only a standard. The only real test is to mic each set of rails to compare the difference. 60 Special
I used a set of their rails for my deuce several years ago. One was a little twisted but that looked more like shipping damage. Once I had them jigged and boxed, they worked fine. Funny, their photo threw me off for a short moment until I realized they had the crossmember depicted at the rear of the frame.
I think the one set I received where Seconds ,( Defective ) about 5 yrs ago, Missing bolt holes & what where in Rails where 1-1/2 to 2 inch off , rails short @ rear also , needed to add extra length for full fender car , Not a big deal for me ,( time extra work) I was thinking about the customers that do not have the tools or know how to correct Problems . Shipping is double now (Receive / Return ) I recommend to buy from reputable known company, ( stampings) Rails are under a 9sec S D car
I've used 100's of pairs of ASC rails since they came out. Had one guy in my shop for many years that did nothing but box ASC rails. When he moved on I didn't have time to do chassis and box rails so used JW Garage boxed rails for a while but eventually went to Hot Shoe Hot Rods for my boxed rails until I retired. I never had complaints about the fit of the ASC rails. All the holes seemed to be where they should be. Biggest job with them was adding the fender and running board holes and at first trimming the edges for a uniform width and dolling out all the waves. That said give the Gearhead rails a try and report back to us.
There is a current chassis supplier who does the same…boxes the rails first then puts them in a jig and builds the frame. Problem is the rails are not straight to start with and the end result is really bad. And given the cost of his perimeter frames, I’ve got to****ume he is starting with the rails (or similar) being discussed in this thread. Might not be an issue with ASC rails.
If using the a F1 crossmember, I would suggest adding legs to the back of the crossmember to the rear of the frame. There use to a company in AZ that made these specifically for '32 frames using a stock K member. I think the company is who is making them know is in the UK. If you are handy and a have a good sheet metal shop by you, they can be easily made. Anyway, these add a great deal of stiffness to the frame. I have an AV8 roadster on a '32 frame. I used JW Garage's rails. With those legs installed, I can put the car on a lift and open the doors. They still close perfectly.
Given the size of the dies required to stamp frame rails, there are not going to be many sources. Contact Gearhead and who's rails they are reselling. Given the lack of a c-notch in the photo, I'm going to****ume they are ASC. Gearhead is not producing its own.
A few years ago I talked with the Gearhead guys about the rails they sell. (Not sure if the current offerings are the same nowadays.) Back then they were not USA made rails, they did have some wiggles that would need hammer work, and I have no idea as to their accuracy as I didn't buy any. But, they were NOT made by Shadow or ASC.
I have a pair on order from shadow rods and plan on picking them up from them at triple crown show in nashvile in september,cant wait to get them
Are your Shadow Rods the 4 piece rails that need to be welded together in the middle? Many years ago before Shadow Rods bought them another company was making them as a kit which included rails + an X member, center seam reinforcement, F&R boxing plates and front and rear cross members. I did several chassis with these parts before ASC rails became available. If done right they worked good. ASC rails weren't anything to get excited about in the beginning, You had to trim the upper and lower flanges to get a uniform width and hammer and dolly them to remove the waves and ripples. They've improved immensely. It's probably a safe****umption that most of the products Gear Head sells are of foreign manufacture.
Suggest you look up the following thread and look at the dates. Gearhead has been screwing up for a long time. 4 pages just like these.
Out of curiosity I had to look up where you live and although you are just a few miles off a very well beaten path the closest Good guys event where you might be able to have at show delivery and save freight is in loveland co 461 miles away. or 466 to Phoenix Anymore that depends on fuel mileage of your go get stuff rig though. Freight wise if it is delivered to a business or maybe better yet you pick it up at the terminal is usually quite a bit less than residential delivery. The rails while spendy probably aren't the deal killer that freight is. American Stamping Corporation (ascrails.com) It's a thousand and ten miles form Stanley to Olive Branch Most all of it but maybe 50 miles on 40. , Guess you could ask your significant other if they want to visit Graceland.
Even though I recommended giving Gearhead a try I'd bite the bullet and contact a legitimate rail vendor and step up for a pair of properly boxed rails. That will make your project much easier. Give Hot Shoe Hot Rods a call next week when they're back from Louisville. I've used their boxed rails for about 10 years? ASC rails $895, boxing plates $225, boxed rails $1800. Have him check the best shipping rate to your zip. Everything these days is expensive. Unfortunately when is says 32 it seems to cost more. Have you checked with any rod shops in the area? Forgot to ad, if you've never boxed 32 rails they can be a challenge because of the curves and general shape. Don't think it's a cake walk. When I moved from my shop on the farm to my new place and cut up all the left over iron there were several 32 rails that were scrap.
The shadow rails are fully welded, i started to go with the sectioned one(pic)but decieded to stay tradional, i live in ms but would have to pay sales tax on the ASC rails
Speedway motors sells a set of rail . I have used them twice and they are very good. Are they from American stamping not sure, they are very good. Using a set right now.
I'm back, checked the Speedway site and they say their rails are 11 gauge. The American Stamping site says theirs are 10 gauge. The way the world works these days who knows where the Speedway rails come from. Speedway has made their fortune knocking off other companies products. I do know ASC rails are stamped in Memphis Tenn.
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