Technical CHASSIS, "How to Z a Shoebox Ford" in TECH-N-COLOR™

that car is bad****. those louvers in the hood look good.

is the motor gonna go through the hood??

 

Looks great! I'd be worried about hood clearance by moving the frame up, but it sounds like the Caddy engine will still work.

Are you going to have to move the trans and driveshaft tunnel up any?

 

Tuckism is my new religion.

 

thanks guys

yeah fltblk this is on my list-

the 14 inch tires that are in the photo are really fat- the skinny 16" tires have almost 2" more of turn BUT this is a problem.

One of the things I was looking at was to change the rolled lip to a outer lip off a 52 ford fender, they have the same opening only a outer roll. I have a nice set of fenders I can work with to try this out but im not sure how they'll feel untill I get them mocked up with the new fender lip-

another small mod I have to make is that when turning the tires I need to make dimples for the firewall, where the floor meets the firewall.

another issue is the fan, I know ROCKY is waiting to see how this part turns out... untill I get the cad motor back in the bay I wont know how much clearance I'll have for one, but it looks like I'll be fine and can modifiy the crossmember and sink the pan a couple inchs- I have some ideas here I'll post as I go.

The cool thing about the dropped steering is that its all out of the way. The engine will only actually come up in the engine bay 3 inchs so its not that much if you think about it... Shoebox fords have a ton of room over the engine.


Bleed It is exciteing im going to keep going, this is the first time in my life I've had my SHOP where its not DISFUNCTIONAL during the winter-

I'm going to finish the chop now and get the caddy in place, then the C notch in the rear similar to how BRICKSTER here on the hamb did his shoe and new raised tunnel to clear the driveshaft.

I have every issue of HOT ROD from 1958 to 1959 for refrence along with some rod and customs and other little book mags---- these mags are priceless- yeah I think it was BLEED who told me to start buying old mags...

I will eventually do the spindle swap and run a stock spring... this will get me with engine weight close to my ride height... If I need it lower from there I can do a pocket drop for a inch... or cut spring but I should have to touch the spring and the wheels will ride straight up and down in the wells...

I do need a new drill press anyone have one locally???

Tuck

 

Fucking wicked!

 

mucho bueno, senor!!!

 

Great tech Tuck..... that sounded funny!
Will it have enough travel after the Full Tilt Caddy weight is added??Ha!

 

Looks GREAT!!! I like the old style picture border and date, nice touch! How'd ya do that anyway?

 

LOOKS great Master Tuck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...............but it would not look that low if I was standing next to it........Ha Ha Ha..........you Kanadians Rule...........I like how you did it, looks real good!!!......Tuck the new greaser........Littleman

 

Tuck ! Excellant .... I'm speechless

 

Ahhhhh after spending WAY too much time in a lowered 51*****box, having given myself a black eye * * and feeling like my kidneys were doing the cha cha..........I hope*****box owners print this out and try this tech!!

Here's a kick for another go, off 2nd page and back to 1..............I LOVE TUCK!

xxx
Brandy

 

still don't steer though!

 

steers are for queers... what?? haha

it'll steer enough for me, as long as it goes through a intersection im down with any steering restriction. I think I can modify the fenders to get another inch and a half by going with a outer lip and removeing the inner- as it is right now theres enough radius to get my**** thru a 4 way fine-

I guess you wouldnt have to go as low as I am...I measured and the frame only sits 2 inchs off the cement. If I put the stock springs in it I would still have 4 1/2" of solid drop with no restrictions on anything... if you wanted to run a smaller tire you wouldnt have a problem at all- but I'm going for a look- and ill play the game untill I nail it.

Tuck

 

Tuck - you are "Shoebox Uber"

Fricken nice work....a great inspiration for sure.

 

My shoebox is Z-ed pretty hard in the front too... makes the Hemi manifolds a little tricky-er than they should be. but thats only b/c I didnt want the motor to sit too high.

 

Can see it now,HEMI rocker covers through the bonnet.....

Cheers, and welldone,

Drewfus

 

Fuckin' A.

That's gotta be my favourite shoe box 'proportion wise' ever.....damn.

I sit gonna have a Tuck flake job eventually????

Cheers

Maiki

 

and alas, subframes are also for 60's mopars... sigh...

 

Good work. This will be an amazing piece .thanks for sharing.

 

Have it ready for the 50's tuck? hehe

Looks kick****.

 

TUCK!!! I don't know how I missed this thread! That looks great, you are a hell of a craftsman.

 

Thats a sweet shoebox your working on.Awesome job Tuck!!
This is one I will want to keep my eye on,Its gona turn out to look killer!!!!

 

Nice tech on the Shoebox Z, Tuck! Maybe I can talk my dad into letting me Z his '49. I live for this stuff!

I've said it many a time. The HAMB is the best!

 

Bttt

 

niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice

could always take the stock openings and raise them an inch or so?

tim

 

hahaha NOT YOURS ya goof!! I'll just come whisper it in ya ear and you can enlighten me on ALL the details!

SO many people were askin about this the other night. Glad to see it that much closer to being done!

I still love Tuck..............even if he's into steers.
xxx

 

That RULES!

 

Holy*****! Someone is going to do something the way I did it because they liked it, that's awsome.

Tuck,
I got a question for you:Are you dropping the steering box and pitman arm down for clearance issues? I think you may be causing more bump steer by doing this. If I remember correctly the pick-up point for the inner tie rod on an independent front end shoud fall in line with the imaginary line between the inner pivot on the control arms. I would pull the spring and run the suspension thru its' travel and see if ther is any visible bump steer. If possible get a gauge and dial it in now while you have a chance to make changes easier.

Here is a pic but it's for ball joint style suspension. should be the same.

Brick

 

Brick- thanks for the red flag, i havent welded the drop brackets in, I was going to wait untill I got the caddy motor back in the bay - thanks for the drawing VERY good info.


right now if I bounce up and down on the front end with the steering hooked up the wheels dont move- should be ok?

Tuck