D^3 Dad's Down and Dirty 1955 Pickup, Nerd Rods C4 on the Cheep

[rat_rod_russell]

Now my mind is in gear. What will it take from a customer view point to have something done with that tech. ?

Goooooood! The evil plan is working.

Do you have a CAD program that can output STEP files?

[wfo guy]

No. I will research step files.

[rat_rod_russell]

Another cool customer car I just got to see recently was up in Kansas on my way back form my recent trip to Wisconsin. Gary's 55 Sedan Delivery has been his for the last 50 years. He used to race her at the drags and won a good deal of money in the classes he ran and he always promised her he'd make it up to her after all the thrashing.

We'll that stated a few years ago when he ordered a Nerd Rods Stage 3+ chassis and got in line with Randy and his shop Old 40 Bodyworks, the expert TriFive only restoration shop near him in Kansas. The end results speak for themselves. And Randy asked me to come back after he's done, this car isn't even sanded and buffed yet. This is right out of the spray gun for Randy. Hit the link for lost of build photos as we from the assembly of the chassis and body work.

Full Gallery Here (large image warning if you have slow internet)
https://gallery.nerdrods.com/Custome...044_Gary_J_55/

[Motown 454]

Nice Sedan delivery, It must drive nice on that chassis.

[wfo guy]

I bet I get to see that car this summer. It will be nice to have seen build pics before looking at a car.

[rat_rod_russell]

Nice Sedan delivery, It must drive nice on that chassis.

I know he'll love it.

I feel bad though because his is an older chassis and about every 5-10 frames I come up with improvements. So I know he's going to like it but I also know that its 4-5 revisions back and that it could be better in several ways. This is #44, I just shipped #77 and #78 will be a complete redesign to utilize new manufacturing equipment and even more upgrades. I know some might think its me knocking the project but its more of me wishing it was up to my current quality and standards but I'm sure we all have a list a mile long of "things I wish I knew when I was younger" which is what that boils down too.

He's going to bring it down for chassis tuning and a few exhaust tweaks when he's done with it and I'm going to get some of my tweaks and upgrade on the chassis while its here like my Ackerman kit and a few other minor things so I'll be much happier with it then.

I bet I get to see that car this summer. It will be nice to have seen build pics before looking at a car.

I think he and Randy of Old 40 Bodyworks have plans to drive it with a bunch of other cars Randy built to TriFive Nationals this summer. I really need to got too this year if I can. I've got way too many customers out there but we've been so freaking busy.

[rat_rod_russell]

Too much fun now that I have it cutting nicely

[wfo guy]

I'm thinking of about 100 ways to do things better with that equipment. The chassis would look so good that you wouldn't want to cover them up.

[rat_rod_russell]

Available now. Who want's to buy Jim's Frame? Plans have changed.
(inset evil laugh)

[rat_rod_russell]

With all the new toys in the shop Dad and I keep chatting about updates to his truck to show off what we can do with the new equipment. So his old chassis goes. Other goodies are fair game if you're interested just ask. Photos of the later parts are for show only.

FOR SALE!!!
C4 Corvette Suspension Rolling Chassis
$15,000.00 and no wait!
Located in Luling, Texas




Photo Gallery Here
https://gallery.nerdrods.com/Project...ssis_For_Sale/

Nerd Rods Stage 3 Rolling Chassis
LS Fuel system
Brake like kit,
Retail - $19,140.00

VOIP, call or text 512-348-6253

























What’s included
Nerd Rods C4 Corvette Suspension Rolling Chassis
Low body chassis (some sheet metal mods required, can be spaced up)
Red Powder Coat

1992 Corvette Front Suspension
Rack and Pinion Steering
Upgraded 13” rotors and twin piston calipers
QA1 Double adjustable coil over shocks, springs, T bars and bump stops
All new urethane bushings
Blasted and powder coated Silver
Sway Bar

1990 Corvette IRS Suspension
Dana 36, 3.07:1 Gears
Posi traction, limited slip differential
12” Corvette Disk brakes
All new urethane bushings
QA1 Coil Over Shocks, springs and bump stops
Sway bar and custom linkage
Blasted and powder coated Silver and Black

18 Gallon Custom Fuel Tank
Uses the OEM filler neck
LSx ready with intake fuel pump
340LPH Stealth Pump
0-90 ohm sending unit
Stainless hard lines,
Flex hoses,
Regulator and adapters,
Braided Brake lines,
Stainless hard lines

Ask about anything else you see in the photos. It’s all available for the right price but it won’t be cheap or free. I plan on moving most everything to the new frame.

[rat_rod_russell]

And SOLD, going to live in Phoenix shortly. Time to get working on the new goodies.

[rat_rod_russell]

Get Out And Drive!

[rat_rod_russell]

So long old frame! Sorry we didn't get to abuse you, but the new cutting method is proving that it really needs more than just a frame tweak to work right. So the old frame goes to live in Phoenix and be cool over there.

The link is to a general update photo dump for the shop, so there are some other photos in there, or you can click each photos below for larger shots.

I love how the one flash going off at the wrong time turned into a Rembrandt of my father at work.

https://gallery.nerdrods.com/Updates...6/index_3.html

[rat_rod_russell]

The new front swaybar linkage test part. This is going to be important in developing the new version of my ackerman arm. But this new version will also improve steering angle at the same time. I hope to fix the last two problems with the TriFive C4 swaps with this single, mostly, bolt on kit. These linkage are included in all stages of the TriFive and Task Force frames.





There are some aspects of the linkage that are not ideal but they have to work with several items that were not there to start with. Like the large diameter of the coil springs. Then you need to take all the motions into considerations like, articulation angles, of the sway bar, and rod end but this seems to work and there was no signs of impact or binding on the rod end after driving it for a little while so I'm moving onto a slightly different shape and design that will be a bit easier to weld and build.

Later,
-Russell

[rat_rod_russell]

Another piece to the puzzle. Ackerman correction arm for the front suspension to help drive ability at lower speeds and deal with the last problem with the C4 Suspension I was sorting out.






Photo Gallery found here for easy viewing.

https://gallery.nerdrods.com/Product...SC/Stage_1.01/





Later,
-Russell

[rat_rod_russell]

Working on getting my my CNC Mill up and running. Doing a little rust removal on the tool changers. Cool stuff, Evapo-Rust. No crazy smell. Just soak the parts for a few hours or over night in my case. Results speak for themselves.

[rat_rod_russell]

a 3D printed Jig for an exhaust I was fabricating up. It holds the exit tube in place while I play connect the dots between it and the mufflers while clearing the swaybar and fuel tank.













Then a guy online challenged me to simplify my design and speed the print up so that's what I did.















This made this part of the job super easy so I'll probably use this as part of the kit for anyone looking for a DIY exhaust for my frame.

Later,
-Russell @ Nerd Rods

[Sbeck09]

Love the jig idea! I keep seeing practical uses for 3d printers in fabrication. Guess I should put mine to better use than just occupying desk space.

Looking good!

[wfo guy]

What 3d printer are you using? Does it run on G code?

[rat_rod_russell]

Love the jig idea! I keep seeing practical uses for 3d printers in fabrication. Guess I should put mine to better use than just occupying desk space.

Looking good!

Sure, just start thinking every time you start looking for a tool or part online, think how you might print a solution. I printed a set of Miata Timing gear holders that made the timing belt swap go so much faster.

What 3d printer are you using? Does it run on G code?

I've got two. A dual extruder machine Geeetech A10M, and a Creately CR-10S Pro Version 2 that's been custom modified by a place in Houston, Tiny Machines 3D. So I can run more exotic materials in it.

And yeah, simple G-Code from a one of many free "Slicing" softwares.

I'm coming up with more stuff every time I play with it.