American Motors Xperimental full frame

[craigs73]

looking good ron.....

[Ron S]

The rear suspension in this car uses a watts link. In my normal knuckle dragging self, I welded up the watts mount on to the Dana 60 cover with a lot of adjustability, welding and warpage. After talking to Aaron for I long while, and looking at some of the cutting edge stuff he was doing. I decided to see what we could come up with in aluminum.

Aaron started the 3d design work, and in my opinion, it is nothing short of spectacular. He just started making aluminum chips, and I'm not ashamed to say it gives me abit of a chubby. The contrast between my parts and his is like comparing a couple of paper cups and string vs. a cell phone. Aaron just has the one side done, and sent me the pics today, and I had to post them. Like magic.

[feeble]

Very nice! I will have need for services like that.

[Gojeep]

Looks great. I can't remember if the 60's have a drain plug in the casing, but if not, be worth adding one to the cover before you do the other side. Saves dropping the whole thing with the links each time for a service.

[Motorcitydak]

You ever see some things that are so awesome that it slightly hurts inside.....cuz that just happened to me

[65_LS1_T56]

Trying to get the outside profile cut today, but the new year is challenging me already! Nothing new, but our CAM software package crashes occasionally then won't let you get another license to use it for almost two hours for some reason. Have to have IT look at it.

Anyway, Happy New Year!
Some may have noticed tapped holes in the mounting flange..how's that work? I tapped them to use them as mounting holes to machine the backside. They will be opened up to clearance holes when I'm done.

So far today, I've drilled and tapped 30 adjustment holes and begun machining the outside profile. The roughing pass, shown below partially done, will take over two hours. The finish profile will take well over 4 hours. After that's done, I need to machine some additional bolt head clearance and add the fill plug that Ron wanted. He chose to not put a drain plug in.

Enjoy

[65_LS1_T56]

Few more. Done for the day, got some family coming over...

[Mike Holleman]

Purty work Aaron! Makes me want to convert the S60 in my racecar to Watts just so you can make me one.
Mike

[65_LS1_T56]

I knew this thread was going the other way as soon as Ron posted pictures of his ripply rear end.......

That cover is uber cool.

Thanks Donny

What!! Ripply, I'll have you know I have buns of steel, well it used to be. Your right its now ripply aluminum.

After the finish pass, it will be a lot less ripply...I think that's good?

Purty work Aaron! Makes me want to convert the S60 in my racecar to Watts just so you can make me one.
Mike

All the cool kids are getting them Mike. So far only Ron though

[71RS/SS396]

Purty work Aaron! Makes me want to convert the S60 in my racecar to Watts just so you can make me one.
Mike

Mike you don't want that heavy lump of a rearend in your car. Ron's just gun shy from his past 9 in experiences.

[Mike Holleman]

Mike you don't want that heavy lump of a rearend in your car. Ron's just gun shy from his past 9 in experiences.

Tim, That's what I have in my Grand Am car. Couldn't keep gears in the rear that came in the car. The Strange S60 is bulletproof. Aaron's rear cover might knock a little weight off my 3600 lb. pig.

[71RS/SS396]

Tim, That's what I have in my Grand Am car. Couldn't keep gears in the rear that came in the car. The Strange S60 is bulletproof. Aaron's rear cover might knock a little weight off my 3600 lb. pig.

Even with that nice alum. cover the S60 will still be heavier. Do you have a cooler on your rearend? The only failure I've had with mine has been the wavetrac, you know how much and how hard mine has been used. I'm using a Strange cast steel center section which is 10 lbs lighter than the N case, C&R built it with rem finished Ford gears and a built in pump for the cooler.

[GNon18s]

The bar has been raised!

[Ron S]

The bar has been raised!

It's crazy isn't it Justin, ALMOST doesn't belong on one of my cars. Its fun working with someone that has the same level of passion for building custom parts as I do. I know Aaron is as busy as I am, we see each other at events maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I describe what I am building, and he does the same, and I can see the gleam in his eyes as he describes the processes of designing and milling out the different parts. It is a sickness, but man I'm glad he has it. Wow that sounded a little gay .lol

[tommycomfort]

It's crazy isn't it Justin, ALMOST doesn't belong on one of my cars. Its fun working with someone that has the same level of passion for building custom parts as I do. I know Aaron is as busy as I am, we see each other at events maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I describe what I am building, and he does the same, and I can see the gleam in his eyes as he describes the processes of designing and milling out the different parts. It is a sickness, but man I'm glad he has it. Wow that sounded a little gay .lol

Homo! :-)

[71RS/SS396]

Homo! :-)

[Ron S]

Homo! :-)

You know you can't say homo anymore. Ya fag!

[feeble]

Aaron: Very nice work! I've got a couple of identical parts I need carved for my intake, would you be interested in quoting them? I have CAD ready to go and they aren't as large or complicated as this cover.

[bonecrrusher]

Ron - loving the CNC work going on there!

[dontlifttoshift]

I knew this thread was going the other way as soon as Ron posted pictures of his ripply rear end.......

That cover is uber cool.