Chassis
Starting point. In the early 90's I was bitten by the Pro Street bug.
Level and cut
Level the chassis with an Engineer's Transit. When this was done, there were no laser levels yet. After leveling, weld "feet" onto the sides, and mark the profile onto the concrete. All this should preferably be accomplished on one solid slab of concrete. Make sure before you cut, tack weld a length of steel between the rails to keep them parallel.
Plate
This plate is welded in between the frame rails. On the plate, you then lay out both narrowing dimension, and height offset to compensate for the 18x31 Mickey Thompsons.
Friend's El Camino on the street.
Friend's El Camino on the street.
Layout
Layout completed, and excess cut off.
Aft Rails
Rear rails tacked into place. All heights need to be tracked by the Engineer's Transit, or the body mounts will not sit flush at body cushions. Rails shimmed with steel stock at jack stands, in order to maintain these dimensions.
Please keep in mind; at the time all this was going on ('89, '90), rear clips were not popular yet, if obtainable at all. So, I decided to get the job done my way.
Please keep in mind; at the time all this was going on ('89, '90), rear clips were not popular yet, if obtainable at all. So, I decided to get the job done my way.
Triangulation
When aft rails are tacked onto the plate, start to triangulate the joint. Measure in a criss cross pattern and check squareness of frame before and after plates.
Finished rails
Rails boxed and checked for level and squareness. I wanted to keep the leaf springs for a smooth ride. Back then "floaters" were used in between the rear and the leaf, to enable you ot use ladder bars or a 4 link setup. Eventually I got rid of the leafs and bought QA1 coil overs.
Finish welding
Check out all the additional braces I welded on. This was so the frame would not twist and turn while welding. When welding, do one joint, and then try and do the opposite joint next. This way if there is any distortion, it will fight itself. Yes, those are 100 pound barbells on each of the aft rail points. Frame is upside down in the picture.
46 inches flange to flange
Full Mark Williams rear; Detroit Locker, 4:88; 4 piston calipers, nodular steel Ham, pinion support; vented discs; brace along back of housing. This rear is rated at 1200 HP. Even if I had a Supercharged BBC in the car, the tranny will grenade before this thing does.
Rear installed
Here the rear is installed, with adjustable ladder bars and leaf spring floaters. My father works on old Harleys and Indians, and pinstripes every bike he builds. He thought it would be a good laugh to "pinstripe" my chassis. It suprised me.