Second Wind - a Packard Gasser

[05snopro440]

Originally Posted by Couper

ZZ that frame looks flipping awesome! Is that powder coat or paint?

It's still in bare steel

[kenny c]

Beautiful work as usual.

[zzrodder]

Originally Posted by 05snopro440

It's still in bare steel

Couper was referring to a pic I posted on his build thread - That frame was painted with - wait for it - Rustoleum, or Tremclad as it's called in the Great White North

[zzrodder]

Made the upper bridge to tie the rails together with 2 pieces of 1x2x.125
tubing to make a 4" wide piece, trying to keep the profile down so there will only be a 1/2" bump in the floor.



So today I took the diff out and welded up the 4 link brackets and decided I really hate the Panhard bar. A lot.
Bucked it off and trashed it - well, I will use the adjustable end and will build a wishbone Panhard like Old Iron suggested on Coupers build thread. I just couldn't live with the amount side to side movement of the rearend as it moves up and down. Better to decide this now I guess, just have to wait for the fork end bushings to come in....

[zzrodder]

Got the engine mounted today, pass side is fairly normal but the drivers side was more fun, crossmember has to dodge around the backside of the steering box. This is the second design, first time I had it coming across in front the steering box, then realized the pitman arm would hit it at left lock
Also got my new wishbone Panhard bar tacked together, much happier with how this will keep the diff centered and it will give more room for the exhaust to come through and over the rear end.

[I-R-POPS]

Great looking Frame!!!
I like the panhard bar design. Why didn't I think of thank?

Are you going to run a blower on your engine? I noticed the lower belt drive on the crank.
Makes perfect sense to me.

[Couper]

That's some awesome looking work ZZ....very nice.

The more I look at your frame the more I worry about needing some more bracing on the frame rails from the kick up to the trans area.

Do you think I really need it? The engine builder told me my motor is built for 600 HP but I think he might have been exaggerating.

If I do... could the additional set of parallel rails run outside the frame versus inside? I could follow my cab sill lines. I'll attach a picture to refresh your mind.

Sorry....just realized this is on your thread not mine

Thanks

[zzrodder]

Originally Posted by I-R-POPS

Great looking Frame!!!
I like the panhard bar design. Why didn't I think of thank?

Are you going to run a blower on your engine? I noticed the lower belt drive on the crank.
Makes perfect sense to me.

I can't take credit for the Panhard design, I saw pics OldIron posted on Coupers Dodge build thread, so I pilfered the idea for building mine
That's affirmative on the huffer, BDS 871, makes sense to me too...

[zzrodder]

Originally Posted by Couper

That's some awesome looking work ZZ....very nice.

The more I look at your frame the more I worry about needing some more bracing on the frame rails from the kick up to the trans area.

Do you think I really need it? The engine builder told me my motor is built for 600 HP but I think he might have been exaggerating.

If I do... could the additional set of parallel rails run outside the frame versus inside? I could follow my cab sill lines. I'll attach a picture to refresh your mind.

Sorry....just realized this is on your thread not mine

Thanks

If it were mine, I'd add something to the structure, it's a long stretch between the rear and front crossmember. I also like to use a crossmember under the engine mounts connecting the rails too for this reason. Not sure if running outside the rails would work right....might look goofy too.... Are you running any exhaust underneath or just lakes pipes? On my Rat55 build, I used the space under the cab outside of the rails for exhaust to run through.

[Couper]

Originally Posted by zzrodder

If it were mine, I'd add something to the structure, it's a long stretch between the rear and front crossmember. I also like to use a crossmember under the engine mounts connecting the rails too for this reason. Not sure if running outside the rails would work right....might look goofy too.... Are you running any exhaust underneath or just lakes pipes? On my Rat55 build, I used the space under the cab outside of the rails for exhaust to run through.

Understood, I'll mock something up with 2x4 and see what I can do. Yes I will need that space at the sill area to run exhaust from the headers to stacks that will be in the front corners of the bed so I can't go outside anyway.

The frame is off the rack and I disassembled it but my guess is that it doesn't have to be on the rack to do this.

Thanks for your input ZZ... I'll keep you posted